A tram has been tested at walking pace on a fully off-road section between Edinburgh Park and Haymarket, the local authority has said.

The tram, which was accompanied by engineers and other key personnel, walked the route to allow measurements to be taken and tests carried out.

The latest development means around 11km of track is now available for testing.

Transport Convener Lesley Hinds said: "This is another long section now under testing and it means there's 11km of track in use.


"Of course, there's more testing to come so we're very keen that the contractors have the space to do their work so we can keep pushing hard towards the service launch in May."

The testing phase of the city's major infrastructure scheme will eventually see in excess of 150 tram test journeys along the line each day, for five days a week. This will be a gradual build up in tram movements over a period of time which will allow everyone to get used to the new arrangements.

Edinburgh Council has said the project remains in line with the revised £776m budget, while work is either ahead of schedule, or in line with the revised timescale reported in December 2011.

It has been forecast that the service will be available for passengers by May 2014 – two months earlier than the original target of summer 2014.

(JP/IT)