When originally proposed in 2003, the 14km Edinburgh tram line was predicted to cost £375M, but after significant delays the cost hit £776M when the line was finally opened in May 2014. Edinburgh remains saddled with £250M of debt from this original line, which was not completed.
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How much were the Edinburgh trams over budget?
The inquiry is investigating why the cost of the tram project increased from an £375m to around £1 billion and was completed years late in 2014 after an acrimonious dispute between its builders and a city council company leading the project.
How much did the tram project cost?
The cost of the scheme in 2003 was estimated at £498 million, £375 million in funding from the Scottish Government and £45 million from Edinburgh Council. On 25 October 2007, the council approved the final business case.
Are Edinburgh trams profitable?
It came as no surprise that Edinburgh Trams recorded a profit two years earlier than predicted, and in 2017 profits were £1.6 million.The new arrangements mean that Edinburgh Trams will have all the tools to further improve service and value for money by directly managing the maintenance contracts.
Why did the Edinburgh tram project failure?
A 2011 review by Audit Scotland ruled the tram project had been undermined by poor planning, cost underestimates, contract disputes and a lack of clear leadership by the council.
When were Edinburgh trams introduced?
When the Leith system was electrified in 1905, passengers had to transfer between the two modes, in what became known as the ‘Pilrig muddle’. This lasted until electrification of the Edinburgh system, with the first through tram running on 20 June 1922.
Who commissioned the Edinburgh trams?
the Scottish Government
A report by Audit Scotland, commissioned by the Scottish Government, confirmed that the cost projections were sound. Initial costs for the scheme were £498 million, with £375 million funding from the Scottish Government and £45 million by Edinburgh council.
Does Edinburgh have a tram?
The Edinburgh tram route covers 14km from York Place in the city centre all the way to Edinburgh Airport. Connect with trains at Edinburgh Gateway, Edinburgh Park Station and Haymarket. Waverley Station is just a short walk from St Andrew Square.
When did the trams stop in Glasgow?
September 4, 1962
An estimated 250,000 people took to the streets to bid farewell to Glasgow’s last tram which rolled into the depot for the final time 55 years ago next week. The last tram in Glasgow which travelled in a procession from Dalmarnock Road to Pollokshaws Road on September 4, 1962.
How long does Edinburgh tram take to airport?
Trams are one of the easiest ways to get to and from the airport with fast and frequent services to the city centre. Trams depart every 7 minutes (07:00 – 19:00) and every 15 minutes out-with these hours, with an end-to-end journey of just 30 minutes.
Does Uber work in Edinburgh Scotland?
Uber is available in Edinburgh but not as readily as taxis or minicabs.
Are there trams in Scotland?
Edinburgh Trams
Trams run frequently along the route, every 7-9 minutes during the daytime. There are sixteen tram stops along the route, with most stops allowing onward connections to other bus and/or national rail services.
Is Edinburgh miserable?
Edinburgh has been outed as the most miserable place to live in the UK. Just 16 per cent of Edinburgh residents describe their lives as ‘happy’, favouring the word ‘anxious’ instead. Liverpool, Southampton and Glasgow could also be found near the bottom of the table for happiness levels.
How long has the tram been in Edinburgh?
Edinburgh had trams of various design running through he city streets between 1871 and 1956. It all began on November 6th 1871, when the Edinburgh Street tramways Company ran the very first horse-drawn tram from Haymarket in the west of Edinburgh, to Bernard street in the heart of Leith.
When did the last tram run in Edinburgh?
16 November 1956
The last Edinburgh tram ran on 16 November 1956.
When were trams removed from Edinburgh?
16 November 1956
Edinburgh’s last tram operated on 16 November 1956, terminating at the Shrubhill Depot on Leith Walk (archive film footage exists of the event). One tramcar has been preserved – number 35, built in 1948 – which was put on display in a small museum at the Shrubhill Depot for a number of years.
Are Edinburgh trams free for pensioners?
Do you offer discounts for seniors? If you have a Scottish National Entitlement Card (also known as a Saltire card) issued by the City of Edinburgh Council, you are entitled to free travel on the tram. The same applies to cards from any local authority indicating visual impairment.
Do Edinburgh Trams run to Leith?
Trams to Newhaven will add 4.69 kilometres / 2.91 miles of track in both directions, connecting Leith and Newhaven to the current end of the Edinburgh tram line at York Place with 8 new stops.
How long does tram take from Princes Street to airport?
Alternatively, Edinburgh Trams operates a vehicle from Edinburgh, Princes Street to Edinburgh Airport every 10 minutes. Tickets cost £1 – £6 and the journey takes 31 min.
Why did the UK get rid of trams?
Trams were removed from the 30s onwards partly because they impeded car owners wanting to drive freely in cities.This has lead to the present mess in UK cities, but not in cities that retained them, as in Germany, or France that has reinstalled over 27, on realising their grave error.
Why are there no trams in London?
The plans to remove trams from London had been mooted for years, but they were given a temporary reprieve by the outbreak of the second world war. So why did they disappear? Well, it was argued that trams caused traffic congestion; their fixed routes made it hard for other traffic to bypass them.
