Bus bid paves way for ERI tram

A £10 MILLION-plus guided busway to the ERI would be built under new proposals to tackle congestion in the south of the city.

Buses would drive past queuing traffic on a purpose-built lane alongside the Old Dalkeith Road under plans being considered by council leaders.

The idea is being explored after plans for a tram line to the ERI and Newcraighall had to be shelved following the "no" vote in last year's road tolls referendum.

The council has ordered a feasibility study into the idea of using the land it has secured for the tram line to create a guided busway. That is most likely to involve a busway - similar to one already operating in west Edinburgh - built between Cameron Toll and the ERI.

The study will also examine whether it is practical to create further sections of busway through Newington and between the ERI and Newcraighall.

The council still hopes to complete the scheme. In the meantime, a number of "interim" measures are to be investigated, including the guided busway and a rise in the number of services to the hospital.

The idea of the busway is that a temporary set-up would provide many of the benefits of a tram scheme, and could easily be adapted for use by trams at a later date.

Although the feasibility study is not likely to be completed before 2008, the idea has strong backing from the Lib Dems, as well as the potential support of Labour.

Labour councillor Ricky Henderson, the city's transport leader, said today: "We've continually said we're committed to Tram Line 3 and have already safeguarded the route.

"We recognise that south-east Edinburgh is a key growth area and improving on the already good bus service would greatly benefit current residents as well as support future development.

"We will continue to seek funding for this line, and in the interim, explore the possibility of a guided busway from Cameron Toll to the Royal Infirmary, or any other alternative that would improve journey times."

At just over one mile, the main route under consideration is similar in length to the west Edinburgh Fastlink, which cost £10m to build two years ago.

The number of people travelling to Little France is set to soar in the coming years, with plans to complete a £200m biomedical park, relocate the Sick Kids' Hospital there, and build another private hospital.

Tom Waterson, Unison branch secretary for the Lothians division, today welcomed the idea of a guided busway.

"Little France is going to become a massive site, with staff, visitors and patients all heading there," he said. "The ERI has been badly served by public transport, despite improvements in the last year. We would welcome any further measures."

A guided busway would also pose few technical difficulties between Newcraighall and the ERI, as the route could mainly operate parallel to the roads, although the cost would be an issue. The scheme is likely to depend on winning funding from the Scottish Executive.

For the section from Cameron Toll to Minto Street, buses already have dedicated lanes, which could also be converted into a guided busway. Beyond that, Clerk Street and Nicolson Street are too narrow to allow a complete separation of public transport and general traffic.

Neil Renilson, chief executive of Lothian Buses, said: "A guided busway, as a first step towards Tram Line 3, makes good sense as the money spent on the scheme would have to be spent in due course on building a tram line anyway."

The Lib Dem's transport spokesman for Edinburgh, Councillor Phil Wheeler, said today: "Building this guided busway will show that we are serious in our efforts to improve public transport links in the city. Not only will it improve the reliability of bus services, but it will act as a first step in providing good links to the new developments in the area."