Edinburgh tram costs rise under ambitious route plan – Daily Business

The cost of Edinburgh’s proposed tram extension could rise by £1 billion if the most ambitious route was adopted, according to the latest plans.

Initial estimates came in at £2 billion but could could hit £2.9bn if the line is taken from the north west of the city to East Lothian.

Edinburgh Council has launched a 12-week public consultation on the proposed routes from Granton in the north to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary in the south.

The original line linking the airport to York Place was extended to Newhaven in 2023 and now carries over a million passengers a month, and the new line would help the city’s transport network handle an expected increase of 60,000 residents over the next 20 years.

The three main proposals are:

Granton – city centre

Granton to Ferry Road / Crewe Toll and then two alternative route options via the Orchard Brae corridor or the Roseburn Path.

For Orchard Brae, the route would head to the west end of Princes Street along Orchard Brae, Queensferry Road (via the Dean Bridge) and Queensferry Street.  

It is estimated that this option would cost between £650 million – £850m and is forecast to carry around 3.75m passengers per annum by 2042.

For Roseburn Path, the route connects to the existing line west of Haymarket via an old railway line which winds from Ferry Road/Crewe Toll before reaching Craigleith and heading towards the west end and city centre.

This option is estimated to cost between £350m-£480m and is forecast to carry around 4.25m passengers per annum by 2042.

In February 2024, the Roseburn Path was initially identified as the preferred route.

The plan also considers the potential to include walking, wheeling and cycling alongside the tramline on the Roseburn Path, and look at the potential to protect and enhance the local ecological network.

City centre – BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary:

The proposed route would begin at Princes Street on the existing tram infrastructure, allowing bus and rail interchange in the heart of the city centre.

The route would cross North Bridge, and run through Nicolson Street, Newington and on to Cameron Toll, then west towards the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Potential extensions to Midlothian and East Lothian:

The council said it is working closely with Midlothian and East Lothian Councils and SEStran, the regional transport partnership, regarding potential future mass transit connections beyond the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.

This includes exploring a ‘tram-train’ (a light rail vehicle that can operate on tram and rail tracks) concept with Network Rail on the old Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (ESSR).

Other potential options include connections with Musselburgh Railway station and Queen Margaret University (QMU) in East Lothian and to Shawfair with interchange opportunities into Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Transport and Environment convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said: “I’m pleased that we’ve reached this key stage for extending our multi-award-winning tram service.

“We need to prepare for the future. Edinburgh is the fastest-growing city in Scotland, with more than 60,000 new residents expected over the next 20 years. Whilst this shift is a true sign of our success, it brings real pressure on our communities, and crucially on the city’s transport infrastructure on which we all rely.

“Managing this growth also means tackling the climate, nature and housing emergencies. To meet these significant challenges, we need to look for bold and ambitious solutions and the tram extension is central to this.

“Edinburgh Trams already offers a reliable and fast service, allowing residents and visitors to move around sustainably and efficiently, and with some of the cheapest fares in the country. The broader benefits of cleaner air and emphasis on active travel surrounding the network are equally as important.

“Our overarching vision is to truly link our city for the benefit of all. From our flagship £1.3bn development at Granton Waterfront through to the city centre, our world-famous universities, cultural hubs, brilliant local businesses, new housing developments, hospitals and beyond; our transport network must move with the times.

“The new developments we will see along the tram route will be key to Edinburgh’s prosperity for generations to come.

“I’d encourage everyone to engage with this consultation and help to shape the next chapter in the history of Edinburgh’s transport.”

The full details of all the sections can be found in the consultation papers.

Residents can give their views until 17 November online on the Consultation Hub or at in-person drop-in sessions.

The next step, should members agree on the SBC, would be to move to the next stage of development, as set out by Transport Scotland, which is the OBC.