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Bus chief vows trams will not affect expansion



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THE managing director of Lothian Buses is still determined to expand Edinburgh's bus services - despite the arrival of trams to the city.
Writing in his latest newsletter to staff, Ian Craig said investment would continue and fears that trams would squeeze busses out were unfounded.

And he moved to reassure drivers and other staff members that there would be no job cuts as a result
of the trams project.

Following approval of tram line one from Newhaven to Edinburgh Airport, Mr Craig said: "So what does this mean for Lothian Buses and what will it mean to you [the staff] personally?

"Firstly, I can confirm that the shareholders and directors remain fully committed to growing and developing Lothian Buses.

"Investment in fleet, premises and people will continue in order to meet the needs of our customers now and in the future.

"After all, even when trams start running, the vast majority of the population of the city will be served by buses, so the bus network has to grow and develop to serve the 92 per cent of the city's population who live in areas not served by the tram line."

He added that the 19 buses which would be sacrificed to make way for the trams only accounted for three and a half per cent of the fleet and would not make much of an impact.

He said: "There will certainly not be any staff redundancies."



The full article contains 245 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 19 November 2007 11:04 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Lothian Buses
 
1

Incandescent ',

19/11/2007 12:27:55

But according to TIE the ream will serve 99.99% of edinburgh, what is he saying?!

2

Road Raga,

19/11/2007 12:33:53

no, thats not what they said #1

3

Grumpy,

19/11/2007 12:34:29

I guess he's saying that only 8% of Edinburgh's population will live in areas served by the tram. In that case, let's keep the buses, together with the low fares, and just let the 8% who will reap the benefit of the trams pay for them.

But I bet South Queensferry and Kirkliston will still be waiting to be served by Lothian Bus.

Methinks this article will come back to bite Mr Craig where it hurts.................

4

alex patersons English teacher,

19/11/2007 12:41:41

1.
reaming may serve 99.99% of edinburgh,youll still need somewhere comfy to sit though.

5

D2,

19/11/2007 12:55:21

#1 -where do they say this?

6

Old Cartha Boy,

Dumbreck 19/11/2007 12:57:52

"even when trams start running"....what's the betting that this text will feature in the EN on 19 November 2017...

7

,

19/11/2007 13:04:20
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
8

Bob 2,

19/11/2007 13:08:16

me thinks it could be more than 19 buses,
presumably the 19 buses are the 22 service

but what about the airport service, another 10 buses?

and other routes, particularly Leith Walk Routes, that will be withdrawn/reduced

We would assume that the newer buses will replace some of the older buses on other routes

Presumably maintenance costs will be higher with the Tram. TIE will have to presumably pay for the upkeep and maintance of the Track and Power (lines/track).

Hopefully we can still see the same annnual investment in new buses across lothians fleet.

9

Young Bob,

THE ORIGINAL BOB AND STILL THE BEST 19/11/2007 13:47:53

TIE have been very selective with the truth...

Ahhh to hell with it..

THEY'VE LIED OUTRIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING.

Every single bus service barr one will still HAVE to run.

And quite right... if you're not on the tram route why should you be paying for it....

In fact let's take that one step further...

10

,

19/11/2007 13:56:22
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 1155636, Article id was mapped to record!
11

pop,

west lothian 19/11/2007 13:58:51

Ah thought Neil Renilson was in charge of LB ?

12

Märiö Antoinette,

19/11/2007 14:00:22

Now I remember why I left, you lot with your pinched little beery faces drinking in your smelly little pubs going on about smelly useless football teams in your cold little city.

I would not let you in my house , you would spread dust.

13

Irn-Bruce,

Edinburgh 19/11/2007 14:10:21

#8

Hopefully we'll see more standard services running out to the airport.

The 35 (and N22, at night) are dirt cheap and useful for those not going to the City Centre.

Services running direct from the airport to various suburbs would be an excellent complement to the premium service on the tram.

14

pop,

west lothian 19/11/2007 14:12:49

Looks like the 100 service is going to be fighting for its survival

15

,

19/11/2007 14:54:44
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
16

Joe,

Livingston 19/11/2007 15:14:47

#14.. Different route, plus no doubt the 100 service will serve other areas.

17

Incandescent,

the real one 19/11/2007 15:34:16

#1 Oh dear. Your spelling is declining quite dramatically as you type faster in a desperate attempt to post inane drivel on every article in this issue before today's login is disabled.

