Tram to Edinburgh

Bilfinger Berger and Siemens have been awarded a contract to construct a new 19km-long tramline in Edinburgh.

Bilfinger Berger and Siemens have been awarded a contract from Transport Initiatives Edinburgh, a completely owned subsidiary of the City of Edinburgh, to construct a new 19km-long tramline in Edinburgh worth over €640m.

The city’s new tram system will begin operation in mid 2011. It will run from the Edinburgh Airport through the centre of the city to Newhaven in the north.

Bilfinger Berger will carry out construction of the tram line itself, including numerous bridges and supporting structures, while Siemens will  supply the communications, control and signalling equipment, the electrification and the substations, as well as parts of the track structure itself.

Phase 1a of the double-track tramline will connect the city centre with the northern suburbs and the airport, which is located 13km to the west of the city. The plans call for a total of 22 tram stops.

Transport Initiatives Edinburgh plans to expand the tram network in four phases in the coming years.