Fears over tram timetable as call goes out for new builder

Published on Friday 15 May 2009 10:00

TRAMS chiefs have only just begun advertising for contractors to carry out a piece of work at Edinburgh Airport which should have been finished last year, it emerged today.

It is understood tram firm TIE is looking for a new construction company to take over from Wolverhampton-based Carillion which is employed elsewhere on the 512 million route.

Last week, it emerged that some utility works were still only 70 per cent complete, with work between Newhaven and Leith Walk only 39 per cent done.

Newspaper adverts for the work reveal the utility works at the airport are not expected to be completed until October, contradicting claims made by TIE last week that the first phase of the tram project would be finished by the summer.

The sections which are being re-tendered are thought to be relatively straightforward and the latest move will involve diverting money which had been intended for Carillion.

One source close to the project said: "The thinking is that you leave Carillion to finish off the parts they have already started – the areas where they have big overheads like The Mound and Haymarket – while getting someone else in to do the other parts, hopefully cheaper and quicker.

"There are complicated sections, such as Princes Street, but it really should have been a lot simpler and quicker than this."

Lothians MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville added: "This once again shows that TIE give all the reassurances that everything's fine, but then only one week later we find that's not the case.

"I am concerned that this change in contract will mean additional expense and more money being wasted."

The first phase of the project, which has seen contractors move more than 30km of pipes and cables under the city's streets, is now up to a year behind schedule on some parts of the route.

The adverts, which appeared on Monday, show TIE is looking for contractors to divert and install utilities at the airport and construct a 400-metre stretch of road.

Steven Bell, TIE's project director, said: "The work being taken to the market comprises residual utility diversion and work on Burnside Road.

"Working in and around Edinburgh Airport requires special conditions to be met and so contractors with these requirements in place are being considered in this instance."

A spokeswoman for Carillion said: "We would like to confirm that there were discussions with TIE for Carillion to undertake the Edinburgh Airport utility diversions. However, a mutual agreement was reached not to go ahead since contractual terms could not be agreed within the relevant time frame."