Trails and Rails

The ELR light rail train solution proposes to utilise many disused railway lines although it is not the intention that it will be to the detriment of existing cycling and walking routes or the local communities they pass through. This would be possible by the concept of single line running on various parts of the designated routes where there is essentially surplus land available to accommodate all these modes of transport as well as passing loops for the light rail vehicles.

For ease of reference the list below details the routes being utilised in the 2016 ELR proposal in and around Edinburgh that are affected and those that are not:-

Affected

  • Existing cycling and walking route – parts of the land forming the defunct north suburban line (the Roseburn Corridor) from Russell Road to Hawthornvale / Lindsay Road (this to include the rebuilding of the old Caledonian Railway’s bridge to Leith across the main lines at Roseburn to Sauchiebank;
  • Existing cycling and walking route – parts of the land forming the defunct line from the Roseburn Corridor at Graigleith to Davidson’s Mains.
  • Existing cycling and walking route – parts of the land forming the defunct line from Scotland Street Yard, via Warriston to the FiveWays path junction at Trinity;
  • Existing cycling and walking route – parts of the land forming the defunct line north from Powderhall, at its junction with the defunct line from Warriston to Coburg Street, which is also an existing cycling and walking route, to the FiveWays path junction at Trinity;  and
  • Existing cycling and walking route – parts of the land forming the defunct lines from south end of Gilmerton Station Road to Loanhead and Straiton.

Not Affected

  • Existing cycling and walking route on the defunct line from Balerno to Slateford;
  • Existing cycling and walking route on the defunct line from Pinkhill to Balgreen;
  • Existing cycling and walking route on the defunct line from Warriston to Coburg Street;
  • Existing cycling and walking route – the land forming the defunct line from the FiveWays path junction at Trinity to Lower Granton Road;
  • Existing cycling and walking route on the defunct line from St Leonard’s to Duddingston Road West (Innocent Railway);
  • Existing cycling and walking route on the defunct line from Loanhead to Roslin; and
  • Existing cycling and walking route on the defunct line from Hardengreen / Eskbank to Penicuik.

Note

Although used as an existing cycling and walking route – parts of the land forming the defunct line from Easter Road to Leith Links East / Salamander Street was not considered in this exercise as it only exists as part of the defunct line which ran from the Roseburn Corridor at Craighall Sidings to Easter Road via Victoria Park, Bonnington and Leith Walk, all long gone.

Logic

This came about for three main reasons (a) pinch points on existing disused off-road corridors earmarked for use where two lines and an adjacent cycle path / walkway would not be practical on a number of the routes and the space would have to be shared, (b) the fact that in many areas (some substantial) redundant land adjoining cycle paths and walkways and existing operational lines, could be utilised for passing manoeuvres and (c) the cost of building new stations would be significantly lower if they were served by a single line – this would seem to be eminently workable.

Given the importance of this proposed solution, it also recognises the continued need for providing and maintaining cycle and walking routes throughout Edinburgh and its environs. Nevertheless, there is no reason why a cycle and walking route cannot be relocated nearby if that is deemed necessary as part of any project in recognition of its importance to cyclists and the local community it serves, providing that route remains intact.