Edinburgh Council Invites Public Opinion on Tram Extensions

A new public consultation has begun on the future development of Edinburgh’s tram network.

The consultation invites the public to submit views on proposed new tram routes from Granton in the north of the city to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh in the south and will inform the development of a Strategic Business Case (SBC) expansion, which will then be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee in 2026.

Starting on 25 August and running for 12 weeks until 17 November; the consultation follows a business case that saw the extension of the existing route from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, which was completed in 2023.

The newly proposed route would see expansion across three sections:

• An extension from Granton to the city centre, which would either serve the Orchard Brae corridor or the Roseburn path. A route along the former would head to the west end of Princes Street along Orchard Brae, Queensferry Road (via the Dean Bridge) and Queensferry Street, and cost between 650 million–850 million GBP to implement. As for the latter, the route would connect to the existing line west of Haymarket via an old railway line which winds from Ferry Road/Crewe Toll before reaching Craigleith and heading towards the west end and city centre, and cost between 350 million–480 million GBP. The entire route is forecast to cost between 2 billion–2.9 billion GBP depending on the final options selected, and would carry roughly 38 million passengers by 2042.
• An extension from the city centre to BioQuarter and the Royal Infirmary, which would begin at Princes Street on the existing tram infrastructure, allowing bus and rail interchange in the heart of the city centre before crossing the North Bridge, and run through Nicolson Street, Newington and on to Cameron Toll, then west towards the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.
• Finally, Edinburgh Council is also working closely with both Midlothian and East Lothian Councils and SEStran to assess the future potential of new mass transit connections beyond the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary, including a tram-train concept with Network Rail along the old Edinburgh South Suburban Railway (ESSR). Other potential options include connections with the Musselburgh Railway station and Queen Margaret University (QMU) in East Lothian and to Shawfair, with interchange opportunities into Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said:

I’m pleased that we’ve reached this key stage for extending our multi award-winning tram service.We need to prepare for the future. Edinburgh is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with more than 60,000 new residents expected over the next 20 years. Whilst this shift is a true sign of our success, it brings real pressure on our communities, and crucially on the city’s transport infrastructure on which we all rely.

Managing this growth also means tackling the climate, nature and housing emergencies. To meet these significant challenges, we need to look for bold and ambitious solutions and the tram extension is central to this.

Edinburgh Trams already offers a reliable and fast service, allowing residents and visitors to move around sustainably and efficiently, and with some of the cheapest fares in the country. The broader benefits of cleaner air and emphasis on active travel surrounding the network are equally as important. Our overarching vision is to truly link our city for the benefit of all. From our flagship £1.3bn development at Granton Waterfront through to the city centre, our world-famous universities, cultural hubs, brilliant local businesses, new housing developments, hospitals and beyond; our transport network must move with the times.

The new developments we will see along the tram route will be key to Edinburgh’s prosperity for generations to come. I’d encourage everyone to engage with this consultation and help to shape the next chapter in the history of Edinburgh’s transport.

Residents are able to give their views via an online Consultation Hub or in person at a series of drop-in sessions, the details of which can also be found on the Hub.