Today, the Council of Edinburgh has opened the continuation of the tram line connecting the city center to Newhaven district. The project was developed by the SFN joint venture, led by Sacyr in partnership with Farrans.
Awarded by Edinburgh Trams, the contract included the design, construction, and commissioning, with a total investment of £207 million (€240 million).
The continuation of the line spans for 2.69 miles (4.7 km) across eight new stops and will provide a greener transport option to one of the most densely populated areas of Edinburgh. Improved connectivity will attract greater economic development, business, job creation and tourism to Leith and Newhaven districts.
In estimate, nearly 16 million people will use the tram every year.
María Ortega, Project manager for Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure, highlighted the major challenges that the JV has overcome: “The JV has adapted and overcome unprecedented challenges at a global scale: the COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit, the war in Ukraine. We are proud of our team and of what we have accomplished together”.
Development works started in November 2019 and ended on time and within budget. This project has overcome numerous challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the excavation and relocation of the archaeological findings of a set of the original tram wheels that date back to the19th century.
During works, SFN adopted a best practices approach for community engagements, such as the creation of logistic hubs to help businesses and residents move goods. The JV has managed over 24,500 community engagements and over 75,000 deliveries throughout the duration of the project.
Extensive testing phase
The new tram section has gone through an extensive testing phase to ensure the newly constructed line, software and signals work effectively, as well as work to integrate signalling and interface with Edinburgh Trams’ control center and driver familiarization with the new route.
