Latest news with #EdinburghTrams
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Daily Record
Lorry crashes with Edinburgh Tram 'leaving shattered glass everywhere'
Edinburgh trams have alerted travellers to the incident. A lorry has smashed into the glass door of an Edinburgh tram, claims a commuter. The collision is understood to have taken place at around 5pm on on Thursday, May 22. An eye witness told Edinburgh Live the lorry was turning from Dalmeny Street when the back end of the vehicle hit the tram and smashed the glass. Glass " shattered everywhere" and passengers on board the tram were asked to disembark. An image appeared to show a part of the tram's outer casing sticking in between the smashed doors. Edinburgh Trams alerted travellers to the incident on social media with services now terminating at Balfour Street from Edinburgh Airport. They also advised customers a ticket sharing agreement is in place with Lothian Buses for those impacted. In a statement on X, Edinburgh Trams said: "Due to tram incident at Balfour Street, we are currently running part route between Edinburgh Airport and Balfour Street. "Customers travelling to Foot of the Walk, Shore, Port of Leith, Ocean Terminal and Newhaven. Ticket acceptance is in place with Lothian Buses." A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "At 4.55pm on Thursday May 22, we received a report of a crash involving a tram and a lorry on Leith Walk in Edinburgh. "One man received minor injuries but did not attend hospital." Yesterday, in a separate incident, we reported that a 29-year-old man has been arrested by police in connection with a hit-and-run attempted murder on a Dumfries street. A 28-year-old man was seriously injured after he is said to have been deliberately hit by a car in the town's Criffel Road on Saturday, May 17, 2025. The emergency services raced to the scene, near to the town's Lincluden Road, at 11.20pm, after receiving a report that a car had deliberately crashed into a man. The 28-year-old was rushed to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for treatment and a police probe was launched. Officers said the driver fled the scene, heading towards College Road and onto Newbridge Drive. They also said that a silver-coloured, five-door VW Golf with tinted rear windows was in the area at the time. And the force said today that a suspect had been arrested and charged. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal and the suspect is due to appear in the dock at Dumfries Sheriff Court tomorrow, Thursday, May 22, 2025 in connection with the case. The investigation into the incident continues. Detective Inspector Scott Wilson said at the time: "Extensive enquiries are ongoing and we have been gathering CCTV footage from the surrounding area, which is being reviewed. "Officers have also been carrying out door to door enquiries in the local area and will continue to do so. But I would also be very keen to speak anyone who was in the area at the time or has seen the car since then and may be able to assist our investigation. "I would also like to hear from anyone who has dash cam, private CCTV or doorbell footage from the Lincluden area around the time of the incident. "Any information, or footage, could prove vital, so please do pass it on to officers. Anyone with information should contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting reference 4575 of 17 May. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Edinburgh Reporter
19-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
New way to pay on trams from today
The operator of Edinburgh's tram network has launched its new payment solution, 'Tap on, Tap off' or TOTO, which is now live in the capital. The first customers using the new system rode the tram this morning, after tapping a contactless card or device on the existing platform validators. This marks a significant step forward for the operator, allowing more seamless bus and tram travel in the city thanks to partnerships with Edinburgh Trams' sister company, Lothian, and facilitated by payment provider Flowbird. Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams, said: 'The launch of ToTo today comes today following months of hard work from colleagues across the business, and would not be possible without significant investment in existing infrastructure. We believe that ToTo future-proofs the tramway, making it easier and more efficient than ever to use the tram to glide across the city.' Lea was joined for the official launch this morning by David Thompson, General Manager-Transport for Flowbird, Lothian Buses' Head of Product Strategy Stevie Chambers, and the City of Edinburgh Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor Mandy Watt. David Thompson said: 'At Flowbird, we're proud of our partnership with Edinburgh Trams, alongside Lothian Buses, in developing and delivering Scotland's first multimodal, multi-operator account-based ticketing system. Edinburgh is a true 'world' city and so it is fitting that its people, along with millions of visitors, should benefit from technology that makes travel on the tram and bus network seamless, easy to use and cost effective. By doing so, we encourage a modal shift to more sustainable transport and help to make cities more liveable.' Deputy Council Leader, Councillor Mandy Watt said: 'I'm delighted to have attended the launch of the new ToTo system today. I really enjoyed meeting colleagues from Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses to hear about the new system and see the first journeys being made. This key development reinforces our integrated, seamless, and accessible public transport network here in Edinburgh, which is the backbone of any major city. It's fair to say that when it comes to our public transport network, we punch well above our weight compared with similar cities. 'In addition to existing tickets, travel across our trams and buses will now be even easier and more convenient than ever with ticket prices automatically capped at the cheapest daily and weekly rate for those using ToTo. Our excellent public transport system is an inclusive form of travel – it provides an alternative to car use especially for people on lower incomes or with mobility issues. Low carbon travel is also a cornerstone of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure that ToTo will encourage greater use. 'I'm proud of the part the Council has played in delivering this milestone and commit to working with our transport operators to deliver yet more improvements to our public transport network. 'I have no doubt that many millions of journeys in the coming months will be made using the new system and everyone involved has my sincere thanks. We're committed to keeping Edinburgh moving and ToTo is a very welcome addition to the transport landscape.' Reminder to tap off Customers are reminded that, unlike on Lothian Bus services, they are required to 'Tap off' when they leave the tram, in order to complete their journey and be charged the correct fare. If the same card or device is not used to Tap off, the journey is registered as incomplete, and customers will be charged the full Airport Zone fare of £7.90. This system works alongside Lothian Buses' existing TapTapCap system to cap bus and tram travel across the city at the Cap rate, aligning Edinburgh Trams with services offered by its sister company. Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Lothian Buses said: 'Lothian is delighted to work with Edinburgh Trams to further enhance our TapTapCap solution which now offers integrated payment for journeys across the city's bus and tram network. 'The introduction of daily and weekly capping across both modes will ensure that customers using the same card or device can always benefit from the cheapest Pay As You Go fare regardless of how their travel plans might change.' Customers who benefit from existing concession cards or use a Ridacard should continue to use these as before and aren't required to tap off to end their journey. Each contactless card or device can only be used for one standard Adult fare – customers travelling in groups or with children should still use the ticket vending machines on platforms or the Bus & Tram App or Edinburgh Ticket to pre-purchase their tickets. Click here for additional information about 'Tap on, Tap off' – FAQs and terms of use. Pic Greg Macvean 19/05/2025 Edinburgh Trams – launch of TOTO (tap on tap off) scheme Sarah Boyd Managing Director of Lothian with Lea Harrison Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams with Martha at the launch The official party from Lothian, Edinburgh Trams and Flowbird at the launch Edinburgh Trams – Lea Harrison Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams with Alfie at the launch of TOTO (tap on tap off) scheme Pic Greg Macvean 19/05/2025 Like this: Like Related
The Herald Scotland
19-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
We try out the new Edinburgh Trams 'tap on, tap off' system
Entertainingly, the system's launch featured a trio of ToTos, there to add a cuteness to the promotion of an otherwise bland electronic process. 'Tap on, tap off' is also a key moment in the bringing together of the two parts of Edinburgh's public transport system, its buses and trams. The Foot of the Walk tram stop was sparsely populated, mid-morning on the Victoria Day holiday, with only a few passengers plus a couple of 'trambassadors', there to guide nervous users through the tapping process. The tap on, was straightforward – that 'seamlessness' is the point - involving just a pressing of a card or phone to a panel. But one tram user told me she wouldn't trust herself to tap off, so was not going to use it. It's this fear of not tapping off, that is the chief passenger insecurity about the new system - and it is a potential for confusion partly exacerbated by the fact that the existing system on Lothian buses is just tap on, but trams are tap on and tap off. This is also why Leah Harrison, managing director of Edinburgh Trams, at the launch of the system, is so keen to emphasise it as his main message, 'Please, tap off!' The system works thus. Customers can use their contactless-enabled card or device to Tap on using the existing platform validators before boarding the tram. They will then need to tap off upon reaching their destination station, using the platform validators on that stop. Whilst on the trams, their contactless cards or devices can be checked by ticket officers. When one of them passed a reader over my 'tapped on' credit card, it felt like a marvel that it worked and had registered. 