Edinburgh Tram developments

[oldman]

Curious how the validators will work at Edinburgh airport, I used the tram last month at the rediculous price they charge to go from Gateway to the Airport, had my ticket checked once on the tram, then twice by two separate staff between the tram and the exit of the tram station at the airport... They are very keen to make sure you have a ticket there!

The idea is that if you tap out at the airport you pay the airport fare. If you don't tap out, but have tapped in, you pay the airport fare. You wouldn't need tapping out at all if it wasn't for the airport zone. Tail wagging the dog really.

 

[Boff]

Out of curiosity, how did Edinburgh Trams calculate the fare when using the NEC or Young Scot Cards in order to claim for the operator reimbursement? You only had to tap the card on the validators when getting on the tram, but they were still valid in the airport zone.

 

[A330Alex]

Edinburgh Trams receive zero reimbursement for NEC passengers. Currently only City of Edinburgh NECs are accepted at the operators own cost.

 

[eoff]

Currently only City of Edinburgh NECs are accepted at the operators own cost.

This part of the sentence: "Currently only City of Edinburgh NECs are accepted" is not true.

 

[sng7]

This part of the sentence: "Currently only City of Edinburgh NECs are accepted" is not true.

Based on this page of edinburgh trams website: https://edinburghtrams.com/scottish-national-entitlement-card

Please note, Scottish National Entitlement Cards that do not have City of Edinburgh Council as the issuing Local Authority are not valid on tram services.

It seems that it generally is true with one exception that does not apply to the vast majority of NEC holders.

However, blind or visually impaired holders of Scottish National Entitlement Cards issued by other local authorities can also travel free on trams.

 

[InOban]

delete

 

[hexagon789]

Based on this page of edinburgh trams website: https://edinburghtrams.com/scottish-national-entitlement-card

It seems that it generally is true with one exception that does not apply to the vast majority of NEC holders.

Visually impaired NEC holders was certainly the only non-City of Edinburgh issued card exception I could think of.

 

[NIT100]

Don't want to get too off topic, but does anyone know how are Edinburgh Trams (or rail operators) reimbursed for visually impaired NEC holders by Scottish Government, if at all? Can't find any information online.

 

[Blindtraveler]

I would assume that because the concession card is scanned and validated they are simply able to charge back in the same way as any bus operator. For trains. I would again expect that some kind of flat rate and your payment is agreed with operators for the carriage of visually impaired passengers and that now scottrail is effectively nationalised that this only applies to Avanti West coast, London, northeastern Railway and cross country. Certainly my experience on scottrail services since moving south 2 years ago has been that at both stations and on trains. They haven't even been interested in the ticket that I have bought to pay for my journey and simply pass me by. I am not brave enough to test this by not purchasing and then potentially being prosecuted

 

[lachlan]

I would assume that because the concession card is scanned and validated they are simply able to charge back in the same way as any bus operator. For trains. I would again expect that some kind of flat rate and your payment is agreed with operators for the carriage of visually impaired passengers and that now scottrail is effectively nationalised that this only applies to Avanti West coast, London, northeastern Railway and cross country. Certainly my experience on scottrail services since moving south 2 years ago has been that at both stations and on trains. They haven't even been interested in the ticket that I have bought to pay for my journey and simply pass me by. I am not brave enough to test this by not purchasing and then potentially being prosecuted

Similar experience with the disabled persons railcard - very rarely do I get asked to show it even if the inspector just forced someone else to buy a new ticket for not having a (different kind of) railcard.

Visually impaired NEC holders was certainly the only non-City of Edinburgh issued card exception I could think of.

Good to know - I'm sure took the bus once from the airport instead of the tram because at the time buses accepted the card but trams didn't.

 

[NIT100]

Most people who have one here probably know, but if you have an eye+1 NEC card you can now take a companion free on Scotrail services from 1st April 2025, and also on Edinburgh Trams.

I think I have found the answer on reimbursement, that there is no reimbursement for visual impairment NEC cards: Information on other concessionary travel and discounted schemes

The Scottish National Blind Persons' Scheme​

The Scottish National Blind Persons’ Scheme is also delivered on the National Entitlement Card (NEC).
This is a voluntary arrangement between local councils, COSLA and participating transport operators and provides free rail and ferry travel throughout Scotland for cardholders who have the eye symbol on their NEC indicating they have a card due to a sight impairment.
You can find more information on the rail element of the scheme on the ScotRail website.

So I think no reimbursement for Scotrail, Edinburgh Trams and Calmac