Tag: Travel

Travel Agents of Change exhibition opens on Saturday

Travel Agents of Change project showcases stories of flight-free holidays from Edinburgh

Local sustainable transport project Porty Community Energy launches an exhibition this coming Saturday featuring the stories of local people who have bucked the holiday trend and opted not to take a cheap flight to their vacations from the capital, choosing to travel more slowly instead.

Porty Community Energy launched their ‘Travel Agents Of Change’ project last November as a competition for people in Edinburgh, asking to be sent the best stories of flight-free travel from the capital.

The project organisers were delighted to receive more than sixty entries. The best stories have now been published as a colourful Zine that will be sold in bookshops across the city.

And a smorgasboard of colourful photos, top slow travel tips, recommendations for the best places to go, and quotes from contributors explaining the highlights of their trips, has been made into a 21 panel outdoor exhibition that will tour the city.

While some contributors to the project found scenic adventures in Scotland and the UK, many more travelled further afield.

Competition entrants shared their slow travel adventures which included a trip to a monastery in Belgium, taking the Eurostar to a hotel in Venice, family Eurorail passes to go skiing in the Alps, and biking and sailing in the Friesian isles.

What’s more, contributors argued that, far from being a second-rate option, travel by bus, train and ferry is the very best way to go on holiday, offering a chance to wind down, enjoy the view, and is very sociable too.

The aim of the exhibition is to persuade people of the delights of a flight-free holiday and to help make it easy to plan such a holiday whether they have a small family, are looking for something more active, or really want a once in a lifetime experience.

The first exhibition opening will take place in Portobello and will feature presentations from two of the contributors. Councillor Jane Meagher, Head of Edinburgh City Council will officially open the exhibition.

Future destinations for the exhibition will include a couple of weeks at the Water of Leith visitor’s centre in February, and a Pancake Day launch in Bruntsfield organised by BANZAI – Bruntsfield Area Net Zero Action Initiative in March.

Travel agents of change_porty community_nov2024_colour (1)Download

Project coordinator Hazel Darwin-Clements said: “‘Less than 20% of the global population has been on a plane. It’s time we stopped seeing it as either normal or aspirational to fly regularly for holidays.

“As someone who now considers it quite normal to plan a summer holiday with my family using trains, buses or a car share, I know what great holidays there are out there for people who no longer wish to burn the excessive carbon needed for a cheap flight abroad.

“Dark, cold January is apparently the most popular time for people to book their holidays away. So this exhibition is to inspire this year’s holiday-makers – because it’s easier than you think to choose a flight-free holiday and there are so many hidden gems out there.’

PICTURES:

Skiing in the alps – Sarah Lewis

Cairngorm Mountain – Kathalena Leung

Jet2holidays and Jet2CityBreaks are recognised as Which? Recommended Providers once again

  • UK’s largest tour operator receives good news to start 2025, after receiving prestigious status in five categories – Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers, Family Holiday Providers, Tailor-Made Holiday Providers and City Breaks Providers
  • Jet2’s brands named Which? Recommended Provider in seven categories in total!

Jet2holidays is starting this year on a high, having been named a Which? Recommended Provider in an unprecedented five categories.

The UK’s largest tour operator has once again been praised for its customer first approach and received the prestigious status in the Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers and Family Holiday Providers categories, as well as in a brand-new category for Jet2holidays – Tailor-Made Holiday Providers. Jet2CityBreaks is also recognised as a City Breaks Provider once again.

For the first time, Jet2holidays has received recognition in the consumer champion’s Tailor-Made Holiday Providers category which involved surveying almost 13,000 Which? Connect panel members who had discussed their holiday requirements with a travel advisor and had their specific holiday needs catered to or had been provided with recommendations on destinations or hotels. After being highly praised for its customer service and value for money of their holiday overall, Jet2holidays was awarded a customer score of 81%.

Adding to its success, Jet2holidays also received Which? Recommended Provider status in the Beach and Resort Holiday Providers category for the seventh year running. This accomplishment comes after respondents to the survey rated their beach and resort package holidays based on their customer service, accommodation, description matches reality, organisation, transport to and from destination and value for money, seeing Jet2holidays score an impressive 82%. Assessing Jet2holidays, Which? concludes ‘For a short-haul European beach break, Jet2holidays’ quality and wide number of destinations make it unbeatable.’

