Edinburgh Backs Royal Infirmary Tram Extension as Granton Route Is Put on Hold
Edinburgh councillors have agreed to prioritise a proposed tram extension from the city centre to the Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter, while plans for a northern route to Granton have been put on hold.
Edinburgh councillors have backed plans to take forward the southern section of a proposed tram extension from Princes Street to the Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh BioQuarter.
The decision was made by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Transport and Environment Committee on Thursday, 10 September 2026.
The southern route, estimated at around £1.7 billion, will now be treated as the council’s priority. The two routes previously considered between the city centre and Granton will not progress for now, although the council has retained its longer-term ambition for a mass-transit connection to the north of the city.
What did councillors agree?
The decision changes the direction of Edinburgh’s tram expansion plans.
| Detail | Latest position |
|---|---|
| Decision date | 10 September 2026 |
| Priority section | City centre to Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter |
| Estimated cost | Around £1.7 billion |
| Northern section | Granton routes put on hold |
| Funding | Construction funding not yet secured |
| Next stage | Further business-case and funding work |
Rather than continuing to develop the complete Granton-to-BioQuarter route as one project, the council will focus first on the southern section.
That does not mean construction has been approved or that work is about to begin. The project still has further business-case stages to complete, while funding also needs to be identified. The council has previously said a project of this size would depend on future funding from a range of sources.
Where would the Royal Infirmary tram route go?
The proposed southern extension would connect with Edinburgh’s existing tram infrastructure on Princes Street before heading across North Bridge and South Bridge.
From there, the planned route would continue through:
- Clerk Street and Newington Road
- Cameron Toll
- Old Dalkeith Road
- Edinburgh BioQuarter
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
The corridor is already safeguarded for tram use in City Plan 2030. Detailed work would still be needed on road access, junctions, bridge structures and how other traffic would operate alongside the tram line.
The proposed extension would give the Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter a direct tram connection with the city centre and the existing Airport-to-Newhaven network.
Why have the Granton tram plans been paused?
The Granton section has been the more difficult part of the proposed north-south tram route.
As Edinburgh247 reported after the public consultation results were released in June, 53% of respondents opposed the wider north-south proposal. Opposition was particularly strong towards the option using Roseburn Path, with 68% against that route and 23% in support.
The southern section attracted a better response, with more than half of respondents supporting a tram link between the city centre, BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.
Two northern options had been considered between Crewe Toll and the city centre: one using Roseburn Path, and another running via Orchard Brae and Dean Bridge. Both have faced problems around public acceptance and delivery.
The council has not abandoned the idea of connecting Granton to the tram network. Its position is that further work is needed to find a route that can realistically be delivered before that part of the project can move forward.
What happens next?
The September decision moves the Royal Infirmary section further up Edinburgh’s transport agenda, but several large questions remain.
The next stages will require more detailed work on costs, design, funding and the case for investment. The council’s project information makes clear that future tram construction depends on funding being secured, with Scottish Government and Transport Scotland support among the potential funding routes to be explored.
The southern tram proposal also overlaps with another major transport project now being studied in Edinburgh.
Transport Scotland and Network Rail are examining the possibility of restoring passenger services to the Edinburgh South Suburban Railway. Council reports say the proposed southern tram route could complement that work rather than replace it.
There is therefore still a long way to go before passengers are boarding trams for the Royal Infirmary.
Our take
Prioritising the southern section looks like the clearer route forward after the consultation showed stronger support for it and both Granton options ran into opposition.
But the £1.7 billion estimated cost remains the big question. No construction funding is secured, and further business-case work is still required.
For now, this is an important decision about which tram route Edinburgh wants to pursue next, rather than a green light for construction.