Disruption continues after early July blaze on Princes Street
Edinburgh’s tram network is still operating a truncated service and Lothian Buses continue to run diversions after a fire on Princes Street in early July left a portion of the road closed. In an open letter issued on Thursday, Willie Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer of Lothian and Edinburgh Trams, set out why normal tram operations to the northern section of the route have not yet resumed and reiterated the emphasis on safety.
Trams are currently running between the Airport and the West End, while services that would normally operate further north are not in use. Lothian Buses routes serving the city centre have been re-routed via George Street and Queen Street to accommodate the closure and maintain connectivity for passengers.
"Our priority has been, and continues to be, the safety of our customers and colleagues," Willie Hamilton wrote.
Why services cannot be restored immediately
The letter from operators explains that every available option to return trams to the northern section has been explored but practical constraints remain. Transporting tram vehicles by alternative means was judged not currently feasible, and the operator highlighted essential requirements that cannot be met at present at Newhaven, including secure overnight storage, routine maintenance and vehicle cleaning facilities.
As a result, the organisation says it does not have suitable long-term facilities at Newhaven to support the northern operations, a key factor in the decision to maintain the modified timetable for the time being.
Short-term measures to help passengers
To reduce inconvenience while the closure persists, Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses have introduced a number of compensatory measures. These include:
- Ticket acceptance on Lothian Buses for passengers who would normally travel on the affected tram section.
- Revised bus routing through George Street and Queen Street to preserve links across the city centre.
- Increased communications and travel information for customers to help plan journeys during the disruption.
Operators thanked staff across both organisations for their efforts in redesigning services and coordinating operations amid the exceptional circumstances created by the fire and ongoing road closure.
Operational snapshot
Below is a brief summary of current arrangements provided by Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses.
| Route | Current operation |
|---|---|
| Airport – West End (tram) | Operating as normal |
| West End – Newhaven (tram) | Suspended pending restoration of northern facilities |
| City-centre bus routes | Diverted via George Street and Queen Street; tram tickets accepted |
Hamilton acknowledged the frustration this has caused for customers, colleagues and city-centre businesses — a point of particular concern as Edinburgh approaches its busiest period of the year. The statement stressed that safety considerations have been paramount throughout the response and that resources are being deployed to minimise disruption wherever possible.
At this stage no timescale has been given for full restoration of tram services to the north of the city. Operators say they will continue to provide updates and work to identify any practicable options that could bring the northern section back into service while maintaining the standards of maintenance and storage required for the fleet.
Passengers are advised to check the latest travel information from Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses before setting out and to allow extra time for journeys that would normally use Princes Street.
