Scottish Executive Tram Line 1 Committee has published its official report on Edinburgh Tram Line 1 proposals

AFTER months of consideration, the Scottish Executive Tram Line 1 Committee has published its official report on Edinburgh Tram Line 1 proposals.

The report highlights the benefits trams will bring to the city, including environmental and economic growth. It also states that trams will be a big draw to those visiting, living or working in Edinburgh.

The next stage is to formalise additional proposals, made by the committees, before the final debates in Parliament at the end of March.

The total funding currently available for trams is approximately £535m, with £450-500m of this from the Scottish Executive. This figure depends on the final business case, actual project costs and inflation. £45m is from The City of Edinburgh Council. That will come from a range of sources but not from general funds or Council Tax.

As the tram project has £535m of funding, the full network can’t be built at the very outset. Pending Parliamentary approval, the majority of the route would be up and running by 2010 with shorter legs to follow.

The first phase of development will be the route from Leith waterfront to Edinburgh Airport at a cost of £484m.

This section will also include the section from Haymarket to Granton Square, which is projected to cost £75m, if funding and works costs permit.

The next phases to be built will include the section of route between Granton and Leith waterfront and the extension from the airport to Newbridge.

AND HERE ARE THE BENEFITS for you...

A new exciting modern way to get about
Trams have a certain ‘x’ factor that appeals to people. If you’ve experienced trams in other cities such as Amsterdam or Dublin, you’ll know just how reliable, fast and smooth they are.

Because of their image and smooth travelling experience, they’ve proven to be an attractive alternative to the car, which can help ease congestion on our roads.

More jobs and business opportunities
Trams have been proven to mark out a city as a modern and forward-thinking place to do business, invest and visit.

Edinburgh is already thriving, but trams have the potential to propel the economy forward even more.

Boost retail
Dublin has seen a third more shoppers come into shopping districts. In Strasbourg, the number of shoppers in the city centre more than doubled after the opening of two tram lines.

Manage the increasing growth of the city
The two tram lines will link up the major areas of growth at the waterfront and the west of the city.

This forward planning is vital if we are to manage the projected increases in people living, working and visiting here.

And finally...
A great choice for people with disabilities and parents with buggies. Level boardings at stops, highly visible stops, good information, easy-to-purchase tickets and security measures all make trams a great choice.

Here’s what you think...

Catherine Garrod, information co-ordinator, Lothian Centre for Integrated Living:
“The new trams will be an excellent way to get around Edinburgh – fast, accessible and easy to use. 

“I think that the trams will be particularly accessible for disabled and older people, as there will be level access at all stops and, once on board, the trams will glide smoothly along the track. 

“Wheelchair users and other disabled people have often been excluded from using public transport, such as buses and trains, because of problems with physical access. 

“I believe that the new tram system promises to provide a fully accessible and inclusive form of transport for everyone living in, working in or visiting our beautiful city.”

Sam Leigh, 2nd year biology student, Edinburgh University:
“I think that trams will be great for Edinburgh.  

“I’ve experienced trams in Europe and think they are a really good form of transport, especially for cities that have a high student population, as most students rely heavily on public transport.

“The fact that they produce little pollution is an added bonus.”

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