Liz McAreavey

Delivering a truly integrated transport infrastructure for Scotland’s Capital means much more than adding stops to the tram line or putting on late trains during the Edinburgh Festival.

It is essential that we don’t rest on our laurels and seek ongoing enhancement of our public transport to ensure we are a truly international standard city competing with the best of them. It’s great that our transport system has seen a significant level of development in recent years, contributing to our position as a modern, world class city.

The Borders Railway is now up and running expanding the local economies along the route. The challenges that came with delivering the trams project are now making way for long term, commercial benefits. Indeed there is already a lot of talk about potential extensions. The re-development of Haymarket train station and the ongoing enhancement of the rail network across the board – particularly the modernisation of the routes between Glasgow and Edinburgh – will also support long term growth. The ongoing Queen Street Tunnel works and electrification of the main rail line between the cities will inevitably cause inconvenience for commuters but create a more efficient service in the long term.

Transport infrastructure in the Capital has never before been so conducive to positive economic expansion.

Edinburgh Airport is seeing a higher level of passengers than ever before, contributing nearly £1bn to the Scottish economy and supporting more than 23,000 jobs.

This is all hugely encouraging but there is still a long way to go.

The proposed and much anticipated adoption of smart ticketing across the national rail service will be a major boost. It’s something commuters will undoubtedly adapt to and it will provide valuable data and insights to inform a more effective operation.

Integration is the key focus however, allowing improved connectivity within the city and between Edinburgh and the rest of Scotland. Manchester is a great example of how an integrated, multi-modal transport system can work. While Edinburgh, like any city, has its own specific needs, such as Edinburgh’s role as a gateway to Scotland, its success is something the Capital can perhaps aspire to.

Lothian Buses’ investment of £18.5 million in hybrid buses and the Scottish Government’s ‘Green Bus Fund’ means that we have the greenest bus fleet outside of London. While Edinburgh has one of the highest use of buses in the UK, the city can only achieve its environmental goals if the appeal of all modes of local transport grows. Improved integration, accessibility, convenience and affordability is key.

Edinburgh locals can only sympathise with Glasgow residents ahead of the massive inconvenience and upheaval the SPT Subway closure will create this summer. The multi-million pound modernisation is by no means a direct comparison to the trams project, but it does make you appreciate the value of smooth operating system. However, while we can look on in relief that its them and not us, Edinburgh needs to be prepared for Glasgow’s new found level of competition that will come with the completion of the works and use it to spur us on to push for further improvements.

As Edinburgh’s City Deal and City Vision come to fruition in the near future, continued investment in transport infrastructure is a welcomed priority. In the meantime however, we must make better use of the local transport services we have to demonstrate its value, meet environmental goals and put in practice what an integrated system could deliver.

Liz McAreavey is acting chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce