Return of South Suburban line could help Edinburgh finally learn to love its trams
Edinburgh’s South Suburban Railway could return as part of the city’s tram network
In June 1961, Dr Richard Beeching became chair of the British Transport Commission and, just a few months later, The Scotsman broke the grim news that Edinburgh’s South Suburban railway line faced closure.
The infamous Beeching cuts to rail services during the 1960s stripped communities across the land of local train services and are now widely viewed as a historic mistake.
However, the flickering flame of hope that the South Sub could be restored never quite died. And now Edinburgh Council has drawn up a new map in which it is featured as a third line of the city’s tram network, with 12 stops including Morningside Road, Newington and Hillside.
It’s fair to say that Edinburgh’s trams, and particularly the eye-watering cost, have proved to be rather controversial. However, such is the hankering for the South Sub’s return, even tram critics seem to be keen, with Scottish Tory transport spokesperson Sue Webber saying she had “long supported” its revival.
The return of this long lamented line might be just the thing to help Edinburgh finally fall in love with its trams.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.