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  1. gembo
    Member

    Everyone is starting to love them, obviously not the poster guy at Haymarket, but everyone else.

    They cost a lot so let's love them

    Gets my vote ahead of

    They cost a lot so let's hate them

    The former resolves your cognitive dissonance which is healthy

    The latter keeps you ranting which is unhealthy

    Off to cook the eight egg tortilla for the barbecue tonight. Trams will be safest subject compared to independence ref and local kerfuffle at the school over a brilliant idea (bit like trams, I was instantly for and others very against but would eventually love if only they were forded to love it).

    Posted 9 years ago #

  2. chdot
    Admin

    "Never heard of jenny hjul"

    You lead a sheltered life.

    Her husband happens to have a more well known name.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  3. chdot
    Admin

    "They cost a lot so let's love them"

    "They cost a lot so let's hate them"

    Ah, the binary view of the world.

    It's not about love or hate.

    The Edinburgh tram is symbolic -

    of political decisions being more important than transport ones.

    of MegaSpending on FlagshipProjects being easier than spending money on a lot of simpler/smaller/more beneficial things.

    of bad management

    of party political interference/point scoring

    of 'storing up problems for the future'

    It might be a nice alternative to the existing excellent bus service - if you happen to want to go to/from any of the stops.

    It might not cause bus fares to rise too much IF many more people use the buses/trams.

    BUT it (and the buses) won't get many more people using public transport unless 'the city'/(politicians) is/(are) prepared to restrict car ownership/usage.

    Any of that will of course be spun as being anti-car and (no doubt) 'doing things to keep Spokes happy'.

    So IF you love the tram, make sure you use it every day and pay for a ticket each time.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  4. Stickman
    Member

    I went into town about 9.00 and the first few trams I saw were fairly quiet. Heading back around 11 they looked a lot busier.

    The Pinkhill path was also quite busy with people heading towards the tram stop at Balgreen, probably going for a wee ride.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "The Pinkhill path was also quite busy with people heading towards the tram stop at Balgreen, probably going for a wee ride."

    So the tram is encouraging 'active travel'!

    Long may it continue - long after the 'tram as destination' phase is over.

    Might be a boost in 6 months time when bikes are allowed on.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  6. Stickman
    Member

    Yes, I'd thought about taking the tram but it was such a nice morning that it had to be the bike.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  7. Snowy
    Member

    I'm determined to go for at least one ride on the tram, despite the fact it doesn't provide a journey that I would ever normally undertake.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  8. chdot
    Admin

    "I'm determined to go for at least one ride on the tram"

    Just imagine that your fare will make it break even.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  9. gembo
    Member

    I love trams, sounds like CHdot is not a fan. I don't think he runs a leaflet and poster shop at Haymarket?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  10. wee folding bike
    Member

    Sunrise in Edinburgh this morning was at 0436 hrs BST. It was 4 minutes later in Airdrie. Ms Hujl is wrong.

    Bill Forsythe's Comfort and Joy movie annoys me the other way. A guy is doing the Christmas day early radio show at 0600 and it's day light outside.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  11. chdot
    Admin

    Trams fine.

    The Edinburgh tram 'system' a disaster from the day of the decision to build a 'political route' from the airport to the Scotish Office.

    Compounded by the initial staff selection and (some of) the subsequent appointments plus the incredible "On time, on budget" claims.

    Decisions along the way to work on several sections at once etc. etc. Maximum disruption and NO attempt to encourage walking and cycling to deal with the 'temporary' problem and encourage PT + 'active travel' generally and comprehensively.

    Now 'we' have to pay back the money borrowed to finish it and cover the revenue shortfall - higher fares and less profit to CEC.

    Of course in (some) other countries public transport is considered to be a public service and 'profit' isn't an issue. Apart from in London, the UK doesn't seem to think that - except for PrestigeProjects - HS2, CaledonianSleepers etc.

    (I'm not suggesting 'it will all be different in an independent Scotland'.)

    Posted 9 years ago #

  12. stiltskin
    Member

    Well, they certainly are packed today. It gives you that genuine London summer commuting experience, boiling hot & took over 25 minutes for one to arrive at Murrayfield going into town.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  13. chrisfl
    Member

    Just used the Tram between Shandwick Place and Ballgreen, busy friendly atmosphere and most people just seemed to out for a ride.

    Looked like something had gone with the trams heading back into town as I didn't spot any, and there was an empty tram sitting at a siding.

    Put 2x£2 coins into a machine to buy 2 tickets, machine warned me that it didn't give change, so I hit cancel and out popped 4x£1 coins!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  14. chdot
    Admin

    "Looked like something had gone"

    "

    UndiscoveredScotland (@UndisScot)
    31/05/2014 15:37
    Oh well, 4yo grandson Alistair can now say that he was on the first Edinburgh tram to break down in commercial service! @EdinburghTrams

    "

    Posted 9 years ago #

  15. chdot
    Admin

    "

    Lesley Hinds (@LAHinds)
    31/05/2014 12:27
    @EdinburghTrams @tomnorrisDGM #ontramselfie @LAHinds with daughters

    http://pic.twitter.com/wzzs7anAsE

    "

    Posted 9 years ago #

  16. Morningsider
    Member

    Just back from family trip on the trams. Very busy from York Place heading out of town, actually got seats on the way back in. The ride is incredibly smooth and the trams are very quiet. The seats are comfy and there is tons of luggage space. All in all, an excellent experience.

