Edinburgh trams ‘running at 25% capacity’
Edinburgh’s £776 million tram line is running at an average of 25 per cent capacity, according to figures published by the Scottish Conservatives.
Passenger numbers almost doubled between 2014 and 2015 to 5.3 million, but the service has the potential to carry 21 million a year. Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said the data suggested there was still work to do to make the project a success. But leaders at Edinburgh Trams said the figures we rem is representative.
Edinburgh’s £776 million tram line is running at an average of 25 per cent capacity, figures published by the Scottish Conservatives showed.
Passenger numbers almost doubled between 2014 and 2015 to 5.3 million, but the services have the potential to carry 21 million a year.
Each tram has a capacity of 250 and the vehicles make a total of 85,000 journeys per year – meaning on average three-quarters of the space on the network is unfilled.
Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs said: “The one saving grace people in Edinburgh thought they could take from the trams was they would be worth the wait eventually.
“However, with three-quarters of spaces unfilled every year, it seems even that consolation hasn’t come to pass.
“This was a hideously disruptive and expensive project but, having been operational for a while, millions of spaces on these trams are going spare.
“It’s clear there is still significant work to do to make this project a success, and I hope bosses use these numbers as a catalyst for doing exactly that.”
The figures were revealed by Edinburgh Trams finance manager Tom Neil in response to a freedom of information request, which said during peak times some trams “operate at 100 per cent capacity” and enhanced provision had been made to cope with demand. An Edinburgh Trams spokesman said: “It’s disappointing the Conservatives have issued a figure that misrepresents both the success of the trams and how public transport in general operates.
“We’ve already had to introduce extra services at peak times and there will be good news early in the new year on further service improvements. Although a relatively recent form of transport for the city, the tram continues to go from strength to strength and is clearly proving its value for the people and economy of Edinburgh.”
The firm said the figures were based on 2015 passenger levels and it expects 2016 to show a significant increase.
It said two-thirds of a capacity of a tram is standing, and based on available seats, usage levels are around 80 per cent.
Bus Users Scotland director Gavin Booth said: “All operators of public transport know there are times when buses, trams or trains will be very full and others when they will be much emptier.
“What is important is that passenger numbers are increasing year on year, and there is great potential for growth if and when the system is extended.”