The new campaign to reopen a railway line in southern Edinburgh to passenger services held a meeting at the City Chambers when they outlined their proposals to an audience of more than 100 people. 

Tram Trains for Edinburgh (TTfE) wants to reintroduce passenger train or tram-train services on the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway and link the line to existing networks. 

The group was established following interest in the tram-train study conducted by a team of final year Heriot-Watt students published earlier in the year.    

TTfE has a committee of six Edinburgh residents with a Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer along with three committee members who are also community councillors in the capital.

Corey Boyle, who led the student team explained to the meeting that their work concluded that by using tram-trains on the South Sub there would be many benefits for Edinburgh. The positive effects could reduce congestion by cutting car journeys, encourage urban regeneration, and improve access to jobs, education, and health services for communities in the Southside of Edinburgh.

Rob Falcon, Chair of Tram Trains for Edinburgh, said, “I was delighted by the turnout at the public meeting and also by the strong support shown by the audience during the questions and discussion. The South Sub is a sadly underused public asset which can and should make a significant contribution to better public transport in Edinburgh. I urge anyone who would like to help with this campaign to get in touch with us by email at [email protected].”

Treasurer Lawrence Marshall has been involved in campaigning for better rail services in Edinburgh since 1989. He said: “”Tram-trains are game-changing because they can run on-street in the city centre and on traditional rail lines, and are what makes the difference from previous ‘South Sub’ reopening proposals. 

“Tram-train services would run westwards from Portobello along the South Sub and connect to the current tram at Murrayfield; they could then continue to both Princes Street. and Leith, or Edinburgh Park and the airport.”