Is the reintroduction of trams good for Edinburgh?

Answer 1

I can't see it myself. The roadwork problems in Edinburgh are legendary and I think this will just add to the traffic chaos. Why do you think I left the place?! lol

Answer 2

I can remember a little of the trams in Edinburgh as a child and i would love to see them come back again also a rail link to the airport as someone mentioned, i was born in Edinburgh.

Answer 3

Its an absolute disgrace, the city is congested enough , theres enough noise on the roads as it is, plus the disruption it will cause when they start to dig up roads for the track. And the cost is unbelievable, £700m,which will eventually cost much more. Surely this kind of money could be better spent. Wait till the trams come thundering past your door, feel the vibrations.

Answer 4

May help Eco system etc but it will be another "Scottish parliament" which we will have to foot the Bill for!
The bus service in Edinburgh & lothians is apparently one of the best in the country, there are plenty of buses which run from leith etc and outskirts. I think Princes Street should be pedestrianised! there is no tram company in the country that is not running at a loss!

Answer 5

Mention a tramway for Edinburgh and most people agree that the city needs one. NETCo is a private sector venture that has been promoting just such a tramway since 1998. In that time we have helped convert the Council to trams and they liked our route so much they adopted it themselves.

Trams provide a high quality service that is fast and smooth. They are proven to attract motorists from their cars. Trams are accessible to all. Their smooth movement is especially attractive to people with mobility impairment, who can find existing public transport difficult to use.

This environmentally friendly method of travel encourages civic pride and improves the quality of city life. Edinburgh is one of the few European capitals without the benefits of trams, something we intend to rectify.

By using state of the art technology for the track and trams we have made the tramway affordable by the private sector, without the need for government grants.

Our LR55 rail is laid directly into the road, without the need to divert underground services. This reduces costs considerably and allows the track to be laid more quickly than with other forms of track. There is less disruption while the track is being laid. A section of the track has been successfully carrying trams (and over 100 Heavy Goods Vehicles a day) in Sheffield, for six years. This track was installed to replace conventional track that was failing. An instrumented section of track was also successfully installed in Rotherham bus station where it survived the equivalent of many decades of service in a road.

Answer 6

I heard on BBC Scotland radio that the cost of the tram system would be equivelent of replacing every lothian bus with a eco-friendly vehicle and there being free transport in lothian for 9 years. if that is the case, trams seem a waste of money, improve the buses, cycle lanes, park and rides, and make car users re-think.

Answer 7

I think it will be good in the long term. The bus service is excellent, but the trams will improve links with outlying areas, eg Leith and The Shore.

Answer 8

Millions on a tram line? Sort out the schools,hospitals,and roads ....annoys me just thinking about the waste of so much money.I live here ,and dont know anyone who thinks it,s a good idea ,myself included.

Answer 9

Total waste of money....same as building a rail link to the airport.
Millions if not billions of pounds that should be better spent elsewhere.
Oh for a decent result at the upcoming election.

Answer 10

It would be costly laying the tracks, taking up all the space and preventing trucks from making deliveries. Do what they do in YORK, park outside and take the special non paying shuttles into the town and back.