Because, of course, Scotrail developed, funded and constructed the station completely independently of Edinburgh Council, Transport Scotland and Network Rail.
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Edinburgh Gateway - A White Elephant ?
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Altnabreac
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The flaws of Gateway are around through ticketing options and possibly whether the right services have calls.
It obviously made more sense to develop Gateway and use the tram for an Airport connection than a Turnhouse option with new transit system. That would have been odd.
There are hundreds of homes and offices planned in the area so I’m pleased to see public transport provision specified from the start of the development. This does mean that the station is bigger than needed for current demand.
Post Almond Chord I'd expect everything not stopping at Winchburgh to go on the Chord so only the 2tph Cumbernaulds going via Newbridge. Probably only half the Glasgow’s would stop at Gateway though along with the Stirlings.
It obviously made more sense to develop Gateway and use the tram for an Airport connection than a Turnhouse option with new transit system. That would have been odd.
There are hundreds of homes and offices planned in the area so I’m pleased to see public transport provision specified from the start of the development. This does mean that the station is bigger than needed for current demand.
Post Almond Chord I'd expect everything not stopping at Winchburgh to go on the Chord so only the 2tph Cumbernaulds going via Newbridge. Probably only half the Glasgow’s would stop at Gateway though along with the Stirlings.
overthewater
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The reason people are unhappy with Gateway is because, it might stop much more needed trains station being opened, if people use this draft stations as an explame.
Also who in the right mind would buy a newly built house near an airport? I think its a bit strange there want to build lots of new employment places when there plenty of space going in South Gyle and Edinburgh park...
Also who in the right mind would buy a newly built house near an airport? I think its a bit strange there want to build lots of new employment places when there plenty of space going in South Gyle and Edinburgh park...
NotATrainspott
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Houses on the now-abandoned runway site would probably be less blighted by the airport than those under the flight paths. The local development plans include provision for a second parallel runway to the north-west so there's no risk of these new houses being blighted later.
Being close to the airport also means these houses are directly off the Scottish trunk road network as well as having excellent commuting links into Edinburgh and its employment centres. These are pretty ideal conditions for most prospective homeowners.
The space at Edinburgh Park is already accounted for in development plans. There's a long way to go until existing developments need to be replaced. Having a total blank canvas normally helps quite a bit too, since you don't have to worry about accommodating existing site users.
johnnychips
Established Member
Slightly OT, but agreeing with the above post: areas very near an airport but not on the landing/takeoff lines can be surprisingly quiet.
At £5 for the short trip from the station to the airport I can’t see it being well used. Other airports have free shuttles from nearby stations.
Crikey, that's daylight robbery! It's not as if it's an exclusive luxury first class experience with leather seats, massage and champagne thrown in! Probably cheaper to get a taxi, especially if travelling in a group. Should be included free for rail ticket holders or for a nominal pound or thereabouts if the airport really wants to encourage mode shift. They probably don't really want that though as it could eat into parking revenue.
It’s ridiculous. £5 from Princes St to the airport; £5 from Gateway to the airport. Is it the most expensive tram fare per km in the UK?
I was frankly shocked when I did the latter trip last year. But it did explain why Gateway was bereft of passengers.
Northhighland
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Aye this is a really good example of Scotland getting it wrong. In the focal point of our tourism industry as well. It is a constant source of annoyance the cost of using the trams, the lack of co-ordination is woeful.
That’s not really relevant, ScotRail were involved, and some people will do anything to defend everything they do.
The economics of the trams was based on a fare premium for the airport stop. If you take this away the short fall will need to come out of someone else's pocket. Just arguing that they are too expensive is not really good enough you need to need to say who you think should pay or come up with a price that will attract enough extra people to make up for a lower fares. I imagine the current price already reflects people willingness to pay as a way of maximising revenue without introducing a complex system of off peak fare and other incentives.
But they were *very* far down the list of 'culprits'.
Once again, not relevant. I was labelling posters, not saying ScotRail were entriely responsible.
backontrack
Established Member
I've always thought it made sense to open a new station at Kirkliston near where the Almond Chord would join the Dalmeny Chord in order to serve the town there.
I believe that forms part of the proposal for new houses in the area.
backontrack
Established Member
It's a sensible proposal.
I'm not aware of that. There is a station planned for Winchburgh.
A Kirkliston station really? Can’t see that working to be honest, they’re supposed to be sending the faster services around the Almond Chord, with the slower Cumbernauld services going via Winchburgh to call there. There’s not a chance any of the 4tph E-G shuttles would call at a possible Kirkliston station, and even if the Dunblane trains go that way, they’re supposed to be speeding them up. Can’t see what possible services would serve Kirkliston, which isn’t that big.
overthewater
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That yellow machine hasn't been updated in donkeys. It has no mention of the 747 every 20mins nor the 200, 300, direct service to Glasgow and Livingston... There have been told umpteen times...
Also the Top end fares are in part because of BAA says so...
These machines must not get used much . Baa dont own Eidnburgh airport anymore
overthewater
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Who is it nowadays?
overthewater
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So there the bunch of greedy "B's"
Statto
Established Member
It's now £6 single to the Airport from any tram stop, daft thing is the rest of the line the single fare is only £1.70, Lothian buses Airlink is only £4.50 single
So they're not interested in public transport access to the airport at all I surmise except as an expensive distress purchase. As I said earlier it's probably because people not going by car threatens their parking revenue. Any words they utter to the contrary on the subject is pure greenwash bullsh!t. Is there any discount available for airport workers or are zero hours minimum wage slaves also charged this eyewatering amount?
berneyarms
Established Member
All of the Lothian bus services serving the airport now also charge £4.50 single.
It’s sadly a practice becoming more common across the world - charge a premium on public transport to/from airports.
It’s sadly a practice becoming more common across the world - charge a premium on public transport to/from airports.
benbristow
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Captive audience. Same as charging more for food etc. What else are you going to do? Walk?
Book a minicab from Gateway if you're coming in from further afield by rail. It must be cheaper, especially if there's more than one person in the vehicle.
Altnabreac
Established Member
As far as I know no station has ever been proposed on the Almond Chord route. Kirkliston has seen a lot of development recently and a station here could well perform reasonably well. It would be right on the northern edge of the village though so would largely be park and ride and may well be abstractive from existing Dalmeny commuters and Ingliston Park and Ride users. Another downside is that planned development in Kirkliston is largely complete so there is no easy source of developer finance for any new station proposal.
Winchburgh on the other hand still has several thousand more houses to be built and the station is tied in to the permission to construct the houses so the developers need to make sure it happens alongside the new Motorway junction that will benefit Kirkliston as well. I would expect the new Winchburgh station to attract passengers from Kirkliston and it may well also be abstractive of Linlithgow passengers because of the difficulties in parking at Linlithgow.
So I wouldn't say a Kirkliston station could never happen but it would be low down the priority listing.
In some ways post Almond Chord construction it might be more likely that a Ratho Station reopening would be on the cards. There would be a reduction from 10tph to 6tph through Newbridge junction so capacity would be there and the stops could be in the Cumbernauld service. There would also be reverse commuting demand to the employment sites around Newbridge and given no one thinks the Newbridge tram extension will ever see the light of day it would provide an alternative public transport provision for an underserved area.
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