Edinburgh trams.

[G-CPTN]

Tram to start test runs next year

The first Edinburgh tram is to arrive in April ahead of testing later next year, officials have confirmed.

It will be put through test runs on a one-mile stretch of track between Gogar and Edinburgh Airport.

The announcement comes as it emerged building work had finally got under way at the main depot for the tram network, at Gogarburn.

The remaining 26 trams for Edinburgh will be delivered in batches from Spain as they are built.

Tram testing has three stages. They are first tested in the factory, then on a test track before being put in a real-time system.

Officials hope the trams could be tested on Croydon's network in Surrey.

A spokesman for tram developer Tie said trying out the trams in Croydon would mean they would be "the best tested trams yet".

From:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/...st/8299055.stm

[Bruce Carson]

Brings back memories.
I remember as a small boy spending some time at Portobello and riding an Edinburgh double decker on Princes Street.
My expert opinion at the time was that it was much inferior to the Glasgow trams.