What Edinburgh Trams has advised passengers to carry during heatwave
Latest measure announced because capital’s trams do not have air conditioning
Sweltering passengers on Edinburgh Trams are being advised to carry fans because they do not have air conditioning.
Temperatures are expected to reach 26C in the city on Thursday and 25C on Friday, according to the Met Office.
Tram windows are already kept open and doors opened at every stop during hot weather, but now Edinburgh Trams has suggested passengers also bring their own cooling equipment.
Its spokesperson told The Scotsman: “Recent record-breaking temperatures have affected the temperature onboard our trams, which are not equipped with air conditioning.
“To help improve comfort, windows are kept open and drivers open doors at all stops to increase airflow throughout each carriage.
“During periods of extreme heat, we encourage customers to carry water and, if possible, a hand held fan.”
A former senior employee of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh, which was charge of the tram project, told The Scotsman that air con had been removed from the trams’ specification when they were built because it was thought temperatures in the city would not justify it, and as a cost-saving measure.
City council-owned Edinburgh Trams added extra opening windows in 2015, a year after the trams started running between the airport and city centre, after complaints during high temperatures. They were extended to Newhaven three years ago.
Its spokesperson said: “After a review in 2015, additional hopper windows were added across the fleet to all suitable windows.”
The company also considered other measures such as adding clear film to windows to shield out ultra violet light and raise fan speeds to increase air flow.
Using the air conditioning system in the driver’s cab to help cool the rest of the tram was also considered.
Trials were undertaken in 2015, a year after the Edinburgh Airport to city centre line was , which was subsequently extended east to Newhaven.
At that time, it was estimated that installing air conditioning would cost £60-80,000 for each of the 27 trams, or a total of £1.7-2.1 million.
The union Unite, which represents tram staff, said they were permitted to step outside if they felt excessively hot, take a break or get a cold drink, and return to work once they feel sufficiently cooled down.
Lothian, Edinburgh’s main bus operator, said its fleet did not have air conditioning either and passengers were encouraged to leave the windows open.
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