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Edinburgh tram in the city centre at dusk with the Edinburgh skyline in the background

Edinburgh Tram Extension Plans Face Mixed Public Reaction After Consultation

The City of Edinburgh Council has released the results of its 2025 public consultation on a proposed north-south tram line from Granton to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary. Overall feedback was inconclusive, with notable opposition to key route options.

The 12-week consultation, which ran from late August to mid-November 2025, drew more than 11,400 responses. It tested ideas for connecting Granton in the north through the city centre and on to the BioQuarter via Cameron Toll, with potential further extensions into the city region.

Route options and response breakdown

The consultation presented two main options for the northern section from Granton to the city centre:

  • Roseburn Path route: 68% of respondents opposed this option, while 23% supported it. Many raised concerns about the impact on the popular shared cycle and walking path, as well as local ecology.
  • Orchard Brae / Dean Bridge route: This also saw more opposition than support, with concerns about disruption to traffic, buses, and the historic Dean Bridge area.

Broader findings showed:

  • 53% opposed the overall north-south tram proposal.
  • Stronger support (over 50%) for the southern leg from the city centre to the BioQuarter and Royal Infirmary.
  • Some backing for potential extensions toward Midlothian and East Lothian.

Other common themes included questions over funding, calls to prioritise bus rapid transit or rail alternatives, and the need to learn from past tram project issues.

What happens next

A detailed report on the consultation and accompanying market research goes to the Transport and Environment Committee on 18 June 2026 for scrutiny only. No decisions on progression are expected at that meeting.

Councillors will consider a full Strategic Business Case in September 2026. That document will shape whether the project advances to the next stage (Outline Business Case), gets amended, or pauses. No funding is currently secured for construction.

The council has described the results as mixed and emphasised that the consultation feeds into technical work rather than acting as a final vote.

Why this matters locally

Edinburgh continues to grow, with major developments at Granton Waterfront and the BioQuarter driving demand for better public transport links. A successful tram extension could ease pressure on roads and buses, but the mixed feedback highlights ongoing debates about cost, disruption, and impacts on existing paths and neighbourhoods.

Locals along the proposed routes, regular users of Roseburn Path, and anyone relying on city centre buses will want to follow the September committee closely.

Further reading

Edinburgh Trams