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@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 2:32 PM

Strongly supports tram - e.g. huge benefit to #Leith
A #Granton route is vital

Emphasises bike/tramline dangers and seeks segregation on south route, plus include parallel routes in the tram project
#LeithWalk also cut *pedestrian* casualties

Addendum by the Green Group
Transport and Environment Committee
10 September 2026
Item 7.6 – Trams from Granton to the Edinburgh
Bioquarter and beyond
Add at the end of recommendations:
1.1.7 Notes the work that Spokes and others have done in highlighting that over 420
incidents have occurred with cyclists on tram tracks in Edinburgh, with 191 injuries and
one fatality, and therefore agrees that in pursing an Outline Business Case for the
southern section of the route to the Bioquarter / RiE, special care and attention should be
paid to how to avoid cycle/tram crashes including, but not limited to, consideration of
single-tracking of sections of the line, and ensuring that if parallel cycleroutes are
pursued as part of a solution, these must be integrated into the tram project.
Moved by: Chas Booth

extract from spokes deputation

Whilst there have been undoubted problems with cycle lane detailed design, the overall results in terms of council objectives, have been very positive. First, rather than tramlines deterring cycling as happens in Princes Street, the separated bike lanes contributed to major increases in bike use9. Perhaps even more important, not only have bike/tramline crashes and injuries been all but eliminated, but, despite common perceptions, Leith Walk pedestrian casualties have also fallen drastically - see the bluesky post below from Edward Tissiman. The reasons for this are not known but, given that virtually all pedestrian injuries result from motor vehicles, we speculate that crucial factors are the separation of pedestrians from the carriageway by the cycle lanes, and safer road crossings due to the ban on kerbside parking.

[plus screenshot showing fall in pedestrian casualties]

@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 2:19 PM

#EdinWebcast #Tram

Cllr @lezleymarion.bsky.social - Tragic has taken so long and still have to delay when benefits to city so great

SNP amendt: Cllr @dastonsnp.bsky.social says #Granton connection essential but needs to find different route

Cllr Lang amendt wants #Roseburn option totally rejected

Addendum by the SNP Group
Transport & Environment Committee
10 September 2026
Item 7.6 - Trams from Granton to the Edinburgh
BioQuarter / Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and
Beyond Strategic Business Case
1.1.3 ADDS ‘immediate’ between ‘Council’s’ and ‘priority’.
1.1.4 ADDS at end: ‘As part of this work, council officers should examine other potential
route options to North Edinburgh.’
ADDS new 1.1.7:
1.1.7 Recognises that the best means of securing government funding is being able to
demonstrate through a more developed business case level that the project provides a
strong case for investment and therefore agrees that officers commence work on the
Outline Business Case on the southern leg (City Centre to Royal Infirmary) as soon as
possible, subject to this report being referred to Full Council in order to make a decision
to allocate funding.
Moved by: Councillor Danny Aston

Committee deletes recommendations and inserts:
1.1.1 notes the findings of the Strategic Business Case (SBC) which set outs the
potential benefits of a North-South tram route while also detailing the significant
challenges in terms of funding and deliverability of reviewed routes options.
1.1.2 recognises the SBC's consideration of the two alternative route options between
Granton and the City Centre, both of which were strongly opposed in the public
consultation and agrees to:
a) not progress the northern section of the line to OBC and,
b) unequivocally rule out building the tram extension on the Roseburn path,
c) and requests that officers return to committee in two cycles with a report on
other possible options for improving public transport in the north of Edinburgh.
1.1.3 recognises that one of the shortlisted options in the SBC settled on an alignment for
a southern section of the route which could complement the South Suburban Railway
feasibility work now being advanced by Transport Scotland and Network Rail. Further
recognises how this route did command majority support in the public consultation.
1.1.4 however, notes the consistent position of the Scottish Government, reaffirmed in
June 2027 by the new Cabinet Secretary for Transport, that it will not fund a tram
extension as a standalone project, and therefore recognises the only feasible way of
advancing any of the southern line of the tram is by aligning this work with the wider
regional mass transit network plan (SEStransit) being led by SEStran.
Page 11
1.1.5 therefore agrees the southern section of the tram extension should be considered
as part of the wider SEStransit programme, which will be developed to SBC stage.
1.1.6 notes the significant money and officer resource already given to the necessary
tram extension technical studies, public consultation and SBC preparation and agrees
that, with the exception of the necessary officer time required via the SEStransit process,
no further resource should…

@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 1:24 PM

#EdinWebcast #Tram

Lab Cllr Day emphasises whole #Granton (3000-house) #Waterftont development is predicated on #tram

Con Cllr Mitchell against #Roseburn & #OrchardBrae. Wants to stop tram project due to cost

Q: Cllr Cameron: why this taken years?
A: Cllr Day: party politics e.g. at 2025 election

@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 1:02 PM

#EdinWebcast #Tram #Granton-#Bioquarter

Report-> democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/documents/s1...

