Edinburgh Tram Expansion: Public Consultation, 2026

Introduction

The City of Edinburgh Council has initiated a public consultation for the Edinburgh tram expansion plan, which began on 25 August and will continue until 17 November. The consultation seeks public input on proposed new tram routes from Granton to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Main Content

Consultation Details

The public consultation, which began on 25 August and will run until 17 November, aims to gather public feedback on the proposed tram route extensions. This feedback will inform the development of a Strategic Business Case (SBC) for the expansion. The SBC will be presented to the Transport and Environment Committee in 2026.

Route Proposals

The proposed tram expansion includes three main sections. The first section involves route options from Granton to the city centre, considering either the Orchard Brae corridor or the Roseburn Path. The second section focuses on the route from the city centre to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary, utilizing existing tram infrastructure at Princes Street.

The Granton to the city centre route via the Orchard Brae corridor has estimated costs between GBP 650 million – GBP 850 million (EUR 753 – 985 million) and is forecast to carry approximately 3.75 million passengers per annum by 2042. The Roseburn Path route is estimated to cost between GBP 350 million – GBP 480 million (EUR 405.4 million – 556 million) and is forecast to carry around 4.25 million passengers per annum by 2042. The entire route is forecast to cost between GBP 2 billion – GBP 2.9 billion (EUR 2.3 – 3.3 billion), depending on the final options selected, and carry around 38 million passengers by 2042.

Potential Extensions

The third proposed section includes potential extensions to Midlothian and East Lothian. This involves exploring a tram-train concept with Network Rail on the old Edinburgh South Suburban Railway. Other options include connections with Musselburgh Railway station and Queen Margaret University (QMU) in East Lothian, and to Shawfair with interchange opportunities into Midlothian and the Scottish Borders.

Background

A detailed business case was developed to extend the existing route from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, which was successfully completed in 2023 and now carries over a million passengers a month.

Conclusion

The City of Edinburgh Council is consulting the public on the proposed expansion of the Edinburgh tram network, with routes extending from Granton to the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary, and potential extensions to Midlothian and East Lothian. The consultation period runs from 25 August to 17 November, and the collected feedback will be used to develop a Strategic Business Case.

Company Summary

City of Edinburgh Council: The local government body responsible for the Edinburgh tram expansion project.

Network Rail: The owner and operator of the railway infrastructure in Great Britain, involved in exploring a tram-train concept.