Tram plans on track for more routes following SNP U-turn

THE Scottish Transport Minister has signalled support for more tram lines in the Capital as the government unveiled plans to reinstate a rail link between Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders within five years.

Despite attempts to abandon the tram scheme last year, the SNP has now indicated more links could be created in the city.

Transport minister Stewart Stevenson said there was "logic" in expanding the network because it would cost considerably less per mile once the initial framework was in place.

He said: "We are not against trams as such, but the project was before us.

"The advice which Edinburgh City Council and Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) have made to me, which I can see the logic of, is that when you have invested in the infrastructure it is cheaper to make extensions.

"The justification for (future) trams projects would be more straightforward because the infrastructure costs will have been largely met by the first line."

The current scheme is due to launch in 2011, but the city council is also keen for a £200m line from the city centre out to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to be developed. A feasibility study is underway for a guided busway on the route, which could later be used by trams. Jenny Dawe, the Liberal Democrat city council leader, yesterday put the case to finance secretary John Swinney.

She said: "The opportunities to the south of the city, particularly in making Edinburgh one of the world's premier biomedical centres, cannot be underestimated. However, to have any hope of fulfilling our potential, and creating world-class facilities in the area, we must have good, sustainable transport links to serve the people who will live and work in the area.

"We have the route of tram line 3 line secured, a Draft Bill ready to go and we are preparing a business case to show why the scheme is so vital for the area."

TIE chief executive Willie Gallagher said: "Our experience in looking at cities throughout Europe where trams have been introduced shows one clear lesson – that is that as soon as the population start using them, they immediately demand more lines and further expansion.

"We would expect this would be the way the network would develop in Edinburgh, driven by public demand."

A Scottish Government Spokesperson said: "The Scottish Government was against the trams project, but we respected the will of the Parliament to allow the scheme to continue.

"In terms of extending any trams project, this would be entirely a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council and Transport Initiatives Edinburgh."

The Scottish Government also announced yesterday that it has instructed Transport Scotland to go ahead with the £300m Waverley rail line to Tweedbank.