{"id":49174,"date":"2023-04-22T22:00:38","date_gmt":"2023-04-22T21:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=49174"},"modified":"2023-04-22T13:25:45","modified_gmt":"2023-04-22T12:25:45","slug":"in-pictures-driver-training-underway-in-edinburgh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/?p=49174","title":{"rendered":"In Pictures: Driver Training underway in Edinburgh"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you may have noticed if you\u2019ve been checking these pages recently, an extension is set to open on Edinburgh Trams this spring. Running for almost 3 miles between York Place and Newhaven the extension has been progressing well over the past few years and with the main construction works completed attention is being turned to training drivers on the line. Daytime driver training got underway on Wednesday 19th<\/sup> April and will now take place regularly ahead of the line opening.<\/p>\n

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Driver training is, of course, a very important step towards passengers being welcomed onto the line and the sight of trams being used for this purpose is the first time that trams have been seen in operation during the day on the extension. It came with a safety warning to the public to be careful as it is also one of the first times that the trams are actually running at line speed with the original test runs being slow speed to ensure the infrastructure was all in order.<\/p>\n

All drivers employed by Edinburgh Trams will need to be trained on the new route but they haven\u2019t just been let loose straightaway on the extension with a state-of-the-art simulator used at the depot to prepare them for this day.<\/p>\n

After driver training is completed there will be a full test of the timetable and then an enhanced test of the timetable (this will see a shadow service run). Its only when this has happened that a passenger service will start.<\/p>\n

Spring remains the word for opening. Previously 21st<\/sup> June was suggested with Transport Convener, Cllr Scott Arthur, recently being quoted as saying its possible, not probable, that trams could start running earlier than this.<\/p>\n