Spokes member views-> bsky.app/profile/spok...

Spokes deputn-> www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/u...
🙋 Need separation tramline/bike
🙋 Strong support for a north extension
🙋 South route dangers need addressed

Summary of Spokes deputation...
Trams from Granton to the Edinburgh BioQuarter / Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and Beyond Strategic Business Case
CEC Transport & Environment Committee 10.9.26, agenda item 7.61
Written deputation from Spokes
Exec Summary
[2 below] A big lesson from the Leith Walk section of the Newhaven extension is that separated bike lanes can bring significant pedestrian casualty reduction, in addition to preventing cyclist tramline crashes. A lesson from Foot of Walk to Ocean Terminal is that parallel cycleroutes (to avoid tramlined roads where segregation is not possible) must be integrated into the tram project, or risk years of delay after the start of tram operation.
[3 below] There is very strong Spokes membership support for a northern extension, but with roughly equal differing views on which of the two options it should use, or whether both are acceptable. For both route options, there remain substantial disadvantages to safe and/or enjoyable cycling, which will need to be addressed to the maximum extent possible if either option goes ahead.
[4 below] The southern route, which is now likely to be the Council immediate priority, and is heavily used by cyclists, presents extreme difficulties in ensuring safe cycling. We argue for single track running for the Bridges section, and segregated bike lanes south of St Patrick Square – the latter hopefully bringing the same casualty avoidance benefits seen by both pedestrians and cyclists on the fairly similar Leith Walk.

@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 9:35 AM

#EdinWebcast ... #Tram to #Granton

Q: Cllr Lang: re feasibility study cost
A: Report shows it is much cheaper to do N & S route study combined

Q: Cllr Cameron: what are the political obstacles - this has been an ambition for years
A: The political problems are greater than financial ones

@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 9:18 AM

#EdinWebcast ... #Tram to #Granton

Deputations by 'Looking for Growth' (+ written attached)
- #Roseburn route essential, retaining adjacent 🚶👩‍🦼🚲 path

& Tram-Trains for Edinburgh
- Support full tram extension, tied in with South Sub route. Entire route essential

Looking For Growth Edinburgh: Written
Deputation to TEC 10/9/2026
Calum McCutcheon on behalf of LFG Edinburgh, 8/9/2026
My name is Calum, I live in Leith, and I’m here representing the Edinburgh chapter of Looking For
Growth. I am here today to speak for the huge share of our city who are eager to see the
long-promised tram to Granton built, a group that your own market research shows is twice the size of
those who oppose it. I ask this committee to show bold leadership and stand by our transport experts,
who make a compelling case that a Granton tram is not just a nice-to-have, but a necessity.
The line to Granton forms a large part of the case for tram extension in the first place. It is a region
that has been historically neglected with poor access to cars and public transport. Unlocking the
£1.3bn of Waterfront investment depends on this tramline being built. The SBC presents an urgent
need for more mass transit to the city centre, forecasting a 50% increase in demand whilst our bus
network has little room to grow. The report demonstrates how a tram to Granton could transform
people’s access to work, healthcare, and the many green spaces this city has to offer.
Yet the diluted recommendations today to delay or even scrap the northern extension seem at odds
with the stark evidence in the full report. You are being asked to cut off half of the deprived
communities who would benefit from this massive investment, until unspecified further work can be
done. But no amount of "further work" will unearth a secret third route to Granton. The Orchard Brae
route is not viable – we’d spend 50% more whilst getting fewer riders and slower journeys as trams
get stuck behind cars. The genuine concerns about the Roseburn Path have already been accounted
for: the path will remain, and adjacent active travel routes will be enhanced. The “further work” which
needs to be completed before construction is entirely political – standing up for the northern extension
that will keep our c…

@spokes.org.uk Sep 10, 2026, 9:09 AM

#EdinWebcast Transport Cttee (TEC)

Papers--> democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk/ieListDocume...
Watch--> edinburgh.public-i.tv/core/portal/...

#Trams extension #Granton #BioQuarter
#TROs simplification
#Lothianburn junction
& much more