The Roseburn Corridor
Why we are considering the Roseburn Corridor
The Council has a number of competing demands that mean difficult choices will need to be made. Evidence demonstrates that the Roseburn Corridor, formerly a railway line, offers a good route for passengers to and from Granton. Given that this route is safeguarded for the tram as part of the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Act 2006, it is appropriate for this route to be considered. The decision of councillors is to consult on both the Roseburn route and the Orchard Brae route.
The Roseburn Corridor and the Council’s approach to greenspaces
The Transport and Environment Committee that took place on 1 February 2024 instructed the project to explore the potential to protect and enhance the local ecological network as part of either tram route.
The city has a demonstrable record of nurturing its greenspaces. Edinburgh has 38 Green Flag Parks (35 run by the Council), accounting for 44% of total green flags in Scotland. In addition, Edinburgh is the greenest city amongst UK’s 10 most populated cities (Edinburgh: 49%; Glasgow: 32%; Greater London: 23% Manchester: 20.4%; Liverpool: 16.4%.
The Roseburn Corridor and the Council’s approach to active travel provision
The Transport and Environment Committee on 1 February 2024 instructed the project to explore the potential to install a high-quality walking and cycling route alongside the tramline on the Roseburn Path.
Active travel is a key part of the City Mobility Plan (CMP). A first review of the CMP was presented to the Transport and Environment Committee on 1 February 2024. Key Performance Indicator 30 shows a 19% increase in kilometres of dedicated space for cycling in Edinburgh between 2019 and 2023 (this includes temporary ‘Travelling Safely’ interventions.
Running a tram off road
Running tram off road reduces journey times which is a key factor in people choosing to use public transport. This is not just about the speed the tram is travelling at, but also avoiding congestion and road works.