Edinburgh Trams – Nearing the End of the Line

For the past six years residents of Edinburgh, and those passing through, have been disrupted by the laying of tram lines. The proposed finish date is now May 2014. So for the price of great disruption (and £776m), will they be accessible to all?

Holders of a National Entitlement Card or those over 60 years old will travel free, as is currently the case on Lothian Buses, though this will only be available to Edinburgh city residents. This is part of a fully integrated bus/tram service on which day tickets can be used across both forms of transport within the city. In the case of day tickets and standard fares, supplements will be added for journeys to the airport; Rid-a-cards will be valid throughout the entire route.

As for the trams themselves, according to the Edinburgh Council website they have been “Developed in consultation with accessibility groups”. These groups include, but are not limited to, RNIB, Handicabs, Guide Dogs for the Blind, Capability Scotland, Equalities Transport Group and Lothian Health Board. Features include

• Ample room for wheelchairs and pushchairs
• Tram vehicles that are low floored throughout and are accessible for wheelchair users from low, ramped platforms
• Area for those with visual and mobility disabilities, their friends and assistant dogs
• Audible passenger information

There are small ramps that allow a wheelchair user to ascend onto the platform. When on the platform it will be a level boarding onto the tram itself. The gap separating the trams and the platforms is small enough that it will be simple to roll onto the tram with minimum of fuss. When inside the aisles are wide and spacious, with two wheelchair berths that can fit small and bulky wheelchairs alike. Beside these berths there will be emergency buttons within reach.  I have also been informed via email that “There is a designated carriage for disabled users which is wide enough for wheelchair access. This carriage is highlighted to users via signage on the tramstop”. Again, I was informed that a test was recently carried out “with wheelchair users (from New Trinity Work Centre) and found that there was more than sufficient space”.

The audible passenger information gives passengers information on where they are, and what the next stop is. Other features include contrasting colours on the floor to help visually impaired people find the exit, and brail on the various buttons.

Edinburgh Trams currently have two videos posted on youtube under the username “EdinburghTramsTV” that show many of the disabled features, the accessibility, and also reviews and opinions of wheelchair users, and those visually impaired.

Trams will travel 14km in an average of 30 minutes, taking in stops such as Princess Street, Murrayfield, the Gyle and the Airport. They will depart roughly every 10 minutes. The stated aim is to make travel through the city centre and beyond easier, faster and less congested.