'Tap off,' said Leah, in his arms a dog so trained he can swipe a card, 'is the message we're really driving home a the moment. It's making sure people do tap on, tap off to get best value. The way it works, when you tap on, it allocates you an airport single and you need to tap off to get the discount for the journey that you make.' ToTo the dog promotes 'tap on, tap off' (Image: Greg Macvean) Harrison was joined for the official launch this morning by David Thompson, General Manager-Transport for Flowbird, Lothian Buses' Head of Product Strategy Stevie Chambers, and the City of Edinburgh Council's Deputy Leader, Councillor Mandy Watt. David Thompson said: 'At Flowbird, we're proud of our partnership with Edinburgh Trams, alongside Lothian Buses, in developing and delivering Scotland's first multimodal, multi-operator account-based ticketing system. Edinburgh is a true 'world' city and so it is fitting that its people, along with millions of visitors, should benefit from technology that makes travel on the tram and bus network seamless, easy to use and cost effective.' For Edinburgh Trams, the chief drive behind this shift, Harrison explained, is that 'it removes another barrier to travel and it creates a further integration with the bus service.' 'Also it creates a capping mechanism with Lothian buses, so you can move freely now between the tram and the bus, tapping on on the bus, tapping off on the tram and the computer in the early hours of the morning will work out what was the best value ticket for you. Once again, you don't have to plan your journey at 7am in the morning. You can then think you just do what you need to do.' But, as the woman on my morning tram illustrates, one of the fears is what will happen if a passenger fails to tap off – how much will they then be charged? If the same card or device is not used to tap off, the journey is registered as incomplete, and customers will be charged the full Airport Zone fare of £7.90. Edinburgh Trams' Lea Harrison, Flowbird General Manager David Thompson and Lothian Buses' Sarah Boyd (Image: Greg Macvean) And how will the system calculate out our fares? 'Eventually,' Harrison explained, 'it will cap out at a day ticket which was probably the one you should have bought in the morning, but didn't think you were going to do that. It does the thinking for you.' It's a significant step towards more a integrated public transport system in terms of user experience. 'One of the purposes," said Harrison, "was to create integration which you see with the bus company and also remove a barrier to travel. 'It's not for everybody because you need to be an adult as well and also if you're moving with a family that's a different ticket as well, but it will reduce a lot of people waiting at ticket machines and enable the people that need to be there to get quicker access to the ticket machines also.' This system works alongside Lothian Buses' existing TapTapCap system to cap bus and tram travel across the city at the Cap rate, aligning Edinburgh Trams with services offered by its sister company. Sarah Boyd, Managing Director of Lothian Buses said: 'Lothian is delighted to work with Edinburgh Trams to further enhance our TapTapCap solution which now offers integrated payment for journeys across the city's bus and tram network. But also, this system is going to give the tram operator a more advanced set of data on where people are travelling to, what stops they are getting off at, than it has had previously. There's no doubting the system is easier – and as a first experience, certainly beats, in its freedom, using the app, which for me was also a major step up from waiting at ticket machines as a tram glides past. For a short while the 'trambassadors' are likely to continue to be out on the route. Harrison said: 'We'll have them as long as we need them. Until we see the results we see. All the office staff are out. It's a big thing for the tram company, so we're going to make sure that we educate the people of Edinburgh. And obviously we're getting to the festival season and we'll have to look at how we man the busy stations to make sure the visitors get the same level of information.' READ MORE But for Harrison, it's also about data. 'What," he said, "it will give me is destination data and I'll get to know where people get off. At the moment we just assume and we look at CCTV. So in the future start to inform what service patterns I can provide, so we can put the trams where the people are. Tap off, although it's a little bit of inconvenience for people, it gives the operator data. So I can start to understand people's travel patterns.' Making payment easier, he pointed out, removes a barrier to travel. 'We will get more travellers this way. . One of the many reasons we are doing it is that it should remove a barrier and more people should travel. I takes a split second to do a transaction.' Was it 'totolly' easy? It seemed so, but the proof will be in our card statements. The good news, meanwhile, for those who fear forgetting the tap off, is that all the previous payment methods are still in use: tickets, the app, national entitlement cards. If you want, you can ignore ToTo, and choose not to 'tap on, tap off' at all.
