The proportion of travellers taking the tram to and from Edinburgh airport has fallen with three times as many using buses, according to a report.
About 8 per cent of journeys to and from the air terminal were by tram at the beginning of the year, compared with 25 per cent by bus. Over the previous months the tram service’s share of passengers had fallen from 10 per cent, a report by the Airport Operators Association said.
Tram tickets cost £5.50 single and £8.50 return, which are both £1 more than Lothian Buses’ Airlink service.
The passenger watchdog Bus Users Scotland said that people might be opting for buses because they left from nearer the terminal. Gavin Booth, the watchdog’s director, said: “For passengers, the introduction of the trams to Edinburgh Airport in 2014 has increased choice and provided extra capacity, which is good.
“Both are very good services, with little difference in end-to-end times, particularly in view of the likely speeding-up of the tram times.”
A spokesman for Edinburgh Airport said: “We expect Edinburgh Gateway station, which will connect the tram to the rail network, to bring a further increase in [public transport’s] share of passengers when it opens next month.”
Reply