There was cause for even further celebration, as the company has also been named as a Which? Recommended Provider in the Family Holiday Providers and Solo Holiday Providers categories for the third year running. This recognition was achieved after customers rated the package holiday specialist highly in both categories, with Jet2holidays receiving a total score of 78% in the ‘Solo Holiday Providers’ category and 80% in the ‘Family Holiday Providers’ category.

Jet2CityBreaks has also been named a Which? Recommended Provider for City Breaks for the fourth consecutive year, after receiving a customer score of 80%.

In addition to these latest successes, Jet2.com is also a Which? Recommended Provider for Airlines and Jet2Villas is a Which? Recommended Provider for Villas and Holiday Lets Abroad. It means that Jet2’s brands are recognised as a Which? Recommended Provider in seven categories in total. These are: Beach and Resort Holiday Providers, Tailor-Made Holiday Providers, Family Holiday Providers, Solo Holiday Providers, City Breaks (Jet2CityBreaks), Villas and Holiday Lets Abroad (Jet2Villas) and Airlines (Jet2.com).

In further recognition for providing customers with industry-leading products and customer service on their well-deserved holidays, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays also secured the title of Travel Brand of the Year for the third year running at the prestigious Which? Awards 2024.

To help holidaymakers secure their well-deserved holiday for even less this year, Jet2holidays has launched a promotion giving customers £90 per person off all holidays that depart between now and 15th November 2026.

The tour operatorhas also announced that customers with a myJet2 account can access an even bigger saving – with a whopping £100 off per person on all holidays. To take advantage of this saving, customers can sign up quickly and easily for a myJet2 account at https://www.jet2holidays.com/myjet2

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This is fantastic news to start the new year. We are extremely proud to receive Which? Recommended Provider status once again and to be repeatedly recognised for our commitment to delivering outstanding customer service.

“This in-depth study carried out by the consumer champion, which is based on the experiences of paying customers, demonstrates who holidaymakers and independent travel agents can trust and look to when booking their next holiday, as we enter the peak booking season.

“With no fewer than seven Which? Recommended Provider accolades, this recognition reflects the hard work we put into delivering our industry-leading customer service.

“Whatever type of getaway a customer is after, they can be assured that Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will go above and beyond to deliver their much-deserved holiday. We are looking forward to even more successes in 2025.”

To view the findings of the survey, please follow the links below:

Best & Worst Tailor-Made Holiday Providers: Best tailor made holiday providers – Which?

Best & Worst Beach and Resort Holiday Providers: Best Package Holiday Providers – Which?

Best & Worst City Break Providers: Best And Worst City Break Providers – Which?

Best & Worst Family Holiday Providers: Best family holiday providers – Which?

Best & Worst Solo Holiday Providers: Best and worst solo holiday providers – Which?

Record year for Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport, part of the VINCI Airports network, has welcomed a record 15 million passengers in a single year, a milestone achieved for the first time ever at a Scottish airport.

The milestone was reached earlier this month at Scotland’s busiest airport, marking the first time any airport in Scotland has recorded such numbers.

Edinburgh Airport is among the first airports in the UK to achieve growth in both passenger numbers and connectivity options following Covid.

The record-breaking year comes as the airport introduced new routes in 2024 and facilitated travel for major events. Key highlights include:

  • Emirates returning to Edinburgh with a daily service to Dubai.
  • JetBlue entering the Scottish market with daily flights to New York during the summer.
  • WestJet expanding its presence by adding Toronto and Halifax to its Calgary service.
  • Increasing frequency into and connections to Germany as the Tartan Army went to cheer on Scotland at Euro 2024.
  • Taylor Swift fans flying in from all over the world to attend her concerts at Murrayfield.

The airport has already announced new routes and airlines for 2025, such as the return of American Airlines and its Philadelphia route, JetBlue adding Boston to its options, and Austrian Airlines entering the Scottish market with its seasonal route to Vienna.

Work is also underway to improve facilities for passengers at the airport with an expansion to its check-in hall, and a range of new food and drink options being introduced in the coming months.

Gordon Dewar, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Airport said: “It’s great to hit this major passenger milestone that shows the clear interest that people have in tourism and travel, both to and from Scotland.

