The Sub

Edinburgh’s South Suburban Line was opened in 1884, the line – locally known as the Sub - closed to timetabled passenger services in 1962.

The Sub spans 12.3km and links Murrayfield stadium in the west of the city with Portobello in the east and passes through the neighbourhoods of Craiglockhart, Morningside, Newington, Cameron Toll, Craigmillar, Fort Kinnaird and Brunstane. These days it’s only used for freight.

It must have been too boringly obvious to reopen it and use the six platforms that still exist rather than nearly bankrupt the city with a tram service. But plans are afoot, well at least being discussed, thanks to students at Heriot-Watt University who have done a feasibility study to reopen the suburban line with, wait for it, Scotland’s first battery-electric tram-train network. The idea being it could be linked to the city’s trams but actually go to more useful places for residents. Probably zero chance of happening but seems like a good idea to me.

I discussed this, and much more, with Smithy as we wandered the quiet streets of Morningside in the sunshine.

Apart from that there was a virtual board meeting and a flurry of emails on the cinema front. All good.