Trams Must Stop at the Western

12.18.17am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 13th Apr 2005

The proposed route for Edinburgh's tram line 1 has come under fire from local Liberal Democrats for failing to include a stop at the Western General.

The tram route currently passes close to the hospital but there are no plans for a direct link.

Margaret Smith, Edinburgh West's Liberal Democrat Member of the Scottish Parliament said,

"It simply does not make sense to have the tram line passing behind the hospital without including a stop. Unless the route is changed we will miss a real opportunity to improve access and it will be patients who will suffer."

Edinburgh bus operators have admitted that bus routes along the path of the new tram line may have to be cut-back because of the increased competition between them for passengers.

Mike Crockart, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith said,

"The tram offers a real chance to improve transport links to the Western, however a line without a stop at the Western General could actually make the situation worse"

Margaret Smith has called on NHS Lothian and the Tram promoters to work together to find a

solution to the problem.

"It is clear that a stop at the Western General will have considerable benefits for social inclusion and overall patronage. We will be campaigning hard to make sure that the Western is not left out of the loop."