Edinburgh could abandon the northern half of its proposed multi-billion-pound tram extension, potentially leaving plans for a new line to the Royal Infirmary as the main focus of the city’s next expansion.
The City of Edinburgh Council has been developing plans for a major north-south tram route connecting Granton with the city centre before continuing south-east to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.
The complete scheme has previously been estimated to cost between £2 billion and £2.9 billion, depending on which route is selected.
The northern section of the project has faced significant difficulties, particularly over how trams would travel between Granton and the existing network.
Two options have been considered. One would take trams from Granton and Crewe Toll along the Roseburn Path, joining the existing tram line west of Haymarket. The other would run through Orchard Brae, Queensferry Road and across the Dean Bridge before reaching the west end of Princes Street.
The Roseburn option proved particularly controversial during public consultation because the former railway line is now a popular walking and cycling route. Of those responding to the council’s consultation, 68% opposed using the Roseburn Path and 32% supported it.
The alternative Orchard Brae route also failed to secure clear backing among consultation respondents, with 44% opposed and 32% in favour. A separate representative survey commissioned by the council produced different results, however, illustrating the difficulty councillors face in interpreting public opinion.
Council transport convener Stephen Jenkinson described the consultation results in June as “fairly inconclusive”.
The Roseburn route had previously been estimated at between £350 million and £480 million, while taking trams through Orchard Brae could cost between £650 million and £850 million.
The uncertainty means the northern part of the project could now be dropped, paused or substantially reworked as councillors consider what elements of the expansion should proceed.
That would leave the southern section as a potentially more achievable next stage of Edinburgh’s tram network. Under the plans, trams would use the existing line at Princes Street before crossing North Bridge and travelling through Nicolson Street and Newington.
The route would continue towards Cameron Toll before reaching the Edinburgh BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary. That would create a direct tram connection between the city centre and one of Scotland’s largest hospitals, as well as the rapidly developing BioQuarter.
Longer-term proposals have also considered extending mass transit beyond the Royal Infirmary towards Midlothian and East Lothian.
Edinburgh’s existing tram network currently runs from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre to Newhaven. The final section between the city centre and Newhaven opened in June 2023.
The council argues that further expansion will be required as Edinburgh’s population grows and pressure increases on the city’s transport network.
More than 11,400 people submitted responses to the public consultation on the project, which ran between August and November 2025.
No final decision has yet been made to abandon the northern route.
The council is due to consider the completed strategic business case and decide the next stage of the project, with options including proceeding with all or part of the scheme, changing the proposals, pausing work or ending the project.