The beleaguered Edinburgh Tram project has had many obstacles to cross, but one which has been slammed by independent consultants in a report just ‘leaked’ today has still to be eliminated.
The council asked the consultancy firm, Atkins, to examine their plans for the operation of the trams under what is known as due diligence. The consultants reviewed all of the details of the council’s operating plan, and it is clear that there is a part of the project which is now seen as a bit potty. The tram project is planned to start operating in 2014, and we have all been relieved to see that the majority of the rails have been laid and the overhead wires have now been strung.
But it seems that all this planning may perhaps come to nought. The consultants have pronounced in their report that that there is insufficient provision for what is delicately called “drivers’ physical necessities”. The only place where it is planned drivers may stop for this purpose is at the depot, and the consultants say that this may be unacceptable.
Will the tram timetable be affected by this problem? It appears that drivers will be expected to hang on until Gogar if they want to take a convenience break. Will they be able to concentrate on their driving along the rest of the line?
Well The Edinburgh Reporter believe that we have the answer. Maybe some kindly householders along the way will be able to offer facilities to tram drivers on an occasional basis for a ‘wee fee’? Some of the tramline goes very close to private homes, so one would hope it will not be too much inconvenience to ask some home owners to open up their front doors to the tram drivers who find themselves caught short…..
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
Have the guid folk of Edinburgh not been driven potty enough!? Get them trams rolling NOW!
They could always provide “Tram Driver’s Friends” – a device which, surprisingly does not appear to be mentioned on the web. Suffice it to say that a bottle and somne tubing is – or was – involved.
And what about the female tram drivers, presuming there will be some?
Whatever happenned to pragmatism? Have these guys not heard of portaloos?
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