STV News
19-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Edinburgh Trams launch ‘tap on, tap off' contactless payment system
Passengers travelling on Edinburgh Trams will now be able to 'tap on' and 'tap off' when using the public transport system. From Monday, customers will be able to tap their contactless card or device when using the capital's tram network. Customers will need to tap their device onto the existing Platform Validators when they begin their journey, then tap off on the platform after they have disembarked the tram. The tram operator says the new system calculates the cheapest fare based on the number of journeys made then charges the card in the early hours of the next morning. The system works alongside Lothian Buses' existing TapTapCap system to cap bus and tram travel across the city at the day ticket rate. Additionally, weekly travel will also be capped at the weekly rate, so customers can travel as much as they like within the City Zone, and only pay the weekly cap fare. To benefit from the caps, the tram operator said the same card or device should be used every time customers tap on and tap off to avoid journeys mistakenly being registered as incomplete. Sarah Singh, head of service delivery, said they were 'delighted' to share the launch date of the new payment system. She said: 'The delivery of this project reflects months of hard work from colleagues across the business and Lothian Buses, to fully integrate ToTo into their existing system, and we're pleased to be offering our best-ever service to customers across Edinburgh.' Transport convener for Edinburgh Council, councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said the ingregration of the system marked a 'significant milestone' for the city's public transport network. 'This will allow residents and visitors to travel more efficiently and at the best value with ticket prices automatically capped at the cheapest daily and weekly rate,' he said. He added: 'Our excellent public transport services is the most inclusive form of travel; it provides an alternative to car use especially for people on lower incomes or with mobility issues.' 'Our integrated public transport system is something we're very proud of here in Edinburgh – compared with similar sized cities we are an example to be celebrated and followed.' He continued: 'Low carbon travel is also a key element of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure this development will encourage greater use.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
14-05-2025
- Scotsman
Exciting times ahead for transport in Edinburgh
At the end of April, I was lucky enough to visit the North Bridge and see first hand the specialist work that we're undertaking to restore this structure to its former glory. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... This site was one of the first places I visited when taking over as Convener last year and I'm very impressed with the progress that the project team has made since then. Cllr Stephen Jenkinson, City Transport and Environment Convener One particularly striking element was the paintwork being completed by hand on the cast iron façade. This is in addition to resurfacing work, grit blasting structural steelwork, repairing and improving the footway paving and underdrainage among a host of other improvements. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad I'm really excited for the scaffolding to come down and unveil this piece of Edinburgh's history – restored ready to step into the modern age. Regarding modernity, another significant development that is on the way is the Tap On Tap Off (ToTo) launch which is set for next week. This new integrated ticketing system across both Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses will allow residents and visitors to travel more efficiently and at the best value; with ticket prices automatically capped at the cheapest daily and weekly rate. Our excellent public transport system is an inclusive form of travel, which provides an alternative to car use for people across the city, but in particular for people with lower incomes or those with mobility issues. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Encouraging low carbon travel is also a key element of our wider climate ambitions and I'm sure this development will encourage greater use of our public transport network. I'm committed to keeping Edinburgh moving and ToTo is a very welcome addition. In terms of committee business, one key report which we'll consider next week is on the prioritisation of the City Mobility Plan. This report sets out our proposed capital investment programme over the next decade, including which projects to take forward and which to pause. Prioritising allows us to work smarter with the resources we have available - making sure we have a clear and achievable path to achieving our objectives. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad These goals include improving how we move around the city, including prioritising public transport, providing safer conditions for walking, wheeling and cycling and reducing harmful emissions. When considering prioritisation, we scored projects against 15 separate criteria points which include impact on road safety, public transport, inequality and capital-raising challenges. This is a complex and thorough piece of work which allows the City Mobility Plan to be agile and able to adapt in the future as necessary. However, one key element in this conversation is the fact that we remain dependent on external funding for many projects, particularly from the Scottish Government and by extension Transport Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Complex projects which take years to plan and complete but which are subject to annual external funding decisions makes this situation inherently difficult. We need commitment and stability from the Scottish Government if we're to deliver the changes which our city needs and deserves. I look forward to debating this important issue with colleagues next week. We live in interesting and ever evolving times for transport in Edinburgh. I'm committed to keeping the city moving sustainably as we press ahead with our bold vision for the future. Councillor Stephen Jenkinson is the Transport and Environment Convener at the City of Edinburgh Council
