Edinburgh trams carrying record passenger numbers

The opening of the Leith and Newhaven extension to the Edinburgh Trams line has provided a massive boost to passenger numbers, more than doubling patronage. Over 7M tram trips were recorded in the second half of 2023 compared with 3.4M in the same period in 2022. 

 

Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams said, ‘the completion of the Trams Newhaven project on time and on budget was a remarkable achievement, but the positive impact of the new route on the communities it serves has been equally impressive. In June 2023 our Cleaner, Better, Faster, Longer launch campaign helped the extended service get off to a flying start, and new stops such as The Shore and Ocean Terminal are now amongst the busiest on the network’. 

 

Tram patronage in 2023 was 9.3M, a 90% increase on the 4.8M in 2022. the busiest month was August, during the Edinburgh Festival, when 1.2M trips were recorded. 

 

Edinburgh Trams initial line opened in May 2014, but the line was extended to Newhaven in June 2023, bringing the length to 11.5 miles (18.5km), worked by 27 CAF Urbos trams.