Edinburgh “capitulates” as tram spend hits £440m
May 13 2011
It comes as a new report reveals that the total spend on the troubled project has now hit £440m, with the first tram still years away from trundling down Princes Street.
This has raised fresh questions over whether the final bill of £545m is still attainable or will, as many suspect, have to be increased in light of numerous delays and ongoing turmoil.
Following a bodged first attempt to lay tracks on princes Street, which are having to be dug up and relaid after cracking the surrounding road surface under pressure from traffic, contractors have been forced to close the key artery for another 9 months whilst the work is done properly.
It is hoped to deliver the line from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square but this is subject to agreement from councilors in June.
If this is not forthcoming only “priority works” will be seen through to completion with the remainder of the contract “automatically terminated,” necessitating negotiation of “separation terms”.
Former Network Rail head John Carson described the terms as a "complete capitulation” on the part of the council when speaking to the Scotsman.
2 Comments
#2 Posted by Dodger on 14 May 2011 at 00:49 AM
I think Urban Realm has misunderstood the position.
The Council has not "settled their long running dispute with contractors": they have merely put most of the issues on hold for the time being.
The Council has acquired the infrastructure materials purchased by Siemens for their part of the works as they had bought enough for the whole of Phase 1A which will clearly not be needed for the foreseeable future, leaving Siemens out of pocket.
The contractors are now to recommence work at the depot, the A8 underpass and Haymarket Yards but attempts to reach agreement on the remaining disputed issues will continue until the summer.
The Council has not "settled their long running dispute with contractors": they have merely put most of the issues on hold for the time being.
The Council has acquired the infrastructure materials purchased by Siemens for their part of the works as they had bought enough for the whole of Phase 1A which will clearly not be needed for the foreseeable future, leaving Siemens out of pocket.
The contractors are now to recommence work at the depot, the A8 underpass and Haymarket Yards but attempts to reach agreement on the remaining disputed issues will continue until the summer.
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