Overview

Edinburgh trams have been around for quite some time. Over recent years the line has been extended and now runs from Edinburgh Airport all the way through to Newhaven down by Leith docks. As with all new transport journeys; when you first use the tram it can be quite confusing what the protocols are, how do you buy a ticket, how do you know where you are, and these things can put you off travelling.

Transport & Parking

Let's start with buying a ticket as there are several ways you can do this. Locals will often have a travel pass or prepaid pass and when you have these, you have to tap in at a terminal on the platform before boarding the tram. You can buy tickets on the app and these are presented using your phone. You can also use the on platform machines to purchase your ticket and this will be printed for you as a paper ticket. If like me, you are a wheelchair user, and you're looking for a bit of an adventure on one of Edinburgh's shiny trams then here are some of my top tips. Having purchased your ticket or you have a travel pass and you've arrived at the platform look at the overhead signage to see which side of the platform you need to be on. There are some handy seats in the central section of the platforms and near these on each platform you will see a stainless steel wheelchair symbol embedded in the platform floor. This is to tell you where to wait for the accessible section of the tram. The wheelchair logo also has tactile markings as this is also the best place to wait if you are visually impaired. When the tram arrives there are two sets of doors you want to look out for. These usually arrive close to where you'll be waiting. On arrival the doors will open and you enter. If you have chosen the left hand set of doors you board and turn right whereas if you opt for the right hand set of doors you turn left. You'll move into the accessible area of the tram where there are two wheelchair spaces, one on either side of the tram and facing in different directions. Adjacent to each of these are two seats; handy if you are an ambulant disabled person or a visually impaired person. Lots of space with plenty of room for assistance dogs too. During the journey customer service assistants pass through the tram and check tickets. They'll often ask where you are travelling too and reappear when it's time to get embark to see you off safely. During the journey audio announcements tell you the upcoming stop. You can also see this on the screens located throughout the tram. When your stop is announced you can push a yellow button that has a wheelchair logo on it; it's adjacent to the wheelchair space. This tells the tram driver a wheelchair user wants to get off the tram and they operate the doors and make sure they see that you are safely off the tram and onto the platform before they move off.

Access

The Edinburgh trams, like many other tram services, is one of the few forms of public transport where wheelchair users can use the service without the help or intervention of other people. That's why I love trams!

Toilets

Trams don't have toilets but the journeys are typically quite short. If you are looking for a nearby Changing Places Toilet then you have three options as there is one at Edinburgh Airport, another at The Johnnie Walker Experience, five minutes from the West End Tram Stop and a third at the St James Quarter Shopping Centre where you get off at St Andrew Square Tram Stop and walk through Multrees Walk to get to the shopping centre. Accessible toilets can also be found at these places too.

Staff

There are usually not any staff on the tram stops themselves; albeit at busy times there may be. Most trams have customer service assistants on board too. They are very friendly and can help in getting you to a wheelchair space and sometimes helping with 'crowd control' when the trams are busy too.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

If you're visiting Edinburgh they are a great way to get around. You can use the Park and Ride at Ingliston and then come in on the tram. The trams can take you to loads of the main tourist spots in the city too. Edinburgh Airport stop for flights Murrayfield stop for rugby and events Haymarket stop for train and bus connections West End stop for the Johnnie Walker Experience and shopping Princes Street stop the National Galleries, East and West Princes Street Gardens and routes into the Old Town, Royal Mile and Castle St Andrew Square stop to enjoy the shops, the St James Quarter, the National Portrait Gallery and Waverley Station Leith Walk has three stops, Macdonald Road, Balfour Street and Foot of the Walk, if you want to explore the eclectic mix of shops and places for coffee or to eat The Shore stop is the place to get off if you want to explore the food opportunities and maritime history of the docklands waterfront. Ocean Terminal is the stop to go and visit the Royal Yacht Britannia or the Port of Leith Distillery.

Photos