Trams running ‘on time and on budget’

THE chief executive of Edinburgh City Council has insisted the city’s troubled tram project is “running to schedule and remains on budget” despite almost £600 million being spent on it to date.

Sue Bruce has hit back at suggestions the scheme, which was originally funded to the tune of £375m and was supposed to open three years ago, is running over budget again.

Councillors agreed last September to increase the budget for the scheme from £545m to £776m, even though the first phase will now be cut short at the city centre, rather than the waterfront, as was intended.

Ms Bruce insisted the project will be delivered within its revised budget by the summer of 2014. She added it would cost another £160m to extend the line to the waterfront.

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