Saturday 7th November was the first of three home Nations Championships home matches for the Scottish men’s rugby union side at Murrayfield Stadium, with the side taking on New Zealand. As has been the case ever since the opening of the tramway, Edinburgh Trams once again ran additional services both before and after the game to help get the crowds to the stadium. In this pictorial article Roy Calderwood captures some busy images in and around Edinburgh City Centre.
Its 1214, around two hours before kickoff, and Princes Street tramstop is packed as 271 calls on its way to Airport. The service heading towards Murrayfield seemed to be well regulated at this time with no large gaps noted in the service.
271 has gone but there are still crowds on the platform who will have to wait for the next westbound tram.
Some extra trams heading east are terminated at St Andrew Square instead of running all the way along Leith Walk and onto Newhaven. One such tram was 258 which we see here at Princes Street. It will use the crossover at York Place and then form a service to Murrayfield and the Airport.
256 on the right has now caught up with 276 at Princes Street as they both take fans to the match.
Congestion at the junction of Mound/Hanover Street/Princes Street. 270 is being held the queue of cars in the yellow box junction.
251, in advert for Westfield St James Quarter pauses at Haymarket and is headed away from the rugby towards the city centre and ultimately Newhaven. This was at 1323 so by the time it comes back from Newhaven it will probably be too late for anyone to get to the rugby. There are two Edinburgh Trams’ marshalls seen here (there were lots more behind the photographer keeping people off the tracks as the trams came and went and steel barriers separating the platform from the Haymarket Terrace westbound traffic on the right. Buses could still pick up.
Here we see 256 from the rear as it leaves Haymarket on a part route journey to St. Andrew Square. However, it did get stuck in the heavy traffic at this five way junction. The towers of the Haymarket Square development are seen in the background under which are the railway tunnels from Haymarket to Waverley opened in 1847 and 1895.
Just as the rugby was kicking off at Haymarket and 257 has arrived from the Airport and caught up with 266 which is still at the platform. (All Photographs by Roy Calderwood, 7th November 2026)