18

Young Bob,

RIGHT HERE KIDS 19/11/2007 16:45:45

#10.

Hello Mario

My Dear boy,

You should watch that blood pressure, with any luck you’ll have a heart attack or a stroke.

LISTEN UP TROLL….

The opposition to the trams is not some EMOTIONAL / IRRATIONAL reaction to change.

It is a RATIONAL CONCERN about a scheme that makes little if any rational sense.

Financially the numbers simply DO NOT ADD UP.

Logistically the infrastructure of Edinburgh according to ALL, I repeat ALL independent surveys is entirely unsuitable and prohibitively expensive.

Trams were abandoned in Edinburgh 40 years ago FOR A REASON.

Trams are inflexible. They are literally tram-lined, they cannot move under their own power, cannot negotiate traffic, roadworks, accidents or unforeseen events (Parades etc).

THIS WAS THE RATIONALE FOR GETTING RID OF THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.

If it was a case of it’ll be a bitter pill to swallow but it will be for the best in the long run, then you would not have the opposition that you have to it.

IN THE MAIN THE PEOPLE ARE NOT THAT IMMATURE.

HOWEVER

Those of us that can actually think for ourselves and unfortunately know the corrupt nature of Edinburgh Council can see this disaster from long enough off.

In the long term…

RETAIL WILL SUFFER.
Edinburgh is having a hard enough time competing with out of town units let alone Glasgow.

GRIDLOCK
The one factor that all the surveys miss is that people bring cars into town because they simply have no option. The trams will do zero to reduce this, it is an Edinburgh centric scheme. Has no effect on influx of traffic coming to and from the city which is the vast majority of the traffic

WORKING IN TOWN WILL NO LONGER BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION
Look at the Royal Bank, they moved out of town very successfully, how long before they are followed by the other financial institution and big-hitters. Employees and employers will see the additional stress of

19

Mario on another machine,

19/11/2007 17:06:47

Like I said.

What you going to do about this Bob ? whinge to me about it ?

20

BusOff,

19/11/2007 17:52:05

Expanding Edinburgh buses whoops Lothian Region Transport.

Any chance you could expand as far as West Linton would love to see the X47 in the village!!

21

GraemeH,

Edinburgh 19/11/2007 18:03:46

8% of the population works out at c.35,000. Which means that these people are getting an effective transport subsidy of over £17,000 each. How about we just give them a grand each and spend the other £550m on things which serve a purpose?

It also shows up the sh!te that TIE serves up as patronage figures. With the business plan showing 11m passengers per year (and rising), it would need every potential user of the tramline to use it every day. Either that or they close all roads to and from the airport so that the only way to get to it is by the tramline. Which would give them a few more million....

Why can't the cooncillors see these basic facts?

22

Road Raga,

19/11/2007 18:09:06

No offence # 18 but almost every one of your claims are incorrect.
It is little wonder that there is not a sensible debate on the trams when people make things up then convince themselves that their fiction is truth, and god forbid if you repeat it often enough others might actually start believing it.

23

Think Tank,

19/11/2007 18:11:26

Young Bob you are painfully misguided.

The biggest problem with this debate is that the anti-tram brigade think (because they refuse to engage with the facts of the development) that trams and buses are somehow going to be separate.

You're wrong. Trams and buses will be run by the same operator- the successor to Lothian buses.

Same operator, same tickets, and finally run-through ticketing rather than £1 per bus.

On RETAIL- simply wrong. The trams will attract business to the city...we've already had a major hotel announcement for Leith Walk directly quoting the tram line as central to their decision to invest in Edinburgh. Watch and eat your words as dozens of new shops and businesses follow the tram line.

If you don't believe me, why don't you take a look at Nottingham...huge and highly successful development has followed the tram line right through the heart of the city and now spreading out.

On GRIDLOCK- again you simply don't understand basic public transport, especially on your point of attracting people from outside Edinburgh. Again look at Nottingham and the HUGELY successful park and rides based on the tram route....free parking on the outskirts for the price of a tram ticket into the city centre, and right to the heart of it within minutes.

On JOBS- how ironic that you pick the RBS at Gogar to try an illustrate your misguided views...a major development that will be served by the trams. That's right- a jobs hub (5000 people) on the tram line.

