Tram inquiry hearing postponed as judge in hospital

The first hearing into the Edinburgh Tram fiasco has been postponed after chairman Lord Hardie was taken into hospital.

Lord Hardie has fallen ill. Picture: Lisa Ferguson

The inquiry’s preliminary hearing was set to take place on Wednesday but has been pushed back to a later date - with a spokesman declining to give further details.

He said: “Lord Hardie had a short unexpected stay in hospital last week and as a result will not be in the Inquiry office this week.

“A new date for the Preliminary Hearing will be announced in due course. The work of Lord Hardie’s inquiry team continues in line with the published order of events.”

The preliminary hearing was set to see Lord Hardie outline the individuals and organisations designated as “core participants” in the upcoming proceedings, while an opening statement would have shed light on the progress of the inquiry so far.

The trams opened to the public in May 2014, £375m over budget and following a three-year delay.

It is thought the final cost of the system will balloon to more than £1 billion once interest payments are factored in.