Transform Scotland - For Sustainable Transport

24 April 2009

Postponement of Edinburgh Tram Line 1B

Edinburgh Council should look at interim public transport options for access to Edinburgh Waterfront


Transform Scotland [1] today (Friday 24th) expressed its disappointment at reports [2] that the City of Edinburgh Council have postponed plans for Tram Line 1B (the spur line from Haymarket to Granton).

Director Colin Howden said:

"This is a blow for the development of a sustainable transport system for Edinburgh.

"Research we carried out in 2007 showed substantial existing demand for the tram line to Granton from employers already in place at Edinburgh Waterfront. [3] Staff and students at Telford College, and staff at Scottish Gas's HQ, will surely be disappointed by today's news.

"One of the lessons learned over the years is the importance of designing in high-quality public transport access into new major developments. Where this doesn't happen, unsustainably high levels of car reliance tends to result.

"As and when the pace of development picks up again at the Waterfront, it is important that new public transport options are in place. The City of Edinburgh Council, with the active support of the Scottish Government, should now come forward with interim plans for providing high-quality public transport access to the Waterfront. Until such time as funds are available for construction of Tram Line 1B, the Council should look at alternative proposals such as a segregated bus road, bus rapid transit, or even trolleybuses. All of these would give the potential for conversion to a tramway as and when resources become available.

"Finally, today's announcement again shows the deeply perverse set of priorities existing in Scotland when unlimited amounts of money are made available for environmentally destructive projects such as the proposed Second Forth Road Bridge when public transport projects such as the Edinburgh trams are halted because of a claimed lack of funds."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/our-members.aspx> for details.

[2] BBC ' Edinburgh tram spur line shelved' - <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8015204.stm>.

[3] Transform Scotland (2007) 'Trams for Edinburgh's Waterfront'. Available at <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=42> [PDF, 356 KB].

At Telford College, the survey found that over three-quarters (77%) of staff & students would use the tram - and that over half (53%) of the staff that currently use a car to get to Telford would in future take the tram.

For Scottish Gas's HQ at Granton, the survey found that over three-quarters (81%) of staff would use the tram - and that well over half (63%) of staff who currently use a car to get to Scottish Gas would in future take the tram.

[4] See <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=44> for background briefing on Edinburgh trams.

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