Birthday celebrations on Edinburgh’s popular tramway have taken a colourful twist with the launch of a unique tartan.

Staff across the system will be proudly wearing ties and bow-ties sporting the specially commissioned ‘tram tartan’ design in the run-up to the network’s third anniversary on May 31.

Edinburgh Trams are giving customers the opportunity to get their hands on the limited-edition, eye-catching neckwear in a giveaway competition on social media. Simply like and share the Official Edinburgh Trams’ Facebook page by 31st May to be in with a chance of winning.

It’s set to be a massive weekend of rugby and Edinburgh Trams is ready to get fans to the heart of the action when the European Challenge and Champions Cup finals come to BT Murrayfield.

Gloucester take on Stade Francais in the Challenge Cup final on Friday, 12 May (kick-off 8pm), whilst Clermont take on Saracens the following day on Saturday, 13 May (kick-off 5pm).

Employees at Edinburgh Trams are turning to pedal power to help raise money for a local charity that rescues and rehomes abandoned pets.

Taking time out between shifts, seven drivers and three Ticketing Services Assistants (TSAs) will be embarking on a gruelling 42-mile ride from Dunbar to the Edinburgh Airport tram stop to raise money for Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home.

Thanks to the support of colleagues, family and friends, they are already more than halfway towards their goal of raising £500.

Edinburgh Trams is set to run its regular full service across the Easter weekend with trams from every 7 minutes.

There will be no alterations to services on Good Friday (14 April), Easter Sunday (16 April) and Easter Monday (17 April) with trams running to their regular timetables. Trams will also run as usual on the Saturday (15 April).

For full details on timetables, please click here.

Dean Anderson, Customer Experience Manager at Edinburgh Trams, commented:

Edinburgh Trams has been recognised as one of the UK’s top transport operators for customer service.

Following a survey of people using the tram earlier this year, the Institute of Customer Service (ICS) awarded the organisation a score of 85.8 – more than 11 points above the transport industry average.

The score was also 8 points higher than the average for UK business and, in a report, the Institute highlighted the fact that tram customers were most satisfied with the helpfulness and competence of staff.

The BT Murrayfield Stadium will host European Challenge Cup rugby this Friday and Edinburgh Trams is set to provide the best way of getting to the big match.

Edinburgh Rugby will take on La Rochelle in the quarter-finals of the competition on Friday 31 March with kick-off set for 8pm.

Edinburgh Trams has recorded its busiest day helped by the RBS Six Nations Rugby series.

Scotland’s match against Wales at BT Murrayfield Stadium in late February clocked up the system’s highest patronage level for a single day with just over 28,000 passenger journeys being made.

Edinburgh Trams Managing Director, Lea Harrison said:

“Across the three matches staged at Murrayfield this season we recorded over 75,000 journeys, a clear indication that rugby fans see the tram as a perfect way of getting to the heart of the action.

An upgrade to ticket machines across Edinburgh’s tram system means they will be able to accept the new pound coins, which come into circulation this week.

To be launched on Tuesday, March 28, the 12-sided coins will be instantly recognisable, and Edinburgh Trams has been busy preparing for their arrival.

Dean Anderson, Customer Experience Manager, explained:

“In recent weeks we have carried out extensive testing of updated software that will enable customers to use the new coins as soon as they enter circulation.

As Scotland’s 2017 Six Nations campaign comes to an end at the BT Murrayfield Stadium, there’s no better way to get to the heart of the action than with Edinburgh Trams.

Super Saturday on 18 March will see Scotland take on Italy at Murrayfield with the other remaining Six Nations fixtures being shown on the stadium’s big screens after full time.