Edinburgh, other cities and Trams

Since the announcement that Edinburgh would be getting a tram line, Residents in the city have not been amused. The Edinburgh trams works are proving to be a bone of contention with most Edinburgh residents who cite the Tram works as an embarrassment to the city. The work, which started in 2008 ,was due to be completed in 2011 but has been set back until 2014 due to grieviences on contractual work. The tramline was originally meant to be running from the Airport to Leith via the city centre but due to costs over running it will now run from the Airport to St Andrew’s Square and potentially York Place.

While we could ramble on about the trams all day long and probably early into the small hours, when they are eventually finished they will make a great addition to the city. Other cities with successful Tram lines in place include, Manchester, Croydon, Birmingham, London Docklands, Nottingham, Blackpool, Sheffield and Newcastle.

Edinburgh’s city trams will have 27 Trams in action, running at 30mph which will seat 78 people, with room for 178 standing in addition to two wheelchairs spaces.

I recently visited Nottingham and thought the 2004 installed tram system ran extremely well there. Trams are used in place of rail systems as they are able to travel smaller distances at speed meaning more stops can be created closer together.

The first of the newer street running tram systems was constructed in Manchester, opened in 1992. The only original first generation Tram line in use is the Blackpool one. Running for 120 years now, the Blackpool tram line has been under consideration for upgrading for several years, but as yet has been left untouched.

while it may be some time away, when they eventually open, the trams will be a great addition to Edinburgh City.

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