Tram Trains to be investigated for the South Sub

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th May 2008

The Transport and Environment Committee of the Liberal Democrat led City Council has ordered an investigation into whether hybrid electric/diesel powered trams could be run on the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway in conjunction with the Edinburgh tram system.

On 6th May the Committee received a report by consultants Halcrow into how passenger services could be returned to the South Sub. One of the early conclusions of the report was that any spare capacity that was identified for the South Sub at the time of the last report in 2004 had now been allocated for intercity services and this made a heavy rail service from Morningside and Newington to Waverley and Haymarket a practical impossibility.

Local Liberal Democrat Spokesperson Fred Mackintosh said, "The Council is to be commended for continuing to push the south sub. Tram trains on the South Sub would fit in well with the proposed third tram line through Newington and the Inch to the Royal Infirmary. This is a serious proposal that should be treated seriously."