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TRAMS AND BUSES DANCE TO THE SAME TUNE (IN CO-ORDINATED LIVERY)

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A tram, bus, operational staff, Council Transport Convener, Government Transport Minister and busker all coincided in St Andrew Square yesterday.

This happy combination marked the unveiling of staff uniforms, madder vehicle livery, and the transfer of a new section of track between the depot at Gogar and the Edinburgh Park Station. This brings the total length of track now in Council control to nearly 5km.

The co-ordinated colour schemes on show yesterday underline a co-ordinated management structure for buses and trams under the new organisation Transport for Edinburgh (TfE). It has its first meeting today.

TfE’s chief executive, Ian Craig, said yesterday:

‘Transport for Edinburgh is a fantastic opportunity to join bus and tram operations together giving the capital the successful transport system that will be the envy of other cities. Our vision for Transport for Edinburgh is simple; to provide world class, environmentally and socially inclusive transport, that will be an integral part of the future success of Edinburgh and the Lothians. 
     ‘People will start to see the new logo branding on our bus vehicles from January next year and on all trams at operational service. In the short term there will be no direct changes that will affect our passengers; ridacards and pre-purchased tickets will still be valid for use.’

Looking forward to the tram system’s launch in Spring next year, Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener and Chair of TfE (pictured at foot of page), said:

‘Transport for Edinburgh is a new approach to transport in our city, one that prioritises the customer and the future economic growth of Edinburgh.  We’re already integrating ticketing, timetabling and customer services to make journeys easier but there’s much more opportunity ahead to develop wider transport policy in a way that benefits everyone who wants to get around the city, whether they use bus, tram, bike or go on foot.’

TfE aims to: integrate bus and tram services in the city, with ticketing and customer services in common; and reduce operating costs and increase efficiencies by jointly running finance, human resources, marketing and facilities management.

Projections released in a Council press release yesterday say:

  • TfE’s 15-year financial model shows a positive outlook with a forecast profit of £3.7m over the period with an operating surplus in the fourth year of operations. The £3.7m relates to the Council’s position taking into account, tram, bus, lifecycle and infrastructure maintenance. 
  • The operational position for TfE is forecast to be £55.2m over 15 years which is paid to the Council by way of dividends. The organisation will initially oversee the bus and tram services but there is future potential to look wider and to consider other transport issues and opportunities.

Also launched yesterday was the new Trams website which this morning was operating smoothly and silently from start to finish. 

[Picture, top-right: courtesy of Ella Taylor-Smith]