Contractors and TIE locked in war of words over Gogar depot delay

Published on Thursday 25 November 2010 17:16

A TEMPORARY home had to be found for the first of Edinburgh's £2 million tram vehicles at the last minute, it emerged today.

&#149 The tram had to be moved from Princes Street

Contractors working on the Gogar depot today claimed that tram firm TIE had given less than two weeks' notice of their intention to move the tram car there from Princes Street.

It is understood that an area needed for vehicle access was not ready and that tracks and a turning circle had yet to be installed.

After failing to reach an agreement with the BSC construction consortium about getting the works carried out, TIE decided to take the tram to West Lothian instead.

A source close to the BSC consortium, which is made up of Bilfinger Berger, Siemens and CAF, said: "The depot is not complete and could not have accommodated the vehicle carrying the tram without additional construction and track laying work being undertaken. The additional work required was not ratified in time to put an immediate solution in place."

Earlier this week it emerged that TIE had used a Dutch haulage firm to transport the tram to Broxburn after permission for it to remain on Princes Street ran out. TIE is understood to have first approached depot contractors as late as November 11 to make them aware of the intention to move the vehicle to the depot.

A meeting was held between the two sides days later at which it emerged that electrical works had not been completed and tracks remained unlaid.

It also emerged that temporary roads were not strong enough to take the weight of the heavy lorries carrying the tram, leaving the possibility the vehicles could get stuck in the mud.

A spokeswoman for the tram project said: "The plans to move the vehicle to the depot by the end of this year have been well documented.

"To do so would have been an opportunity for all parties to work constructively together to achieve progress.

"Unfortunately, an area required for vehicle access was unable to be readied in time for the tram's proposed arrival at the depot.

"Work within the building and in the stabling area continues to advance, however, and we remain determined to move the tram to the depot as soon as possible to begin the process of commissioning."

There had been suggestions that TIE had attempted to offload the tram at Gogar, but had been blocked by the contractor.

However, a spokeswoman for the tram firm said that was "utter nonsense" adding that all parties knew of the decision to take the tram to Broxburn by November 18.