“Whether it was supporting Scotland at the Euros, being a Swiftie and singing your heart out at Murrayfield or travelling to a bucket list destination for that special holiday, we’ve been able to facilitate more than 15 million journeys this year at Scotland’s busiest airport.

“That’s an achievement that reflects the incredible spirit of our team, the excitement of our passengers to see the world, and the growing connections we’re proud to foster across Scotland and beyond. We’re already planning for 2025 and what it will bring, and we look forward to seeing even more people next year.”

All aboard! Bella+Duke and Caledonian Sleeper partner to enhance unique travel experience

– Partnership includes travel perks and nutritious treats for pets –

Bella + Duke and Caledonian Sleeper have joined forces to offer pets onboard the paw-fect travel experience to make their journey as smooth as possible, with a tasty complimentary treat as they set off on their overnight trip.

The iconic overnight sleeper train serves over 40+ destinations between London and Scotland, and, sees over 2000 pets use the service every year and from this month will be well stocked with Bella+Duke all-natural and grain-free venison dog bites.

In addition to providing treats onboard, Bella + Duke and Caledonian Sleeper are offering customers exclusive discounts including 10% off travel and savings for being a Bella + Duke subscription customer. This exclusive partnership offer is just part of the newly launched offering from Bella + Duke as they go all in to support well-being from nose to tail with exclusive products and services.

The partnership comes just in time for Christmas, one of Caledonian Sleeper’s busiest travel times, with dates filling up fast. Those travelling with pets from London Euston station will today (10 December 2024) enjoy a tasty treat from a Caledonian Sleeper staff member before making their journey up north.

James Sturrock, CEO at Bella + Duke, said; “Our pets have become an integral part of our everyday lives. We don’t just want to take care of them when we’re at home, we want them to join us on special occasions and adventures too.

“With the Caledonian Sleeper welcoming pets onboard, we’re delighted that pet owners can bring their four-legged friends along with them and can enjoy a tasty Bella + Duke treat during the ride. 

“Caledonian Sleeper is one of the many fantastic partnerships we’ve been able to build as part of our newly launched offering for pet owners, letting customers and passengers get more out of having a furry friend with you every step of the journey.”

Kathryn Darbandi, Managing Director at Caledonian Sleeper, said; “As a pet friendly travel operator we are delighted to partner with Bella+Duke, a fantastic Scottish, fresh pet food brand with the health and well-being of pets at the heart of what they do.

“Caledonian Sleeper prides itself in delivering the very best guest experience and that includes our four-legged friends.”

Tickets for the Caledonian Sleeper overnight train service, between London and Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Fort William, Glasgow and Inverness, can be booked here. With exclusive Bella + Duke offers available to redeem here.

Temporary lights in Lanark Road as second phase of Craiglockhart gas network upgrades begins

Gas distribution network SGN is continuing its gas network upgrade project in the Lanark Road and Craiglockhart areas of Edinburgh.

Engineers are replacing old metal gas mains and services with new plastic pipes. This essential work will ensure homes and businesses in the local area continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply.

From tomorrow (Monday 21 October), SGN will begin its second phase of the project by installing temporary three way traffic lights at Lanark Road’s junction with Craiglockhart Avenue. The lights will be manually controlled during peak times to help traffic flow.

This phase is expected to last approximately three weeks and cause significant disruption to traffic. Motorists are advised to plan ahead and allow more time for journeys, especially during peak travel times.

SGN Project Manager Craig Brown said: “This particular location has experienced multiple gas leaks in recent years and by upgrading our pipes now, we can prevent future emergency work which will lead to more disruption overall.

“We’d like to thank local residents, businesses and motorists for your ongoing patience and support during this critical work.”

Final Countdown: One month left to enter Caledonia Sleeper’s photography competition

Time is running out to enter Caledonian Sleeper’s photography competition aimed at encouraging everyone – from onboard guests to photography enthusiasts – to capture views of the most scenic locations on the overnight train’s iconic route from Scotland to London.

Running until 31st October, the first-place prize includes a return journey in an en-suite Club Room onboard the Caledonian Sleeper with dinner plus a £500 Amazon voucher to use on photography equipment. Second place will receive a £250 Amazon voucher, while third prize is a £100 Amazon voucher.

Images will be judged by a panel from Caledonian Sleeper, including Kathryn Darbandi, Managing Director, and professional photographer Tony Marsh.

