Newhaven line opening sees tram use double
The opening of the new line to Newhaven has seen tram trips in the Capital more than double, according to the network’s operator.
Edinburgh Trams says more than seven million trips were recorded in the second half of 2023, compared to 3.4 million during the same period the previous year.
Managing director Lea Harrison said the figures, released this week, reflected the dedication of the entire team to ensuring residents, visitors and local businesses enjoyed maximum benefit from the £207 million investment in the line, which launched in June last year.
He said: “Our ‘Cleaner, better, faster, longer’ launch campaign helped the extended services get off to a flying start, and new stops such as The Shore and Ocean Terminal are now among the busiest on the network.
“We’ve also established partnerships with businesses and attractions along the route, including Royal Yacht Britannia, Port of Leith Distillery and Cruise Forth, which have helped attract visitors while driving up customer numbers.”
Overall, 9.3 million
New stops such as The Shore are now among the busiest on the network
journeys were taken by tram in 2023 – a 90 per cent increase on 2022. In May, Edinburgh Trams recorded its highest daily patronage figures when Harry Styles took to the stage at Murrayfield Stadium.
George Lowder, chief executive of Transport for Edinburgh, said: “Forming the backbone of an integrated transport network, the expanded tramway is also helping us to meet our target of becoming a net zero city by 2030.”
“Since the opening of the line, we’ve seen an increasing number of people discover the benefits of public transport.”
Further enhancements are planned, including final testing of an integrated tap-on, tap-off contactless ticketing system.