Huge tram network expansion planned for Edinburgh

Edinburgh City Council is considering another huge extension to the capital’s tram network.

Plans would see a north-south line running from Granton Harbour to Roseburn or Shandwick Place by 2030.

It would then follow the existing city-centre track, before turning south-east down to the Royal Infirmary and Bio Quarter.

There are also plans for a mass transit network, including trams, to be extended west from Edinburgh Airport and into West Lothian.

A full proposal will be put before a council meeting on February 19.

Work is currently taking place to extend the existing airport-city centre line to Leith and Newhaven.

Council transport leader Lesley Macinnes said: “We recognise the fact that there’s an enormous requirement for a north/south.

“We also recognise there’s a demand out west, partly to pick up cross-border traffic from West Lothian.

“We’re looking at that regional aspect, to pick up some of the car commuting – so the west of Edinburgh is going to be quite important in that, and obviously the north/south line to service the Royal Infirmary and the Bio Quarter and going on into Midlothian.

“That is subject to all sorts of discussions but that’s certainly the expectation.

“If you look at the Scottish Government’s Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) report that has just come out – they are very keen on the idea of the expansion of rapid mass transit, they’re looking at it in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, quoted in that report, and so we know there is strong support for that coming from Scottish Government.”

Story by local democracy reporter Joseph Anderson