Trams project contractor in fresh row over stand-off

Published on Wednesday 25 February 2009 22:15

EDINBURGH'S troubled tram project was hit by a new row last night after it emerged the German contractor accused of "downing tools" on Princes Street was carrying on with work elsewhere in the city.

Despite claims from Bilfinger Berger that it is "unable" to start on major infrastructure until a dispute over cost over-runs and delays is resolved, work is ongoing at three sites across the city.

As claims emerged of more than 300 areas of dispute between the construction giant and Edinburgh Council's tram firm, a resolution to the dispute seemed further away than ever last night.

Sources close to the tram project are enraged that – amid mounting demands for the deadlock to be broken – Bilfinger representatives have been visiting the Scottish Parliament to lobby the MSPs who have been most critical of the trams scheme.

Scotland's transport minister, Stewart Stevenson, is rebuffing demands to intervene over the crisis, which seems increasingly likely to end in the courts, amid claims action is urgently needed to "knock heads together".

Talks between the two parties are almost certain to drag into next week, with David Mackay, the chair of tram firm TIE, yesterday insisting it would not be "held to ransom".

The Scotsman revealed yesterday the council was threatening legal action if work did not get under way on Princes Street within the next few days.

TIE officials are said to be particularly angry that Bilfinger is carrying out work at Gogar, Edinburgh Park railway station and Haymarket, while insisting it is unable to start work on Princes Street.

Earlier this week a spokesman for the firm said: "We have to work strictly to the agreed conditions in the contract. Conditions are not as they are in the contract. We will not start until all the contract agreements are in place."

One insider at TIE said: "The fact this work is ongoing exposes this company's brinkmanship and makes a mockery of its position.

"There is no justification for carrying on with work elsewhere and not getting on with the job on Princes Street.

"All the arrangements are in place for this work to get under way and the utility work on Princes Street is bang on schedule."

A spokesman for Bilfinger admitted work had been ongoing for several months and that it was still being carried out yesterday.

Meanwhile, insiders at the council and TIE questioned why Bilfinger representatives had been meeting MSPs rather than trying to end the dispute.

Tram mock-up creates fury over 'aspirational' route

OFFICIALS have come under fire for creating a mock-up tram stop that tells visitors the network will serve Fife.

Tens of thousands of pounds have been spent bringing in a replica carriage and an image of what a tram stop will look like to Princes Street.

However, the tram stop is highlighting a service travelling from Edinburgh to Cupar, even though the trams will run only from Leith to the airport.

Workers at the tram mock-up, which has attracted more than 6,000 visitors since it opened outside Jenners on Monday, admitted the signs were an embarrassment.

"It's a bit of blunder," said one. "Of all the places along the route that could have been chosen, why on earth have they gone for somewhere in Fife?"

There are no plans to extend the tram system to Fife. Plans for a route between Haymarket and Granton face the axe over funding.

However, a spokesman for tram firm TIE said the signs were "aspirational", and added that trams could run over to Fife via the revamped Forth Road Bridge.