Tram arrives at Edinburgh airport for the first time

Published on 13/12/2012 12:00

A TRAM being tested on a short stretch of completed track has reached Edinburgh Airport for the first time.

The vehicle ran to the site of the planned terminus at the airport yesterday, although speed was kept to walking pace.

Drivers are currently testing on a two-mile section of the line from the Gogar depot.

Testing will continue until March and vehicles will be accelerated to 45mph later.

The initial tram line between the airport and York Place is due to open in summer 2014, although transport chiefs are hoping to bring it forward by a few months.

It comes after overhead power lines were switched on last month so trams could be tested for the first time outside the depot.

Transport Minister Keith Brown told MSPs yesterday that he was increasingly confident the long-delayed opening date would be met, along with the revised budget of £776 million.