Not so joined up thinking

I AM baffled by the enthusiasm in the April edition (Metro Track Record) for the so-called ‘seamless’ all-electric link between Dundee and Edinburgh Airport, apparently being provided jointly by Ember and Edinburgh Trams. Because it is excellent for the purpose for which it was designed, I am a regular user of Ingliston Park & Ride, so I know that there will be nothing but hassle for anyone attempting to use this alternative link. The Park & Ride is in two distinct parts: there is a side for bus transfers (which will be where the Ember electric vehicle will go) and a side for tram transfers – but these transfers are both intended for private cars, not for links between buses and trams. Anyone coming off an Ember bus wanting to reach the airport (which is less than a half mile along the road) will have to trundle their luggage across a large car park to reach the slope down to the exposed westbound tram platform for a three minute ride to the end of the line and then face another long open-air walk to reach the airport buildings. What is seamless about that?

Many bus routes run right to the airport and use stops located conveniently outside the doors, so why doesn’t Ember do the same and cut out the planned nonsense at Ingliston Park & Ride?

Dundonians wanting an easy public transport link to Edinburgh Airport would be far better using either ScotRail’s services to Edinburgh Gateway or Haymarket, then changing to the trams which stop conveniently close to both stations.

Callum MacLeod Crieff, Perthshire