Kathryn Darbandi, Managing Director of Caledonian Sleeper, said: “We’ve been blown away so far by the calibre of submissions we have received.

“Caledonian Sleeper calls at more than 40 stations between Scotland and London, so there’s plenty of vibrant and historic beauty spots along the way to spark creativity.

“We’re looking forwarded to judging the final batch of submissions when the competition closes at the end of October.”

To submit your entry into Caledonian Sleeper’s photography competition, visit:

 www.sleeper.scot/photography-competition. 

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines partners with Jet2.com for 2025 Mediterranean fly-cruise programme

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has teamed up with airline Jet2.com for its new 2025 fly-cruise programme.

Between October and November 2025, Fred. Olsen’s smaller ship Balmoral will play host on a range of Mediterranean sailings, with Jet2.com to operate chartered flights from London Stansted and Manchester.

With cruises ranging from seven to 12-nights, guests will have opportunities to take in the charming cliff-top towns of Cinque Terre and the Amalfi, the beautiful Bay of Kotor and the enchanting Greek islands. Ashore, they can discover the origins of Flamenco dancing, sip Jerez sherry, wander the Dalmatian markets and witness Krka Waterfall.

Clare Ward, Director of Product and Customer Services at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We are really excited about this new partnership with Jet2.com for Balmoral’s 2025 Mediterranean fly-cruise programme.

“They are renowned for their customer service, and as such will complement the high standard of service that our guests come to expect from us. This collaboration highlights our commitment to delivering unforgettable experiences for our guests, before they even step foot aboard one of our ships.

“A fly-cruise is perfect for guests who want to maximise their time ashore, by reducing the time in sailing from the UK. Plus, guests can tailor their holiday by booking onto consecutive fly-cruises for those looking to enjoy a longer autumnal break in the sunshine.”

Fred. Olsen’s fly-cruise fare includes economy flights and transfers to and from the ship, a luggage allowance of 22kg, plus 10kg of hand luggage.

Balmoral will be operating six fly-cruise sailings in the Mediterranean in 2025, as follows:

Balmoral’s 10-night L2524 ‘Spanish Colours and Cultures’ cruise, departing from Southampton on 17th September 2025. Prices start from £1,599 per person.

Experience Ibiza’s renowned sunset from the decks of Balmoral
Enjoy authentic Spanish cuisines, such as tapas and Jerez sherry
Visit the iconic landmark of the Sagrada Familia Cathedral
Itinerary: Southampton, UK – La Coruna, Spain – Cadiz, Spain – Ibiza, Spain – Cruising by Benirras Beach at sunset, Ibiza, Spain – Barcelona Spain – Valencia, Spain (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2524 ‘Spanish Colours and Cultures’

Balmoral’s 10-night L2525 ‘Colourful Cliffside Towns of the Amalfi Coast’ cruise, departing from Valencia, Spain, on 27th September 2025. Prices start from £1,799 per person.

Marvel at beautiful Cinque Terre, Bonifacio and the Amalfi Coast
Experience ‘la dolce vita’, Italy’s culture of enjoying life’s pleasures
Savour limoncello, scialatielli pasta and Italian pizza
Itinerary: Valencia, Spain (overnight port) – Cruising by Benirras Beach at sunset, Ibiza, Spain – Mahon, Menorca, Spain – Propriano, Corsica, France – La Spezia, Italy – Salerno, Italy – Cruising Amalfi Coast and Capri, Italy – Naples, Italy – Sorrento Italy, Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2525 ‘Colourful Cliffside Towns of the Amalfi Coast’

Balmoral’s 10-night L2526 ‘Bays, Mountains and Islands of the Dalmatian Coast’ cruise, departing from Civitavecchia, Italy, on 7th October 2025. Prices start from £1,799 per person.

Experience the beauty of the Dalmatian Coast from Balmoral
Visit Lake Bled, Lokrum Island and Krka Waterfalls
Immerse yourself in authentic Croatian culture
Itinerary: Civitavecchia (for Rome), Italy (overnight port) – Cruising by Stromboli, Italy – Cruising the Strait of Messina, Italy – Cruising Bay of Kotor, Montenegro – Kotor Montenegro – Koper, Slovenia – Cruising St Anthony Channel, Croatia – Sibenik, Croatia – Split, Croatia – Cruising by Mount Biokovo, Makarska Riviera, Croatia – Dubrovnik, Croatia (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2526 ‘Bays, Mountains and Islands of the Dalmatian Coast’

Balmoral’s eight-night L2527 ‘Greek Island Odyssey’ cruise, departing from Dubrovnik, Croatia, on 17th October 2025. Prices start from £1,599 per person.

