EDINBURGH Tram opened the final 4.6km section of the Scottish capital’s first light rail line on June 7 from the city centre north to Newhaven.
The extension runs from York Place via Leith Walk, The Shore, directly opposite the Ocean Terminal, to Newhaven and has eight stops.
LRVs are now operating along the full length of the line at 7-minute headways from 06.00 to midnight seven days per week.
“From start to finish, the Trams to Newhaven project has been a real team effort, and over the past few months the Edinburgh Trams team has worked tirelessly on extensive testing and commissioning to ensure the new route integrates seamlessly with the original line,” says Mr Lea Harrison, managing director of Edinburgh Trams.
Construction of the York Place - Newhaven section was cancelled in April 2009 after a massive escalation in the overall cost of Phase 1A from the city centre west to Edinburgh Airport. However, the project was subsequently revised following the opening of the 13.5km Edinburgh Airport - York Place section in May 2014.
The outline business case for the 4.6km eight-station extension was approved by the Transport and Environment Committee of City of Edinburgh Council and the full council in September 2017, which enabled the procurement process to begin the following month, although a final decision on whether to proceed with the £165.2m project was not made until April 2019 allowing preliminary construction to start the following month.
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