Power cut on Princes Street as tram worker slices through cable

A TRAM worker was treated for burns after accidentally slicing through a major power cable on Princes Street and wiping out electricity supplies to more than 125 businesses in the capital.

The accident with an electric saw device triggered rush-hour blackouts in a huge swathe of the city centre shortly after 9am yesterday.

The worker is understood to have suffered minor superficial burns in the accident, but was later released from hospital and is due back at work today.

An investigation has been launched by the city council into the accident, although it is not yet known if the local authority will be liable for compensation to affected businesses.

The power cut, which lasted for almost 90 minutes, affected the Balmoral Hotel on Princes Street, stopping its famous clock.

ScottishPower workers managed to restore power by switching local businesses to an alternative supply.

Also hit were the National Records of Scotland complex opposite the five-star hotel, the Scottish Government’s headquarters on Regent Road, the Apex Hotel on Waterloo Place, and the Ingleby Gallery on Calton Road.

The archives centre, the biggest of its kind in Scotland, was forced to evacuate staff for two hours for safety reasons, while the hotel lost all power throughout the premises.

Its clock, which has been dogged by technical problems over the past two years, was out of action until after 1pm. It famously runs two minutes early in order to help commuters catch their trains at nearby Waverley Station. However, the accident did not affect any rail services yesterday morning.

The power blackout struck in a part of the city where huge traffic diversions are in place to accommodate repairs on botched tramworks along Princes Street, as well as other works on surrounding thoroughfares. Parts of Princes Street, South St Andrew Street, St Andrew Square, Leith Street, Waterloo Place, Regent Road and Calton Road were affected.

The accident comes amid mounting fears for city centre businesses about the extent of the current roadworks, which are expected to see Princes Street closed to traffic until July.

Two years ago the tram project and ScottishPower were at loggerheads after a power blackout hit the Stand Comedy Club on York Place, closing it for the first time in its history. However, yesterday the council admitted its contractor was to blame. A spokesman said: “We can confirm that a power outage took place on Princes Street, at South St Andrew St at around 9am after a cable was severed.

“Following the incident a workman was taken to hospital. He was treated for minor injuries, but is expected to return to work today.

“An investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances which led to the power outage. A full report is expected within the next few days.”

A spokesman for ScottishPower said: “We apologise for the inconvenience, but this was caused by another party, who cut through an open cable.”

A spokeswoman for the Balmoral said: “The whole hotel was completely out of power for more than an hour. Although we have full safety procedures in the event of a power cut, we don’t have a back-up power system.”