Edinburgh Trams is to start a six week ‘red eye’ trial on Monday 19 October, giving passengers the opportunity to travel to and from Edinburgh Airport at earlier times in the morning. It is hoped that the trial, announced earlier this month, will help passengers make earlier flight times and improve the service provided at Ingliston Park and Ride.
Ian Craig, Chief Executive of Transport for Edinburgh, said:
After 16 months of successful passenger service it is only right that we look again at passenger demand and this trial will help to determine any timetable enhancements that we can make in the future.
For us it’s all about continuously improving the experience for our passengers and, throughout the course of the year, we’ve worked hard to review and update our service with positive results so far.
Passengers arriving at Edinburgh Airport can expect a tram to depart at 0446, 89 minutes earlier than their current start time of 0615. Those travelling to the airport or within the city centre can leave from York Place at 0500 which is 29 minutes earlier than the current departure time.
This first tram to depart Ingliston Park & Ride will leave at 0448 (currently 0618) and the first tram from the Gyle heading City bound will leave at 0430 (currently 0500)
The red eye trial is being carried out from the 19 October - 29 November inclusive. This extension will last six weeks initially and then go back to normal so findings can be assessed with maintenance contractors. Once that work is complete then full consideration can be given to a permanent extension of service.
It is anticipated that the extended timetable can also have a further positive impact on Ingliston Park & Ride which is already seeing an increase in usage of 55% over the same period last year.
Full extended timetable
Monday – Saturday
Airport departures - 0446, 0507, 0526, 0547, 0558, 0608, 0618, 0629, 0639
York Place departures - 0500, 0510, 0520, 0530, 0540, 0550, 0600, 0610
Sunday
Airport departures - 0447, 0516, 0547, 0603, 0619, 0634
York Place departures - 0500, 0515, 0531, 0546, 0600, 0615, 0631