Lessons must be learnt over why Edinburgh’s troubled tram project doubled in cost and took twice as long to build as originally planned, Alex Salmond told the Scottish Parliament as he announced a judge-led inquiry into the £776m project.
The Scottish capital’s trams began running on Saturday, after six years of disruption and cost increases constructing the 8.7-mile route from the New Town to Edinburgh Airport.
Four years ago, a bitter dispute between Transport Edinburgh Limited, the arm’s-length company responsible for delivering the project, and main contractor Bilfinger Berger brought the whole project to a halt for months.
Scottish First Minister Salmond cited “considerable public concern” over the scheme which he said had disrupted homes and businesses in Edinburgh, BBCnews reported.
The trams started running at the end of May after years of disruption
The Scottish first minister added: “There are lessons to be learned from the conduct of the Edinburgh trams project and I think the course of action we are proposing will be a substantial assistance in doing that.”
Speaking during first minister’s questions in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond said: “I am sure that everyone in Edinburgh, and indeed all over Scotland, will be delighted to see that the Edinburgh trams are fully operational and carrying passengers.
“We cannot, however, lose sight of the considerable public concern over the conduct of the project, the disruption it has caused to households and businesses in the city of Edinburgh.
“I therefore recommended to the Cabinet, and it has been decided, to establish a judge-led public inquiry into the Edinburgh trams project to establish why the project incurred significant overruns in terms of cost and timing, requiring in particular a considerable reduction in the original scope.”
He added that the government had been assured by the City of Edinburgh Council that it would fully cooperate with the inquiry.
The first minister added: “There are lessons to be learned from the conduct of the Edinburgh trams project and I think the course of action we are proposing will be a substantial assistance in doing that.”
The construction of the tram project was Bilfinger Berger’s last construction project in the UK. It is now focusing on consultancy and is in the throes of purchasing UK building and FM specialist GVA Grimley.
