Edinburgh's New Trams

Towards the end of the millennium, Edinburgh Council proposed the introduction of a tramway system for the city to link the airport with Newhaven, a journey of more than 11 miles through the heart of the city. Similar systems had successfully been introduced across popular commuter routes in other cities and Edinburgh was to follow suit. Following a number of proposals to determine the route, construction began in 2007, with work intended to be complete by 2014. Inevitably, delays followed, building work ground to a halt and costs rose exponentially. Abandoning the project seemed a possibility. A review followed, the route was shortened, investment and construction continued and following years of delay, operations began. This book reviews the development and implementation of Edinburgh’s latest transport system, highlighting key phases of construction, from contract bidding through to the build, route reviews, cash crises, and the successful introduction of a 27-strong fleet of CAF Urbos 3 trams.