EdinburghSeasons » Edinburgh Airport http://www.edinburghseasons.com Everything Edinburgh in every season. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:58:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Edinburgh, other cities and Trams http://www.edinburghseasons.com/2011-12-19/edinburgh-other-cities-and-trams/ http://www.edinburghseasons.com/2011-12-19/edinburgh-other-cities-and-trams/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:31:31 +0000 Karlie MacGregor http://www.edinburghseasons.com/?p=2026 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.

Tram 2539

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.

Blackpool tram - 40

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.
Photo credit and thanks to
]]> http://www.edinburghseasons.com/2011-12-19/edinburgh-other-cities-and-trams/feed/ 0 Edinburgh Airport http://www.edinburghseasons.com/2009-05-29/edinburgh-airport/ http://www.edinburghseasons.com/2009-05-29/edinburgh-airport/#comments Fri, 29 May 2009 15:34:22 +0000 George Burnett http://www.edinburghseasons.com/?p=127 At once a modern, bustling travel hub and an historical place of interest, Edinburg Airport is the most utilized airport in Scotland and seventh busiest in the United Kingdom. Located in Turnhouse, a populous suburb of Edinburgh, the airport saw over 9 million travelers pass through its gates in 2008. With major renovations in the works, that figure is expected to increase threefold by the year 2030.

Edinburgh Airport, Military & Civil Aviation

A North American Mustang P51 at Edinburgh Airport

A North American Mustang P51 at Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport was constructed in 1915 as a base for RAF fighter planes, and served as such throughout both world wars. Commercial airlines began to utilize the space in 1947, and the airport, uniquely, served both military and civilian interests until the Ministry of Aviation took control of the facility in 1960 and devoted it fully to commercial travel.

[image credit scot_w_9]

Edinburgh Airport Improvements & Upgrades

Air Traffic Control tower at Edinburgh airport

Air Traffic Control tower at Edinburgh airport

Sporting just a single runway until 1977, Edinburgh Airport has been brought to modern capacity by a decades-long series of new construction and expansion of existing infrastructure. The most recent round of building included the airport’s state-of-the-art, 57-meter tall air traffic control tower (completed in 2005) the lengthy “South East Pier” (completed in 2006), and a resurfacing of all the facilities runways (completed in 2008).

[image credit hettie mcfarlane]

Edinburgh Airport’s Future Transit Plans

Edinburgh Airport has made plans to connect the airport to the city via mass transit systems by the year 2011. The facility is also completing plans to expand the selection of services available to travelers by constructing dozens of new shops, restaurants and bars, a process that should be complete by the end of 2010.

From its humble beginnings as a military base with a single airstrip to its current state as one of the premier flying destinations in the United Kingdom, Edinburgh Airport has shown a resiliency and tendency for growth that reflects well the spirit of its community. And with still more improvements on the way, the facility seems poised to take its place amongst the most modern and efficient travel destinations in Europe in the years to come.

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