Six pedestrians hit by Edinburgh Trams since service began 10 years ago

Six pedestrians have been hit by trams since the service began in the capital in 2014.

The vehicles have also been in more than 100 collisions with road vehicles in the 10 years the £1billion transport system has been operating.

Of those hit by trams, one man died – Carlos Correa Palacio, who was killed in 2018 – and five others were injured.

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There have been 112 accidents or incidents involving a road vehicle such as a bus or car, and four involving cyclists.

The troubled system opened five years late and £400million pounds over budget. It was also a fraction of the intended length. An ­extension to the city’s Newhaven opened last year.

The safety findings, released under freedom of information, have prompted calls for an urgent review of the 11.5-mile system, which runs from Edinburgh Airport through the city centre to Newhaven via Leith.

Miles Briggs, the Conservative MSP for Lothian, said: “We have already seen several ­incidents where people have been injured or killed in ­incidents involving trams and on the tram lines.

“There must be an urgent review by the SNP government of what additional safety measures should be put in place.”

Carlos was killed after being hit by a tram on a crossing while making his way home from work. In June 2017, Malaysian medical student Zhi Min Soh, 23, died after her bike became stuck in tramlines on Princes Street and she fell into the path of a minibus.

In August last year, Edinburgh Trams was fined £240,000 after a criminal probe found the firm failed to assess the loudness of warning devices on its trams.

The council has paid out over £1.3million in compensation to cyclists who were injured or had their bikes damaged after
slipping on the rails or getting their wheels stuck, with further payouts made to pedestrians and motorists.

The Office of Road and Rail said: “We have been working with the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board to ensure that safety, standards, and good practice continues to be improved across all tramways, including Edinburgh Trams.”

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