Edinburgh’s controversial tram development could be finished and up and running six months earlier than originally planned.

The city’s £776m tram network was not due to be operating until 2014 at the latest, according to the original timetable.

But now it seems so much progress has been made that the timetable is about to be brought forward, according to sources revealed by scotsman.com.

Edinburgh city council transport leader Lesley Hinds told the Scotsman website: "Our officials are working on a report on the tram project which will be published later this month and I have had some briefings ahead of that happening. I am expecting an update on both the budget and the timetable to be part of the report.

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"If there is any possibility at all of bringing forward the finish date to the project, then we will be striving to see if that can be delivered."

She added: "I would be very shocked if there is any delay until after 2014 from where we are now, as I have been at weekly progress meetings on the project, and there has been no question of any problems in the last few months."

Councillors will be briefed on a new update next month, which will include details of the first test runs of the new trams between the airport and the depot at Gogarburn on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The development scheme was originally awarded £375m from the Scottish Executive in 2003. Two two initial lines were supposed to be finished five years later.

(IT)