Twitter: Tram bosses say they have no intention of cancelling the scheme.
Edinburgh tram bosses have been forced to deny reports the project is to be cancelled outright.
The denial was issued by Edinburgh trams on Wednesday morning, after rumours began circulating on social networking site Twitter.
At around 9am, a user of the social networking site calling himself Tanepiper tweeted: “Just heard from my sources - Edinburgh trams officially cancelled. Will be announced to media later today.”
His message was quickly retweeted by dozens of others, prompting a discussion about the future of the troubled project. However, an hour later, the project’s bosses issued their own online denial, using Facebook and Twitter to hit back at what they described as the “tram rumour mill”.
The statement insisted: “The tram project has not been cancelled and there will be no announcement today to that effect. Total unsubstantiated rumour from someone on Twitter.”
A spokesman for Edinburgh Trams said insiders had been left baffled and had no idea where the claim had originated. He confirmed that the board behind the project would be meeting on Wednesday, but insisted the confidential meeting was purely routine and would not be resulting in any public announcements.
Among those sitting on the tram board are Edinburgh city councillors, the project’s directors and external industry experts. Edinburgh Trams said they would be discussing a range of issues relating to the current and future state of the scheme on Wednesday, but insisted any suggestion that cancellation of the full project was under consideration was entirely false.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, SNP member for Lothians, blamed Edinburgh Trams for constantly failing to come up with answers.
The MSP said: "The trams project is constantly mired in spin and rumours - though few as spurious as this one seems to be.
"Nevertheless, no-one really knows what is going on with the trams - because they constantly fail to come up with answers.
"That's why I've been calling for outside bodies to investigate, and will continue to do so until we have all the information we need to chart the right course of action".
Background
- Soaring costs could see tram line stop short
- Edinburgh tram project faces further delays
- Tram contractor facing hefty fines for works delays
- Tram firm faces axe as it reveals tram works may take until 2010
Earlier this month, it emerged that councillors in Edinburgh were being asked to approve plans to borrow an additional £54m to get work restarted.
It followed the admission that the project, originally estimated to cost £375m, is likely to reach a cost of £545m. Officials are also still looking into the possibility of cancelling the contract with German firm Bilfinger Berger, which is building the line, following a dispute which has now been going on around a year.
Contingency plans which could see the line cut short have also emerged, as part of the continuing battle to control costs.
Those behind the project say one option which could be considered in future would be a "phased plan for delivery", meaning only the line from the depot at Edinburgh Airport to Haymarket would open initially.
Once the western end of the line was being used by passengers, work would then be completed to York Place, then Leith Walk, then Ocean Terminal, before finally reaching the planned end of the line at Newhaven on an undisclosed date.
