South of Edinburgh’s communities are being left behind due to poor transport links, with 38% of households lacking access to a car. Areas like Gorgie, Niddrie, and Portobello need better connections to jobs, education, and essential services. As the UK's 3rd most congested city, Edinburgh’s congestion costs drivers 53 hours annually and worsens air quality, deepening inequalities and hindering growth.

The South Sub Tram-Train project is essentially an Edinburgh Tram extension, offering a cost-effective, low-carbon solution. By repurposing existing infrastructure, Phase 1 will reopen the South Suburban Railway using tram-trains, connecting 11 stops from Gorgie to Portobello and connecting with the wider tram network at Murrayfield.

An interchange at Cameron Toll will link the South Sub to the proposed North-South Tram extension, providing access to the BioQuarter, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, and Western General Hospital. Phase 2 will extend tram-trains to Leith via Seafield, on the disused Leith Branch Railway supporting regeneration and connectivity in eastern Edinburgh.

Tram-trains have been in use for decades and are both proven and highly successful across Europe. They can operate on both light and heavy rail unlike regular trams, and have been operational in the UK in Sheffield since 2018, with tram-trains due to start in Cardiff during 2025, and Manchester is likely to be the next to use tram-trains. Tram-trains are proven to reduce car reliance, emissions, and congestion, creating safer, cleaner streets.

Edinburgh is running out of time to meet its 2030 climate and transport goals to be a net-zero city and reduce car journeys by 30%. The South Sub Tram-Train is a realistic, affordable way to connect communities, cut traffic, and support a sustainable future. Sign this petition to support a new feasibility study and the South Sub's reopening.