Trams on track for Edinburgh
Having already overseen the development of successful tram systems in Sheffield, Manchester and Nottingham, Scott Wilson Railways has been appointed by Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) to provide technical support for its plans to return trams to Edinburgh.
The £473m scheme, scheduled to begin operations in 2009, received a boost in June when three principle objectors withdrew their objections to the project. The Forth Ports Authority, Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminals will not now be submitting evidence against the route to the Scottish Parliament.
The Scottish Parliament will continue to debate the scheme with a decision to grant Royal Assent being made towards the end of the year. A recent report by transport consultants discovered that trams are six times better at cutting congestion compared to improvements in bus services. Sheffield Supertram saw the biggest increase in passenger figures during 2004 at 7%.
Date: August 29th 2005
