The price is stupidly high in Edinburgh though for the extra distance when you can see the Airport from the prior stop.
It is common, look at Stansted for the stop before price difference. I think Edinburgh is the only airport i know where you don't have much hardship walking from the stop before if you are reasonably fit.
And don't have a load of luggage
Amazingly enough there is a distinct lack of signage which might put those who do not know the way off.
I have even walked from the main road after getting off the 38 Bus![]()
I have always wondered why some of the local routes don't go around the airport. Maybe adds 5 mins to the timetable but surely lost demand. Unless the airport will charge them a fortune to do so.
I would argue Prestwick is (was) the opposite, often giving discounts to rail passengers presenting their boarding passes. Not sure if this is still the case.
Newcastle's "Special Fare Zone" is just Metro Zone 3, which is the same as The Coast, Sunderland, South Shields etc, and based on a distance from the centre perspective, is probably right.
And you can get a Metro single ticket to the airport for £3.30 two quid cheaper than Edinburghs "rip off" tram operation. Indeed you can get a Daysaver for the whole of the Metro Area including Bus , Rail and Ferry for cheaper than a single to Edinburgh Airport.
I can't understand why there is not a campaign to get this ridiculous "airport surcharge" removed or at least reduced.
However, passengers travelling from Ingliston or the airport to Gogarburn will be charged £2.50, with a child fare costing £1.50.
A return to the airport from any other stop will be £7.50 (£4 child fare). Drivers can take the tram from the Ingliston park and ride for £2.50.
Edinburgh Trams have only the airport fare that is under their control. Everything else (including season tickets for airport workers) is effectively controlled by Lothian, so they get 1.60 or less per journey. Someone has to pay for the trams and occasional travellers to the airport are as good as anyone.
Back in 2013 it was planned to charge more to the P and R but that was dropped and the airport fare increased when it went live.
1. Is the tram running empty beyond Ingleston?
And you can get a Metro single ticket to the airport for £3.30 two quid cheaper than Edinburghs "rip off" tram operation. Indeed you can get a Daysaver for the whole of the Metro Area including Bus , Rail and Ferry for cheaper than a single to Edinburgh Airport.
I can't understand why there is not a campaign to get this ridiculous "airport surcharge" removed or at least reduced.
You can indeed get a Metro day saver for ferry and the Newcastle -Sunderland heavy rail section, but it wouldn't cover you on the bus.
I wouldn't look past Airlink tbh. Right on Waverley Bridge and to the door. Why you'd even consider a tram as a tourist (unless you're staying at Edinburgh Park) is beyond me
on rail/tram connected UK airports (not ones with connecting buses)
Heathrow: No surcharge on Underground (it is Zone 6, which is right), something of a surcharge on Connect, really expensive on Express
Gatwick: There's a Stupid Tax on passengers that use the Express. Other trains are "normal" fares
Stansted: a surcharge of sorts if travelling from the south
Southend: No surcharge
City: No Surcharge
Birmingham: No surcharge
Manchester: No Surcharge
Newcastle: Special fare zone
Edinburgh: Special fare zone
Prestwick: No Surcharge
In Rome the Termini to Airport service is charged at a premium by classifying it as entirely 1st class. Last time I caught it I had a flip down seat outside the loo. You can avoid the premium but have to change trains at a suburban station.
There seem to be plenty of people willing to use the tram all the way to the airport any time I've seen it, although I've only ever done it once. Perhaps locals know better but certainly visitors to the city are quite happy to use the trams from what I've seen.
One thing worth noting is that for Locals the Ridacards are valid on the tram in the airport fare zone so you can use it for no extra cost if you have one.
Edinburgh Trams have only the airport fare that is under their control. Everything else (including season tickets for airport workers) is effectively controlled by Lothian, so they get 1.60 or less per journey. Someone has to pay for the trams and occasional travellers to the airport are as good as anyone.
Edinburgh Trams is part of Transport for Edinburgh (an arms length subsidury of Edinburgh Council) which owns 91% of Lothian Buses.
It is telling that the Lothian service 100 (Airlink) increased its fares to match the tram.
Another point about the Edinburgh Trams is that they have possibly the worst TVMs in the UK. They only accept coins and cards. They do not accept banknotes and even worse they do not even give change! What are passengers meant to do if they dont have the exact fare on them? Or if they only have banknotes on them? Edinburgh Trams are basically running scams to try to get more money out of people!