UK: City of Edinburgh Council has begun a 12-week public consultation on plans to expand the tram network, seeking views on two alternative routes from Granton in the north to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary in the south.
The consultation running from August 25 to November 17 will inform the development of a strategic business case which will be presented to the council’s Transport & Environment Committee in 2026.
Proposed alternative routes
There is one proposed route from Granton as far as Ferry Road/Crewe Toll, from where two alternative route options are being considered to reach the city centre.
The Orchard Brae route would run to the west end of Princes Street along Orchard Brae, Queensferry Road (via the Dean Bridge) and Queensferry Street. It has an estimated cost of £650m to £850m and is forecast to carry around 3·75 million passengers/year by 2042.
The Roseburn Path alternative would connect to the existing line west of Haymarket using a former railway line from Ferry Road/Crewe Toll. This option is estimated to cost £350m to £480m and is forecast to carry around 4·25 million passengers/year by 2042.
The Roseburn Path was identified as the preferred route in February 2024, but the Transport & Environment Committee said the consultation process should present both routes.
From Princes Street on the existing line in the city centre, the proposed route would cross the North Bridge and run through Nicolson Street, Newington and on to Cameron Toll, then west towards the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
The entire route is forecast to cost between £2bn and £2·9bn, depending on the final options selected, and carry around 38 million passengers by 2042.
Onward links
The council is also working with Midlothian and East Lothian Councils and the SEStran regional transport partnership to look at potential future transport links beyond the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.
This includes exploring with Network Rail a concept for a tram-train using the old Edinburgh South Suburban Railway.
Other potential options include connections with Musselburgh railway station and Queen Margaret University in East Lothian and to Shawfair with interchange opportunities into Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.
Preparing for the future
‘We need to prepare for the future’, said Transport & Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson on August 25. ‘Edinburgh is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with more than 60 000 new residents expected over the next 20 years. Whilst this shift is a true sign of our success, it brings real pressure on our communities, and crucially on the city’s transport infrastructure on which we all rely. Managing this growth also means tackling the climate, nature and housing emergencies.
’To meet these significant challenges, we need to look for bold and ambitious solutions and the tram extension is central to this.’
