Trams to return to Edinburgh streets?TRANSform Scotland, the national sustainable transport campaign (1), today welcomed the City of Edinburgh Council's plan to bring trams back on the streets of Edinburgh. The announcement of the trams plan was unveiled as part of the City's 'Local Transport Strategy', launched earlier today.TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager Colin Howden said: "Modern tram systems such as in Manchester, Sheffield and Croydon have been successful in curbing traffic growth and getting people on to public transport. Edinburgh is the fifth largest city in Europe without a light rail system so it is about time we catch up with continental best practice by installing a tram system in the city." TRANSform Scotland is calling upon the Scottish Executive to make funds available for public transport projects and schemes that can provide alternatives to car use. In England, the DETR has come out strongly in favour of light rail - with 25 systems mooted in the 10 Year Plan for Transport, 'Transport 2010', released in July. Colin Howden said: "Last week we had Transport Minister Sarah Boyack saying that the Scottish Executive would fund a £300 million motorway being driven through the heart of Glasgow. (2) Despite Labour's continual rhetoric about improving public transport, the Minister came up with precious little extra funding for public transport schemes. The Executive must now come up with funding for projects - such as trams for Edinburgh - that will genuinely improve alternatives to the car." ENDS
Notes to Editors: (2) The £307 million M74 Northern Extension was given Executive support in Boyack's transport spending announcement last Thursday (28/09/00). END OF PRESS RELEASE
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