Lothian Regional Council : Edinburgh Metro North - South line : consulation leaflet, 1989 : map
For many years Edinburgh has struggled to come up with a coherent transport strategy and it is still heavily dependent on its bus services. In the 1980s the then Lothian Regional Council, that had transport responsibilities rather than the City Council, proposed two metro lines including this North - South line.
It was issued in 1989 for consulation meetings and as it notes it was hoped to gain legal powers to construct in 1990. Needless to say not a lot happened - one issue being that thanks to the large valley Waverley station sits in, and the raised ground High St sits on, the underground section through the city centre would have to be of some considerable depth. It was one of two lines planned, the East-West Metro intersecting at St Andrew Square - and a revival of some of the long abandoned, to passenger traffic, rail lines in the city.
Perhaps, as the city has discovered, street running trams may be the best bet for modal shift here and the East - West Metro alignment is somewhat similar to that taken by the Trams now under extension.
Lothian Regional Council : Edinburgh Metro North - South line : consulation leaflet, 1989 : map
For many years Edinburgh has struggled to come up with a coherent transport strategy and it is still heavily dependent on its bus services. In the 1980s the then Lothian Regional Council, that had transport responsibilities rather than the City Council, proposed two metro lines including this North - South line.
It was issued in 1989 for consulation meetings and as it notes it was hoped to gain legal powers to construct in 1990. Needless to say not a lot happened - one issue being that thanks to the large valley Waverley station sits in, and the raised ground High St sits on, the underground section through the city centre would have to be of some considerable depth. It was one of two lines planned, the East-West Metro intersecting at St Andrew Square - and a revival of some of the long abandoned, to passenger traffic, rail lines in the city.
Perhaps, as the city has discovered, street running trams may be the best bet for modal shift here and the East - West Metro alignment is somewhat similar to that taken by the Trams now under extension.