Princes Street, a major Edinburgh thoroughfare, has reopened to bus and tram services seven weeks after it was closed due to a building fire. The closure, which began in July following a blaze at the former Debenhams building, significantly impacted daily commutes.
The Edinburgh Bus Users Group (EBUG) stated that an estimated 100,000 bus passenger journeys were affected each day by the closure. Approximately 260 buses traversed Princes Street in both directions every hour before the incident.
Sarah Boyd, chief executive for Lothian and Edinburgh Trams, described the reopening as "encouraging." She urged passengers to verify the latest service updates before traveling and advised them to allow additional time for their journeys. Boyd extended thanks to customers for their patience and understanding, as well as to colleagues for their professionalism and commitment in maintaining city transport during the disruption.
Crews worked to address the aftermath of the fire, which caused extensive damage to the former department store. The incident necessitated significant safety measures and repairs, leading to the prolonged closure of the street, a key transport corridor.
Transport officials are now focused on fully reinstating all services along Princes Street. The reopening marks a return to normalcy for public transport in the city center after an extended period of disruption.