Edinburgh trams: 1.5 million passengers in first 100 days
Edinburgh's new tram line has carried 1.5 million passengers since services began operating 100 days ago.
Transport for Edinburgh said passenger numbers and revenue levels were "in line with predictions".
About 130,000 passengers used the trams in the week after
their launch. Since then, an average of 90,000 people have travelled by
tram each week.
A One Direction concert, two Champions League games and the Edinburgh Festival helped boost numbers, operators said.
Ian Craig, chief executive of Transport for Edinburgh, said:
"I'm very pleased with progress so far and with 100 days of the tram
service under our belts, coupled with record breaking patronage on
Lothian Buses, we're well placed to thrive as a modern integrated
transport operator.
"What we're seeing suggests a genuine increase in use of
public transport across the piece which is a priority for us but also a
shared aspiration for many in the city."
Lesley Hinds, Edinburgh City Council's transport convener and
chairwoman of Transport for Edinburgh, said: "We can count these 100
days as a very encouraging start and the fact that we've carried 1.5
million passengers speaks volumes about how quickly people in the city
have embraced their new tram service.
"These are still the early days of a new operation and
there's always going to be scope to refine things to make sure
passengers get the best possible service.
"We've got a great team in place to hone and develop the tram
operation and to ensure that we deliver a fully integrated public
transport system for the capital."
The first 100 days of tram services covered the period from Saturday 31 May to Sunday 7 September.
Images courtesy of Paul Gooderson
Images courtesy of Paul Gooderson