How about Edinburgh Park- another major jobs hub served by the tram. The tram will ease peoples' journey to work, not hinder them. Why do you think Microsoft is relocating now to the city centre, minutes walk from the tram?

On the FESTIVAL- tourists are exactly the people who will use the tram (unlike imbecilic car lovers such as yourself). In fact, I imagine they'll be rather delighted as they walk out of the airport and onto a modern, efficient and (most of a

24

AB_R,

19/11/2007 18:34:54

First and foremost, I cannot drive, but with this tram I beleive I will have to learn just to get to and from work.

Secondly, the tram will be run by a French company, the contract was signed by TIE before they got the go ahead for this scheme. They will have to cancel this contract paying out millions in compensation to Transdev if they set up another company to run the trams and buses.

Edinburgh does NOT need the trams, and every other tram scheme down south has been pulled as they do not provide value for money.

As for Microsoft coming to the city, oh yeah the tram line was the clincher. Aye right.

25

Young Bob,

Here 19/11/2007 18:44:44

#23

Once again no substance in the argument.
Vague statements.
Retail... how EXACTLY will the trams attract people?

EXPLAIN IN DETAIL TO ME....

Exactly as I've said over and over.

The pro tram brigade use vague emotive arguments avoiding HARD FACTS like the plague.

We have a good bus system.
hundreds of millions of taxpayers money
TO SOLVE A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT EXIST.

So #23 which part of the Tram pie are you eating from because in my experience over the last year the ONLY people who REALLY want this debacle are in some way employed by it...!!!!!

26

Young Bob,

Here 19/11/2007 18:47:11

#23 Moron...

If I want impartial information on the trams I'm hardly going to swallow their propaganda.

HARD FACTS AND TRUTH ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AREN'T THEY...?

27

Young Bob,

here 19/11/2007 18:53:45

#23 PRESUMPTUOUS PUPPY...!!

I do not use a car... I use public transport. I am exact who this is aimed at and I'm not FOOLED.

28

Miss Jean Brodie,

19/11/2007 19:12:03

Comedy Alert! Comedy Alert! Comedy Alert!

29

Mario 2.0 (at home),

19/11/2007 19:27:20

Oh Bob, bob bob bob bob bob bob . Bob bob bob bob bob bob bob bob ob bob bobby bobby bobby booby .

Oh bob . Oh bob bobert bibby diddy bob.

It's all a big conspiracy against you. everything, absolutely everything.

30

Mario 2.0 (at home),

19/11/2007 19:30:29

Here in Holland sometimes trams come to get you in your bed , a number of people have died because of it, men WOMAN AND CHILRDEN.

31

,

19/11/2007 19:47:58
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason: Scotsman Import, Original comment id: 1156924, Article id was mapped to record!
32

Young Bob,

here 19/11/2007 20:12:16

you didn't answer my question....

33

Mario on another machine,

19/11/2007 20:18:49

just read it bob.

34

Young Bob,

here 19/11/2007 20:33:40

I repeat... you didn't answer the question.

Exactly as I said...

35

GraemeH,

Edinburgh 19/11/2007 20:36:13

#31 - More Tosh. Most of the schemes you cite are economic failures. Hence why all new tram systems in England were scrapped (by an Edinburgh MP). Also, the DLR is not a tram.

Question - how does one tram line make the city centre more accessible when it does not go near where I stay, but my available bus services will be reduced and when I do eventually get a bus it will be held up, firstly in roadworks for three years to prepare for the tram, and then when it approaches the city centre and lights are phased to hold up my bus so that the tram gets through?

This tram line means longer door-to-door journey times for the huge amount of the population, it delivers highly suspect economic "benefits" and has hardly any impact on congestion. It is a waste of money.

36

Young Bob,

here 19/11/2007 20:49:03

Think Tank...

I know people working in the construction industry at all levels working on this debacle...

QUOTE

"They are raking it in"

Charging way over competative rates for Engineering, Architectural Services, Surveying, Contracting...

Whenever there is a large project like this it becomes a free for all... I've seen it before on the Parliament.

Young freshly qualified guys and gals in offices on contracts earing double or triple the going rate.... simply because the project is so huge.

Wasting vast amounts of money already.

The milk is being spilt at the moment and WE'RE ALL GOING TO BE CRYING OVER IT VERY SHORTLY.

