Plans to extend Edinburgh's tram network northward from the city centre to Granton are on the brink of being abandoned, with a council report citing insurmountable disagreements over which route the line should take through residential areas.
City of Edinburgh Council had proposed two alternative routes for a new tramline connecting Crewe Toll and the city centre: one along Roseburn Path, a cycling and walking route that once formed part of a now-closed suburban railway, and another via Orchard Brae and the A-listed Dean Bridge. Both options have faced significant opposition, and a report to the council's transport and environment committee identified "public acceptability issues with both alternative routes" as the primary barrier to progress.
In contrast, a separate southern extension linking Princes Street with the Royal Infirmary and the BioQuarter development is being prioritised and is expected to proceed.
Why has the northern route proved so contentious?
The Roseburn Path option emerged as the council's preferred choice after consultation began in August 2025. Council officials backed this route and revised proposals to include a line running alongside a pedestrian path. However, environmental campaigners mounted a sustained challenge, arguing that the pedestrian route was "too narrow" and that the project would destroy local trees and damage wildlife habitats. Cost estimates for this option stood at approximately £2.5bn.
The alternative Orchard Brae route would have sent the tramline across the 193-year-old Dean Bridge, a structure that forms part of Edinburgh's Unesco World Heritage Site. This option carried a higher price tag of about £2.9bn and would have required extensive engineering work to ensure the historic bridge could support the weight of tram vehicles.
What happens next for the northern extension?
The council report acknowledged that a "strong business case" had been made for connecting Granton to the city centre by mass transit, and recommended that the local authority "retain ambition to deliver" such a connection. However, it concluded that further work on route options was necessary before this section could advance.
According to the council's transport project page, the Transport and Environment Committee is scheduled to make a formal decision on 10 September 2026 about whether to progress the Granton–BioQuarter scheme to the next business-case stage or to pause or cease the project entirely. The decision will determine whether the scheme moves forward to an Outline Business Case, which would be followed by a Final Business Case and full-council approval if the project proceeds.
What is the status of the southern extension?
The southern section of the line, connecting the city centre to the Royal Infirmary, is estimated to cost approximately £1.7bn and has been identified as a priority for development. This route would run along Princes Street and connect with North Bridge, which recently reopened following an eight-year restoration project. From there, the line would head towards Newington and terminate at the Royal Infirmary, with a stop at Cameron Toll.
The council report found that this southern route would "complement" work on Edinburgh's south suburban railway, a line that has been used by freight trains since passenger stations closed 64 years ago. A feasibility study on restoring passenger services on that historic line is currently being undertaken by Transport Scotland and Network Rail, creating potential for integrated transport improvements in the south of the city.
What is the broader context for Edinburgh's tram expansion?
The northern extension was framed as a longer-term expansion beyond the existing tram network, with the council seeking to build from Granton through the city centre and onward to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary. According to the council's public consultation page, the project now also includes potential extensions beyond the city to Midlothian and East Lothian, indicating ambitions for a wider regional network.
The public consultation for the tram expansion ran from 25 August to 17 November 2025, with responses intended to inform the Strategic Business Case that now sits before councillors. According to council briefing materials from June 2026, councillors have the option to proceed with all or part of the project, amend it, or stop and pause work entirely, giving them considerable flexibility in how they respond to the public consultation findings and the route disputes.
Key Facts
- The northern extension would connect Granton to the city centre via either Roseburn Path (£2.5bn) or Orchard Brae (£2.9bn), but both routes face significant public opposition
- The southern extension to the Royal Infirmary (£1.7bn) is being prioritised and is expected to proceed
- A formal decision on the northern extension is scheduled for 10 September 2026, when the Transport and Environment Committee will decide whether to advance the scheme or pause it
- The council's consultation ran from August 2025 to November 2025, with responses informing the Strategic Business Case now before councillors
- The project could eventually extend beyond Edinburgh to Midlothian and East Lothian as part of a wider regional transport network