    I don't think today is a day for looking at the whys and wherefores of the project - it's simply a pleasure to see them up and running. Something of a carnival atmosphere on the trams and many people photographing them along the route - not just train spotting types.

    I'd recommend a shot on them.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  17. cb
    Member

    Took a family trip from Haymarket to York Place. Ticket machine broke down as we were using it (actually a Trams employee operating it for us). The other machine on the platform was already broken so he issued us tickets from his handheld machine. I think we saved 50p as a result of this.

    Waited over 15 mins for a tram despite the board saying they arrive at least every 10 minutes.

    Tram that arrived was packed solid but we squeezed on with a folded buggy. Hot on board and it took 3 or 4 mins to depart for some reason.

    Fairly quick journey to York Place where we were accosted by a BBC journalist. Just seen the news and we were on!

    Got a photo of a crashed ticket machine at York Place dumping memory.

    Good fun, glad we went.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  18. KarenJS
    Member

    Reminded me of the underground (except for being overground). It was completely packed, hot and stuffy, I was glad to get off. No air conditioning included for the millions?

    Posted 9 years ago #

  19. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/news/transport/after-six-years-and-776m-edinburgh-starts-to-make-money-from-its-trams.1401523606

    Posted 9 years ago #

  20. Greenroofer
    Member

    Have just returned from an end-to-end trip with Mini-Greenroofer and Micro-Greenroofer. It wasn't quite end to end, actually: we had a Daysaver and I was too mean to spend the money to go beyond Ingliston.

    We boarded the tram at York Place at 0830ish, and it was noticeable that at this time there were an awful lot of men with one or two young children in tow. I suspect they though the same as me ("A Sunday lie-in is a long-forgotten memory. We got up at 0630 today like we do every day. I suppose we might as well go an ride on a tram before they get busy")

    It was smooth, quiet, empty and very pleasant.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  21. chdot
    Admin

    "

    The Sunday Post (@Sunday_Post)
    01/06/2014 10:40
    Man v tram: Watch as a cyclist raced one of the first Edinburgh trams.

    http://ow.ly/xucF9

    "

    Posted 9 years ago #

  22. Focus
    Member

    Not too busy when I saw two at Balgreen yesterday but then it was 9:45pm! Only about 5 or 6 on board.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  23. crowriver
    Member

    Just back from an excursion to the Gyle centre with the kids. Started at York Place, which meant we got seats, which was just as well as it was standing room only from St Andrew Square onwards. Very busy on the way back too, we had to stand for a few stops.

    It's a good service, the kids enjoyed it as did I. Really needs to go down to Leith though!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  24. Nelly
    Member

    "Man v tram: Watch as a cyclist raced one of the first Edinburgh trams"

    Classic reporting, to paraphrase, "I beat the tram so it MUST be a rubbish service." Erm, yes but one presumes you hammered it while the tram actually stopped to pick people up?

    We went for a spin in it today, family day ticket - bargain. It was very busy, comfy, and quiet. Hot with a full load though!

    Posted 9 years ago #

  25. cc
    Member

    Went this morning from York Place to Ingliston and back. I needn't have worried about it being busy - everyone got a seat for the whole journey in both directions. Passed on a repeat hurl in the afternoon as the tram stop was jammed with waiting passengers. The drivers were very careful - it went juddering round the corners at what felt like walking pace. There are quite a few corners.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  26. gkgk
    Member

    Will be interesting to see how the luggage policy strictness develops. One eye on getting a cardboard bike box to airport.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  27. chdot
    Admin

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/mystery-prankster-makes-honest-trams-logo-1-3426377

    Posted 9 years ago #

  28. Greenroofer
    Member

    I can confirm that, after an experiment described by Mrs Greenroofer as 'pointless', 'unnecessary' and 'futile' (or words to that effect) a folded Brompton in its bag can be conveyed on the tram between York Place and Balgreen without complaint from the Revenue Protection Officer.

    It seemed a shame to waste the Daysaver that I'd bought earlier to take the small Greenroofers out for the day...

    Posted 9 years ago #

  29. Stickman
    Member

    Greenroofer: thanks for putting yourself at risk with that experiment :-)

    Next step - taking it on without a bag.

    Small steps and before we know it we'll be getting tandems on.

    Posted 9 years ago #

  30. gembo
    Member

    Ah Greenroofer, loving the trams.

    You could have alighted at Edinburgh park, bought something you didn't need at decathlon then take Brompton out of bag and get back on an eastbound tram testing the hypothesis?

    Suspect when quiet no issue. Hopefully this will also be the bike policy, outside peak come on down.

    Posted 9 years ago #

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