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Princes Street reopens in Edinburgh with buses and trams returning

Princes Street Reopens as Edinburgh Trams Return to Full Route

Princes Street is due to reopen on Saturday 29 August, ending more than seven weeks of disruption following the fire at the former Debenhams building. Trams are expected to return to the full Airport to Newhaven route, while most city-centre bus diversions will also end.

Princes Street is expected to reopen to pedestrians and road users on Saturday 29 August 2026, following the major fire at the former Debenhams building on 9 July.

Subject to final overnight testing on Friday, Edinburgh Trams will resume running between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven, restoring the full route through Princes Street, St Andrew Square, Leith, and the north of the city. Lothian’s city-centre bus diversions are also due to end.

The reopening brings an end to weeks of transport disruption during one of Edinburgh’s busiest periods of the year.

What Changes From Saturday?

The biggest change will be the return of normal tram services through the city centre.

Since the fire, trams have only been able to operate between Edinburgh Airport and West End, leaving all stops from Princes Street through to Newhaven without tram services. Lothian buses have also been diverted away from the affected section, mainly through George Street and Queen Street.

From Saturday:

  • Trams are expected to run again between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven.
  • City-centre bus diversions are due to end.
  • Pedestrian access between Castle Street and Frederick Street will reopen for the first time since 9 July.
  • Westbound bus stops in the affected section will operate normally.
  • Three eastbound bus stops between Castle Street and Frederick Street will remain closed for now.

Passengers are still being advised to check live travel information before setting off while services settle back into their normal routes.

Some Restrictions Will Remain

Although the road is reopening, work at the former Debenhams site is not finished.

The pavement on the north side of Princes Street will remain closed beside the damaged building while remedial work continues. One lane of the eastbound carriageway will instead be used as a temporary pedestrian route.

The three eastbound bus stops between Castle Street and Frederick Street will also remain out of use, although westbound stops are unaffected.

So while Saturday marks the return of normal traffic and public transport through Princes Street, there will still be a visible work zone around the former department store.

Why Was Princes Street Closed?

The closure began after a major fire broke out at the former Debenhams building in the early hours of 9 July 2026.

The blaze badly damaged the empty B-listed property and left parts of the structure unsafe. Engineers later concluded that even low-speed traffic and tram movements close to the building could present a safety risk.

Work carried out since then has included installing steel supports to stabilise the Princes Street façade, securing the eastern gable, and removing tonnes of damaged brickwork, stone, and debris. Some pieces of stonework removed from the building have been stored for possible reuse.

No injuries were reported in the fire.

A Long Seven Weeks for Edinburgh Transport

The closure has had a much wider effect than the short section of Princes Street itself.

Bus diversions caused extra congestion across the city centre, while the loss of the tram route east of the West End affected journeys to St Andrew Square, Leith Walk, Ocean Terminal, and Newhaven.

Edinburgh247 reported in July that the Princes Street closure was expected to continue into August, with no firm reopening date available at that point. That earlier update can now be linked directly into this story as background.

The disruption also ran through most of Edinburgh’s August festival season, when the city centre was already dealing with much heavier pedestrian and public transport demand.

Check Before Travelling This Weekend

Edinburgh Trams says full-route running remains subject to final testing, so anyone travelling early on Saturday should check the latest service information before leaving.

The Bus & Tram app, Edinburgh Trams, Lothian Buses, and the City of Edinburgh Council will carry the latest updates as normal services return.

For anyone who has spent the last seven weeks negotiating diversions, replacement journeys, and a split tram network, the return of buses and trams to Princes Street should make getting across central Edinburgh considerably simpler again.