Edinburgh Tramway hanging in the balance

rjhowie

Active member
The new Edinburgh City tramway here is now in jeopardy. Parts of Princes Street were already cordoned off and in streets there has been digging going on and utility pipes moved wetc but everything has come to a stop. The German company concerned wants extra big money because the claim the Tramway Company run by the City council constantly makes changes so they have downed tools until they get the cash. The Scottish Government resolutely refuses to give any more money so the two lines planned are on the edge now. The original plan was to be 3 lines with the third paid by road chaging into the3 city but the citizens voted against charges. A mock tram was put up in Princes Street to show what to expect now the whole thing may have the plug pulled and the streets filled in again. It is a real fiasco and somewhat disappointing. The City council wants it to go ahead but no-one is moving from their standpoint. Will be a sade matter if the thing is killed after such big sums already dished out.
 
I remember when the SuperTram came to Sheffield, All the NIMBY's where shouting and protesting, and as usual, things looked doubtful for years, but now, in winter when the roads are bad, there all greatfull, that they have it, It's just a shame that because of all the NIMBY's the tram dosent go to the most poulated places, but that's NIMBY's for you! always ruining evreything:(
 
Too right there. Most of the tram systems in Britain are doing well. A while back the former Strathclyde Regional Council mooted a "Strathclyde Tram" system for Glasgow and I recall having one of the brochures. It was going to be an impressive thing built up over several years with several lines then it all died. I am not saying this was the main reason for it's dropping but a bus inspecotr friend of mine said that the bus companies kicked up their heels at it being unfair competition! Then some nimbies didn't want it in their posh backwater and used the fact that a corner of a park would be cut off for it. IFound that a bit sad as Glasgow once had the larest street tramway outdie of London. It was another reason for me builidng that whole former tramway in Trainz which I have still to upload as a tribute to what Glasgow once had. When it does go up good specs will be need for over 244 boards and much city scenery.
 
The Edinburgh Trameay fiasco has got beyond the Scottish tv news and a report was shown nationally in the BBC national news. It is an utterly ridiculous situation with streets dug up including the world famous Princes Street. No-one is moving ground and soemone need to step in as city streets are left with these roadworks all ove the place.
 
Finally an agreement reached and the Edinburgh Tramway is going ahead after TIE, the City Council and the builders sorted something out. A piece of good news all round.
 
Blackpool has had increasing problems with many of it's trams which are really historical and heritage and very few modern. The city has been mounting a case for a modern system with state-of-the-art trams. The 1w mile route was in fact larger before WW2 and stretched south of Sarr Gare round the coas and north it jas city centre street tracks. When Edinburgh gts it's new system running gt Britain will have 7 tram systems apart from the small Birkenhead "tourist" line. At least 3 of these are being considered for extensions. We missed the chance of trams a while back with the then proposed Strathclyde Tram" but I am glad that our second city is getting them. There is a tram mock up sitting in Princess Street at the moment.
 
Back
Top