Traffic lights row threatens to delay Edinburgh trams for months

A BITTER row has erupted between the publicly owned tram and rail firms over which one should pay for road improvements to serve an interchange near Edinburgh Airport.

Tram firm TIE and Network Rail are at loggerheads over the cost of traffic lights on an access road to the 40million Gogar station, and the possible upgrading of the adjoining Gogar roundabout.

The interchange will enable rail passengers to switch to trams to reach the airport as an alternative to the previously planned rail link, which was ditched when the SNP came to power in 2007.

The dispute threatens to delay construction of the complex, which is due to start by May and be finished in September next year.

A planning application lodged four months ago is still being considered by the city council. However, completion of the airport-Newhaven tram line has already been delayed by other problems until at least February 2012.

The wrangle was met with disbelief by nearby residents. Rod Graves, of Ratho and District Community Council, which has criticised the lack of information about the interchange's impact on traffic, said: "You would have thought two companies like these could sort themselves out."

Edinburgh council-owned TIE and Network Rail, which is funded by the Scottish Government's Transport Scotland agency, are disputing the funding of traffic lights to enable buses serving the interchange from rejoining the busy roundabout.

But they may also be required to contribute to the cost of extra lanes on the roundabout, including widening flyovers over the A8, so it can cope with extra traffic from development of the area in the future. The cost of this is expected to run to tens of millions of pounds.

Network Rail initially thought TIE would fund the traffic lights, which could cost several million pounds because the existing lights on the roundabout would have to be redesigned as well. But the rail firm is understood to have been angered at being told to pay for the work.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "Discussions between Network Rail and City of Edinburgh Council regarding the new interchange and adjacent roundabout are ongoing. The continued planning process does mean we are unlikely to be on-site in spring as we originally announced."

The city council said it had been initially thought TIE would have to pay for the traffic lights, as part of an earlier planning application for the tram depot, which will be accessed by the same road from the roundabout.

The council decided the small amount of traffic using the depot – mainly tram staff – meant the junction did not require lights.

However, council transport officials said they were required for the interchange to ensure buses could get through.

A council spokeswoman said it hoped to reach agreement over the road improvements within two months.

A Transport Scotland spokeswoman said: "We continue to work with Network Rail, TIE and the council to deliver this project. Detailed design work will further define the scope and cost."