Explore the idyllic island of Santorini and Zakynthos’ coastline
Indulge in authentic Greek cuisine and watch traditional dancing
Visit the renowned ruins of the Acropolis in Athens
Itinerary: Dubrovnik, Croatia (overnight port) – Argostoli, Kefalonia, Greece – Cruising Zakynthos coastline, Greece – Kalamata, Greece – Piraeus (for Athens), Greece – Thira, Santorini, Greece – Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Greece – Rhodes, Greece (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2527 ‘Greek Island Odyssey’

Balmoral’s 12-night L2528 ‘Discovering Turkish Treasures’ cruise, departing from Rhodes, Greece, on 25th October 2025. Prices start from £1,999 per person.

Explore a multitude of renowned European landmarks
Embrace local Turkish traditions, and enjoy the fragrant local tea
Delve into the winding streets of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
Itinerary: Rhodes, Greece (overnight port) – Bodrum, Turkey – Kusadasi, Turkey – Istanbul, Turkey – Valletta, Malta – Malaga, Spain (overnight port)
For more details: Visit L2528 ‘Discovering Turkish Treasures’

Balmoral’s seven-night L2529 ‘Mountain Landscapes of Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar’ cruise, departing from Malaga, Spain, on 6th November 2025. Prices start from £1,099 per person.

Explore the mountainous landscapes of Iberia
Experience flamenco dance and soulful fado music
Embrace cuisines such as gazpacho, sardines and pasteis de nata
Itinerary: Malaga, Spain (overnight port) – Gibraltar, Gibraltar – Cruise Mouth of River Tagus, Belem Tower and Discovery Monument, Portugal – Cruising by the Monument of the Discoveries, Portugal – Cruising by Cristo Rei and Abril 25 Bridge, Portugal – Lisbon, Portugal (overnight stay) – Southampton, UK

For more details: Visit L2529 ‘Mountain Landscapes of Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar’

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ fly cruises, visit the website www.fredolsencruises.com/fly-cruises

Book online, call Reservations on 0800 0355 215 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm), or contact your ABTA travel agent.

Man Utd vs Rangers at Murrayfield this Saturday: Police Advice

Rangers FC meet @ManUtd in a friendly at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh this Saturday 20th July.

Please plan ahead using info available here https://orlo.uk/solnk

Drivers warned of German road laws ahead of the Euros

Football fans planning a trip to Germany for the Euros have been warned about major driving laws and regulations. 

Travel insurance comparison experts at Quotezone.co.uk have researched the eight crucial driving differences in Germany, so Brits avoid being caught out on the road trip of a lifetime.

Over 2.7 million tickets will be available to the fans of participating teams and the general public, and it is estimated 800,000 British fans could head across the channel for the competition. 

Fans planning to hire a vehicle to make the most of their trip have been warned to research the local driving laws and motoring etiquette.  

Motorists risk penalties such as large fines, penalty points and even driving bans for breaking the law while in Germany. 

Drivers need to be aware of the higher driving age, they must be aged 18 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to drive there legally. 

Greg Wilson, CEO and motoring insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Excitement is building amongst football fans, with an estimated 800,000 Brits planning to travel overseas to watch the tournament. 

“There will be venues over ten of the main regions of Germany, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Hamburg.  Many fans will likely want to travel across the country to experience the tournament in the different cities and will be looking to hire a car to make the most of the trip. 

“The tournament will be an incredible experience for football fans worldwide, but anyone choosing to drive while in Germany must be aware of the wide range of driving differences. 

“Roads across Germany have varying speed limits and a high volume of speed cameras, so it’s crucial to stick to the speed limit and approach unfamiliar aspects with caution because travelling just 1km over the limit could result in a fine. 

“Other important motoring rules to understand with the Euros commencing include the strict drink-drive limit which bans anyone under 21 driving with any alcohol in their system.”

