Smart maintenance for everyday life

Story | August 2026

A city on the move, a tram running on schedule

Edinburgh is a stage, a travel destination, and a living space all at once.

August, in particular, highlights the demands placed on urban mobility in Edinburgh. When festivals take over the city, streets and squares are filled with visitors, and locals, commuters, and guests all move through the Scottish capital at the same time, an efficient public transit system becomes a critical factor. After all, Edinburgh thrives not only on its international appeal but is also home to a growing population that needs reliable mobility in everyday life. The tram has long been more than just an alternative mode of transportation. To ensure it operates reliably every day, Vossloh provides preventive maintenance through measurement and grinding.

A city at the crossroads of history, tourism, and growth

Edinburgh combines its historical heritage with the demands of a growing urban region. The city attracts visitors from all over the world, is developing new neighborhoods, and must simultaneously meet the mobility needs of its residents. Commuter flows are increasing, residential and work locations are changing, and the demand for sustainable transportation options is growing. By 2042, Edinburgh’s population is projected to reach approximately 587,000 (a growth of about 10% compared to June 2025), and the metropolitan area’s population is projected to reach approximately 1.73 million. 

The tram as the backbone of mobility

A key solution to mobility needs runs on rails. It was only in 2014 that the tram returned to Edinburgh after a hiatus of about 60 years. With the extension to Newhaven, which went into service in 2023, it has gained even greater importance. The expansion includes about 4.6 kilometers of new track and eight additional stops. Today, the network connects the airport with the city center, Leith, and Newhaven—in other words, with precisely the places where Edinburgh lives, works, and grows. Passenger numbers demonstrate just how popular the service has become: In 2024, 12.1 million people (2023: 9.2 million) used Edinburgh’s tram. 

Sustainable mobility requires strong infrastructure

There are good reasons for continuing to expand the tram system in Edinburgh. According to city data, private cars and taxis account for about 80 percent of vehicle-kilometers traveled. At the same time, car traffic is to be significantly reduced. Furthermore, in Scotland as well, the transportation sector is the largest overall source of greenhouse gas emissions; according to Transport Scotland, cars account for about 39 percent of transportation-related emissions. Efficient public transit systems are therefore a key driver of sustainable mobility.  

Edinburgh is already looking ahead. With a potential north-south connection from Granton through the city center to the BioQuarter and the Royal Infirmary, the city is preparing for the next phase of development. This is more than just a transportation project: it’s about connecting new residential and work locations, as well as urban development that integrates mobility from the very beginning.  

Smart maintenance for everyday life

But modern mobility doesn’t end with the construction of new lines. It’s equally crucial that the existing infrastructure remains efficient, economical, and quiet in the long term. This is exactly where Vossloh is providing support in Edinburgh.  

For the maintenance of its approximately 20-kilometer-long network, the operator—in collaboration with Siemens—is now also relying on Vossloh’s smart HSG-city, complementing other technologies such as our Flexis system. The smart HSG-city measures and grinds in a single pass. Among other things, it records longitudinal and transverse profiles, rail head deviation, and rail corrugation. The data is automatically processed and visualized in the mapl-e platform. This creates the foundation for maintenance that targets exactly where it’s needed.  

In Edinburgh, the entire network was first surveyed and then ground in a targeted manner based on the results. The result: less noise, reduced wear on rails and rolling stock, and greater operational efficiency. 

Quieter, more efficient, and future-proof

This is a crucial factor, especially in a city like Edinburgh, where heavy traffic and high expectations for quality of life converge. The smart HSG-city can operate at speeds of 8 to 60 km/h according to the schedule, thereby enabling maintenance without traditional service interruptions. At the same time, the technology can significantly reduce noise emissions—by up to 10 dB(A). In this way, maintenance helps ensure that the tram, as the backbone of modern urban mobility, operates reliably day after day—quietly, efficiently, and sustainably.