Millions more passengers take the tram

The new part of the tram line extended to Newhaven has meant millions more customers who have chosen the tram as their public transport option.

Unsurprisingly Edinburgh Airport was the busiest stop on the whole network last year, but The Shore was the busiest stop on the new part of the extended line.

More than seven million tram journeys were recorded in the year from June 2023which is double the patronage in the previous year.

The Edinburgh Trams team says it is dedicated to ensuring residents, visitors and local businesses all benefit from the £207 million investment in the line extended from York Place to Newhaven.

Lea Harrison, Edinburgh Trams Managing Director, said: “The completion of the Trams Newhaven project on time and on budget was a remarkable achievement, but the positive impact of the new route on the communities it serves has been equally impressive.

“In June 2023, 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 also helped attract visitors while driving up customer numbers.

“The past year has seen the Edinburgh Trams go from strength to strength, but we’re never complacent and constantly striving to deliver an even better experience for customers while finding innovative ways to make the tram an increasingly attractive travel option.”

The total number of passenger journeys in 2023 was 9.3 million which was a 90 per cent increase on the previous year. When Harry Styles visited Edinburgh in May the number of passengers using the tram in one day reached a record high.

Commenting on the clear success of the new route, 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 and take advantage of a swift, convenient and reliable way to get around our great city for business or leisure.”