I wish I was making things up...
Unfortunately I'm not.

37

MacKenzie,

19/11/2007 21:45:39

Think Tank

You seem to be suggesting that the RBS have carefully selected their staff from the population of Edinburgh who live on the tram route. (some 8% if we are to believe the report).

I remain to be convinced that a tram line will encourage people to change their travel habits. It simply does not go where people want to go - admittedly it does go along Princes Street but only stops once.

According to the map on your link the stop at Balgreen is ideal for the zoo. Why would anyone not get any one of the several buses which stop right outside the zoo.

38

Julian,

20/11/2007 04:05:52

Mackenzie # 37,

So the tram doesn't go where people want to go.

Yeah right. No one ever goes to the city centre, Ocean Terminal, The Gyle, RBS headquarters, the airport, the new 30,000 house waterfront develop. Not to mention the countless suburban areas on it's route.

And you don't need to remain to be convinced any longer. Studies have shown that trams encourage car drivers to use them who wouldn't normally use buses.

39

Julian,

20/11/2007 04:18:01

GrahameH #35

If these schemes were such economic failures why is Nottingham pressing ahead with 2 new lines which will double the size of their tram network?

http://www.netphasetwo.com/

And do you really believe your bus journey times are going to be significantly affected? At the most you might be delayed by 30 seconds while a tram goes through.

40

Grumpy,

20/11/2007 07:34:16

(23) - Had a look at your map - nice to see that there will be a stop at Sughton which says"alight here for the Queen Margaret University College - Corstorphine Campus.

Have they not heard that QMC has moved to Musselburgh?

41

MacKenzie,

20/11/2007 07:46:37

Don't worry Grumpy, there's 350 new houses going to be built on the site of the old QMUC at Corstorphine .

Maybe the new residents will be encouraged to walk to or from Saughton from the top of Corstorphine hill to catch a shiny new tram on their way to Princes Street instead of jumping on the first bus that comes along.

# 39 Julian seems to think that they will.

42

GraemeH,

Edinburgh 20/11/2007 08:13:13

#40 - Julian. if you read my post I state that my available bus services will be cut. I can currently catch the Airport 100 and X48 into the city centre as well as the 31, however both the X48 and 100 will be significantly cut back for the tram line. How is this an improvement? And the construction delays are likely to add a bit more than 30 seconds given recent experience of roadworks.

Also, I state that all new tram systems have been scrapped. I am aware that there are some extensions in progress - although Manchester's was scrapped as the sums did not add up. Sheffield is an outright economic failure - cost £350m, sold for £1.

43

Bus Driver,

Edinburgh 20/11/2007 11:53:25

Heres a wee thought , the hogmanay celebrations, major event or demonstration where’s the trams gonna go Then??? as the main route is Princes Street ??????? so therefore I think the system is flawed as the system will be one of a complete shut down, during these events. I know some will say its only for a few hours, but the happy moaning public in Edinburgh complain if the bus is only 10 minutes late, but as this will be a feeder route it will cause major delays, never mind a major event, oh and yes they happen breakdowns, much the same as the Guide way @ Broomhouse a breakdown occurs and the things closed more delays and Yippee overtime for me

I think very clever idea so ALL PUBLIC TRANSPORT will experience problems and a thing that’s trying to be avoided DELAYS ??????? We,ve not even touched on the increase in accidents and fatalities, please remember a bus can try to avoid the idiots that think a large vehicle can stop on a sixpence well a tram a wee bit heavier,

Think I might retire and open a car bobyshop

44

L B Trident,

20/11/2007 14:25:01

Oh dear deary dear. The old arguments over and over again. Come on folks, things change. Trams are sucessfully used throughout the modern world in conjunction with buses and trains. Edinburgh will continue to develop its transport needs and I guarantee many route changes will have happened before the first tram rolls across the city. The tram will greatly assist, not hamper, the restructuring of bus services and allow much greater flexibility of travel. Shame the new QMU in Musselburgh couldn't have benefited from a tram link. At the moment Scotrail services are stretched with the demand for the North Berwick train and there are roads full of number 30 buses. Another issue I know but even without trams the infrastructure for public transport will constantly have to change - to serve new areas, new shopping centres etc etc so please move with the times people. Trams will happen and I bet you you'll love em!!


 

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