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The tram versus e-bus debate: rails or rubber?
17/9/2025
8 min read
Feature
When it comes to urban passenger transport, which is more energy-efficient: bus or tram? As Richard Simpson finds out, the answers are far from clear-cut.
The UK currently boasts 10 urban light rail/tram systems, with a geographic stretch from Edinburgh in Scotland to Croydon in south-east England, and a historic timeline from 1885 (Blackpool) to 2014 (Edinburgh). That number may be about to go up: £2.1bn of government money is to be directed to funding public transport in the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and the majority of that is to be allocated to creating two new tram lines in Leeds and Bradford in a project worth £2.5bn.
When it comes to creating and meeting passenger demand, the systems are clearly successful. Last year, the original Edinburgh route from the airport to the city centre was busier than ever, and an expanded network saw an increase in 7.3 million passenger journeys compared to 2022 (the year before the system was finally extended to Newhaven).
Over the past year, the system’s operating company Edinburgh Trams has also won the ‘Most Improved System’ category at the Global Light Rail Awards, and the title of ‘Tram Operator of the Year’ at the National Transport Awards.