LET’S TALK
Edinburgh trams
Hundreds of defects found on Leith Walk weeks before Trams to Newhaven launch
Donald J Makin
Years ago the company who built the Dublin Luas system offered to take over the building when the tram building struggled. They were refused. The company involved with Manchester trams offered to consult and were refused. Two tram systems that run well. Instead Edinburgh Council knew best, pressed ahead with a group lrd, as it turned out, by a person with no engineering background and ploughed in millions. Last week I caught a train from Fife. It was £9 return. I then went three stops on a tram at a cost of £9 return - £4.50 for three stops! Then the week before for the first time I returned to the office to find not only a massively expensive tram works causing havoc but someone had decided to build a cycle lane - so all round the west end it's blocked to extend pavements in streets where I hardly saw a bike in the 20 years of working there before the pandemic. The city is a joke. I pity tourists trying to find their way around and feel for all the taxpayers in Edinburgh who are funding all this mess. And what makes it worse is they said no to two very competent builders who offered to help them.
John Hewit
Well, it wouldn’t be an Edinburgh tram project without major disputes with the contractors.
Juneyt Mehmed
Road/tram works should start immediately again! Please don’t risk our lives! Close Leith Walk for another year or so.
Raymond Willis
One problem is there are no ticket machines to be seen.
John Milne
At one time, folk would say "Hibs will win the Cup before it's built". Can't do that now, so I'll just say "I'll win the lottery."
Marek Waw
I watched them building it, and I knew it from the start and I am no expert! Where were the managers of the project at the time?
Robin Thomson
Well, there's a surprise!
David Boswell
Why is there a dispute? If they never did it right, then they are responsible.
John Anderson
And they want to build trams to Dalkeith and Musselburgh!
James Hunter
Don't worry, they can have a public inquiry again. And spend millions of our money to find out what went wrong.
Derek Scott
That’s good, only hundreds!
Warren Burrows
Thank God we have Scott Arthur as our Transport Convenor, otherwise this could end up in chaos.
Maggie Anne Herkes
Is this the same company that builds ferries?
Andy Brotherston
There’s a surprise eh? Time to tear it all up for more months/years of mayhem!
Ryan Horler
Can’t wait until they start the works to extend them along to Granton.
John McRae
The tram that nobody wanted nor asked for nor uses unless they're on the route. £1.2billion? Could have reduced council tax by £100s.
Ken Johnston
And following an incident, Constitution Street closed. So even if the trams had been running, they wouldn't have been! Flexible electric or hydrogen powered buses are the answer.
Graeme Gifford
What is at Newhaven that’s worth getting on a tram for?
Judy Brims
Can anything be done properly these days?
Gary Morwood
Waiting on the “lessons will be learned” response from CEC.
Kyle Danko
Deja vu... Also the existing track is littered with defects and concrete crumbling through the entire length of track already in town.
Happy birthday
Where was the best birthday party you have ever had in Edinburgh?
Maureen Scoales
The Wee Windies, High Street 1966.
Avril Dear
There were two. My 19th at The Place below Nicky Tams and my 22nd at Napier Students Union, Bruntsfield. Takes me a long time to get organised!
Jeanette Stewart
Clermiston Inn. Met my husband there on the Friday. I was 20 on the Tuesday before.
Cath Coutts
Portobello Trampoline Centre was amazing. Half an hour bouncing on trampolines to the best sounds of the late 70s and 80s, sausage rolls, crisps and red cola for your meal and then cartoons on the big screen.
Linda Mcintosh
My 21st at Cinderellas.