In 2007, Edinburgh undertook one of its most ambitious public transportation projects in years: a new tram system that would improve overall infrastructure and connect the key areas of the city. However, this model of urban mobility which imagined a futuristic vision for the Scottish capital was far from reality.
Beset by political infighting, disruption to local businesses, and a string of accidents and delays, the project has become a symbol of unfinished ambition. So, what went wrong?
Edinburgh had a successful tram network in the 1800s, which was replaced by buses in 1956. In 2007, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (a non-profit set up to manage the project) proposed a new tram line network. This endeavour was heavily favoured by the Scottish parliament. Bilfinger was announced as the preferred bidder for the tram contract. The problems started after this.
The Labour Party, which was in power when this project was proposed, lost in the upcoming 2007 election to the Scottish National Party (SNP). This proved to be a drawback as the SNP wished to scrap the entire project, including any changes to tram routes. In a contentious move, they withheld £72 million in funding, hoping to stop the project in its tracks. Nonetheless, despite their opposition, the SNP lacked the votes to halt the initiative fully.
The original plan was supposed to connect the city’s airport to St Andrew’s Square but under the SNP the decision was made to move this connecting point to Haymarket. However, this altercation was stopped, at least for the moment.
After this, in 2008, Princes Street was shut down for the construction of the tram. This was received poorly by the residents of Edinburgh as it caused major disruptions to daily movement and business’ operations on one of the main streets of the city.
Delays quickly piled up, with Princes Street closed for an additional 10 months beyond the initial plan. Costs started to spiral out of control as the venture was hit with increased price estimates. Eventually, by 2009, disputes had reached their climax, and Bilfinger halted action, demanding additional funds be made available as soon as possible.
Legal battles erupted between contractors, the council, and Transport Initiatives Edinburgh, over missed deadlines and cost overruns, complicating the issue further.
The Edinburgh council, which was tight on funds, managed to make available £66 million to cover costs after an arbitration ruling on the dispute. The tram line was scaled back, running only from the city centre (Haymarket) to the airport, and legal disputes continued into the early 2010s.
The final system ended up bearing a cost of £1 billion, a staggering £400 million over budget, and was delivered five years later than promised, in 2014.
Lord Hardie, a Supreme Courts of Scotland judge, claimed the Transport Initiatives Edinburgh were the “principal cause of failure.”
So, the project, intending to create a more comprehensive network, was partially delivered but failed to conceptualise its aims.
When asked about her experience with the tram system, Maddie, a third-year student at the University of Edinburgh, who lived on Leith Walk in 2023, noted that while the trams were “nice to have as an option,” she found them “kind of inconsistent”, particularly when it came to being on schedule. However, she added, “We never had to wait too long for it, so it always worked out.” She also expressed gratitude for the trams, especially since the buses didn’t serve her area as directly.
During August 2023, Edinburgh Trams reported 1.2 million journeys made on the system, and a record-breaking 7 million trips recorded in the second half of the year—an impressive 90% increase over the 3.4 million recorded the previous year. The tram system continues to grow in popularity, with its previous setbacks a mirage of the past.
Looking ahead, the future of the tram network is closely tied to plans for expansion, particularly a proposed extension along the Roseburn Path. This 2km stretch links thousands of commuters, walkers, and cyclists through the city. The Roseburn Path is one of Edinburgh’s last remaining green corridors, designated as a Local Nature Conservation Site.
It is home to abundant wildlife, and the construction of the tramline would encroach upon the space, reducing the available area for walkers to a narrow, three-metre-wide strip of pavement. Despite these concerns, the council has selected the Roseburn Path as the preferred route for the tram extension, arguing that it offers the potential to speed up travel between the City Centre and Granton, provide direct access to the Western General Hospital, easing connections to Edinburgh Airport. A public consultation on the proposals is set to be held in the coming weeks.
“258 EDINBURGH TRAM” by eastleighbusman is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.