Edinburgh trams are back on track and running for first time

They were taken out for the first time yesterday on a 500m test track at speeds of up to 30mph.

The track will eventually form part of the route to the city, when the service is scheduled to open in summer 2014.

Edinburgh City Council said the rest of the 27-strong fleet would be delivered in stages over the course of 2012.

The council officially takes control of the depot building later this week.

The city’s transport convener, Gordon Mackenzie, said: “With work progressing along the length of the route from next month, there is little doubt that the project has gained momentum in recent weeks.

“I’m sure that the first sight of trams being tested will come as a welcome boost to the people of Edinburgh – as it has for me today.”

In September, the Scottish Government announced that it would step in to oversee the troubled trams project, despite its long-standing opposition.

A team of project managers from government agency Transport Scotland will fill “key senior roles” to help to complete the line between Edinburgh Airport and the city centre.

Infrastructure secretary Alex Neil made the announcement as he disclosed the release of £72 million in grants from the SNP government’s initial £500m commitment. The cash was withheld when Edinburgh councillors made the surprise decision to stop the line short of the city centre at Haymarket.

The council then voted again to take the line to St Andrew Square in the heart of the New Town.

But last week the council revealed that its long-term intention remained to extend the network north of the city centre, despite the government confirming that it had no plans to extend the line in the next 20 years.

However, the council said it was likely to take “several years”.

Mr Neil said any decision to take the trams to Leith would be “for another generation”.