Trams will be late says new boss

Richard Jeffrey is the new manager of the tram project

Edinburgh's tram system will be completed late and over budget, the operating firm's new boss has admitted.

Richard Jeffrey, the new chief executive of Tie, conceded the tram project would not be completed by July 2011, as originally planned.

Hopes they might complete within the £512m budget have also been scuppered.

Mr Jeffrey said he was in discussions with contractors over a revised opening date for the tram project, which runs from Newhaven to the city's airport.

He said: "The project will not be delivered in July 2011."

He added: "We are working as hard as we can to make sure we are up and running as soon as we can - I have a pretty good idea when that will be - but it's not appropriate to announce that while we are still in talks with contractors."

Fully functional

It is also possible that the first tram ride will be a rather shorter journey than originally anticipated. He said he was not in favour of a "piecemeal" opening of the line but that it had not been ruled out.

Mr Jeffrey said: "At the moment the plan is to stick with the original plan and open the entire route - from Newhaven to the airport - fully working, fully functional.

"However six months of training and shadow running has been designated for the route from Gogar depot to Edinburgh Park.

"If that goes well there's a chance to reduce that six months and open other sections. But having put the city through this level of disruption, having spent this money, we have to make sure that when it opens, everything is fantastic from day one."

Mr Jeffrey added: "We're in discussions with contractors at the moment to agree on a revised programme and costs - it wouldn't be sensible to discuss figures."