Quotezone.co.uk’s six laws you must know before driving in Germany:

1.Driving on the correct side of the road

 In Germany, drivers must remain on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on the left, a tricky change for Brits, especially if they’ve driven over in their own right-hand drive vehicle.  

2.Road signs 

German maximum speed limit signs are identical to those in the UK, the only difference being the limits are given in kilometres per hour rather than miles per hour. In extreme cases, ignoring road signs can lead to imprisonment. German roads also have a minimum speed limit – marked by blue round signs with the minimum speed displayed in white font.

 3.Legal driving age 

The legal driving age in Germany is slightly older than the UK at 18. Drivers need to check their itinerary beforehand as many countries have a different minimum driving age.  In Germany, visitors must also be aged 18 or over and hold a full, valid driving licence to legally drive.  It’s also sensible to check the age and requirements of hiring a car per country as there are variations in the restrictions.

4.Honking your horn 

In Germany, drivers can only honk their horns if they or someone else is in immediate danger. Unnecessary or incorrect use of a horn can result in a fine, so visitors must avoid beeping their horns to celebrate football wins. 

5.Be aware of speed limits

The German traffic code has strict regulations and high fines for drivers who exceed the speed limit, and they have plenty of speed cameras to monitor the roads. As a general rule of thumb, Germany has a speed limit of 50 km/h within built-up areas and 100 km/h outside built-up areas which is 31 and 62 mph respectively.

6.Drinking limits

Like most countries drunk driving is a traffic violation and will be seen as a criminal offence. However in Germany, the general limit for motorists is 0.5 % but drivers under 21 or with a new licence are not allowed any alcohol. Fines go from €500 to €1500.**

Quotezone.co.uk helps travellers find savings using travel insurance comparison, covering all sorts of travel insurance quotes such as European travel and backpacker travel insurance

Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams launch new integrated travel app

Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams are today (3 June 2024) delighted to announce the launch of a new fully integrated bus and tram app.

The new app allows customers to plan their journeys in advance with reliable timetable information and real-time departure boards for each stop across Edinburgh and the Lothians.  The platform was designed in partnership with technology company UrbanThings and Lothian’s in-house Commercial and Digital teams.

Users are able to plan all aspects of their journey in advance with newly developed integrated ticketing and planning features. Customers also have the option to purchase and gift tickets to friends and family for travel across the Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams networks.

Customers can travel around Edinburgh with the option to view real-time service updates on their chosen bus or tram stop, meaning users can plan and adapt to changes to the network while on the move.

Sarah Boyd, Managing Director for Lothian said: “With over 2 million customer journeys per week, we are pleased to introduce our new bus and tram app which will enhance the travel experience for residents and visitors to Edinburgh and the Lothians. 

Bringing together journey planning and ticketing in one place will support seamless, integrated travel across both our bus and tram network with advanced accessibility features providing a more inclusive service for all of our customers.

“The introduction of the new digital platform marks an exciting time for our business and we look forward to continuing to work with the team at UrbanThings to further develop and enhance our overall customer experience.”

Lea Harrison, Edinburgh Trams Managing Director, commented: “The launch of the new app marks another major step forward for the city’s integrated travel network, making it easier than ever for local residents and visitors alike to take full advantage of its excellent public transport options.

“Our multi-model tickets are already popular, and this new platform is set to encourage even more people to discover the benefits of both trams and buses.”

Cllr Scott Arthur, Transport Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “It’s great news that Lothian and Edinburgh Trams will have this fully integrated bus and tram app for residents and visitors to the city. Promoting and encouraging use of public transport, along with active travel, is a key priority for the Council.

“Edinburgh Trams is exceeding all expectations and the 2 million weekly passengers carried by Lothian Buses clearly demonstrates the continued growth of public transport in Edinburgh. The development of this new app is a really positive step forward and shows the benefits that an integrated transport system can bring.”

Adam Toone, CEO at UrbanThings, says: “We are really delighted to introduce the new bus and tram app. Our primary goal remains to empower passengers with a seamless platform while promoting the use of shared transport.

“With features such as convenient smartcard registration, mobile ticketing, and live journey planning, we are confident that this app will significantly enhance the travel experience in Edinburgh.”

Customers can download the app from the App Store or Google Play Store by searching for ‘Lothian Buses/Edinburgh Trams.’