Transport Initiatives Edinburgh
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Tie Limited
|logo = Tie logo.png
|caption =
|type = Limited company, wholly owned by local government
|genre =
|fate =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|foundation = 2002
|founder =
|defunct = 2011
|location_city = Edinburgh{{cite web |url = https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/SC267186 |title = Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Limited: Company no. SC267186 |publisher = Companies House |access-date = 29 February 2024}}
|location_country = Scotland
|location =
|locations =
|area_served = Lothian
|key_people = Richard Jeffrey, Chief Executive (2009–2011)
|industry = Public transport
|products =
|production =
|services = Project management, transport planning
|revenue =
|operating_income =
|net_income =
|aum =
|assets =
|equity =
|owner = City of Edinburgh Council
|num_employees =
|parent =
|divisions =
|subsid =
|footnotes =
|intl =
|homepage = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/20090514035447/http://www.tiedinburgh.co.uk/ | Official website (archived)}}
}}
Tie Ltd. (previously Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd.) was a Scottish company which project-managed large-scale transport projects on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council, which also owned it. The company was active between May 2002 and August 2011.
Tie was involved in numerous projects inside and in the vicinity of Edinburgh, including the Ingliston park and ride, the Stirling–Alloa–Kincardine rail link, and the cancelled Edinburgh congestion charge.{{cite news |url = http://news.scotsman.com/roadtolls/Tolls-Uturn-is-set-to.2467084.jp |title = Tolls U-turn is set to cost city millions |first = Brian |last = Ferguson |date = 4 October 2003 |publisher = Johnston Press plc |work = Edinburgh Evening News |access-date = 1 December 2007}}{{cite news |url = http://news.scotsman.com/roadtolls/Road-tolls-startup-bill-soars.2470729.jp |title = Road tolls start-up bill soars by £1.16m |first = Sam |last = Halstead |date = 17 October 2003 |publisher = Johnston Press plc |work = Edinburgh Evening News |access-date = 1 December 2007}} However, the organisation would become most well known for its work on the Edinburgh Trams scheme, for which it project-managed and oversaw the appointing of contracts to external parties.
By 2008, the partially-constructed tramway had become controversial and Tie was being publicly criticised over its handling of the project. As both financial and schedule overruns on the tramway became increasingly severe, numerous senior figures chose to abruptly resign from Tie, particularly when contractor Bilfinger Berger chose to halt construction work entirely. During mid-2011, sweeping redundancies were enacted across the company and Tie was effectively dissolved later that year. In its place, Transport for Edinburgh has taken on numerous responsibilities it formerly undertook, including the tramway.
History
Tie was established in 2002 as a move towards a public-private partnership (PPP) to improve Scottish public transport infrastructure development.{{cite web |title = A window on developments in Scotland |url = http://www.publicservice.co.uk/article.asp?publication=The%20PPP%20Journal&id=70&content_name=Scotland&article=1187 |work = PublicService.co.uk |access-date = 22 June 2012 |date = 31 July 2003}} It was structured as a private limited company, wholly owned by the City of Edinburgh Council, and was operated on a not-for-profit basis.{{cite web |title = Our Company |url = http://www.tiedinburgh.co.uk/tie_company.html |work = TIE official website |access-date = 21 June 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081205055402/http://www.tiedinburgh.co.uk/tie_company.html |archive-date = 5 December 2008}}
Despite the similar names, Tie had no connection with Transport Initiatives LLP, an English transport planning consultancy established in 2005 that specialises in active travel Active mobility (walking, wheeling, cycling and travel planning).http://www.transport-initiatives.com Transport Initiatives LLP website
During June 2006, Willie Gallagher joined Tie as its executive chairman; he promptly enacted a reorganisation of the company.
In July 2007, preparatory work, including the diversion of underground utilities ahead of track-laying in Leith, started for the Edinburgh Trams scheme.{{cite news |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/6282428.stm |title = Work begins on city tram project |work = BBC News |date = 9 July 2007 |access-date = 18 October 2013}} This new tramway project, budgeted at £512 million, was initially managed by Tie, which had also overseen the awarding of the associated contracts. In May 2008, final contracts to build the tram system were awarded to BSC, a consortium of Bilfinger Berger, Siemens and Spanish tram builder Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF).{{cite magazine |last = Rowson |first = Jessica |url = http://www.nce.co.uk/final-contracts-awarded-for-edinburgh-tram/1346152.article |title = Final contracts awarded for Edinburgh Tram |magazine = New Civil Engineer |date = 16 May 2008 |access-date = 21 May 2010 |archive-date = 6 February 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150206035031/http://www.nce.co.uk/final-contracts-awarded-for-edinburgh-tram/1346152.article |url-status = dead }}
As early as 2008, both the under construction tramway and Tie itself was incurring criticism related to delayed infrastructure delivery and prolonging road closures, such as of Princes Street, which had caused economic disruption to several areas of the city.{{cite web |url = https://retrospectjournal.com/2021/03/14/hell-on-wheels-the-miserable-history-of-the-edinburgh-trams-project-2001-to-the-present/ |title = “Hell on wheels”: The Miserable History of the Edinburgh Trams project, 2001 to the Present |website = retrospectjournal.com |date = 14 March 2021}} Numerous disputes broke out between the various contractors involved in the construction and Tie, some of which were so severe as to end up in court. Project overruns, both in terms of financial and schedule, were also at least in part attributed to Tie; the organisation having initially denied any such overruns although their reality later became apparent.
Amid this controversy, several organisational changes occurred at Tie. On 13 November 2008, Gallagher abruptly chose to step down as executive chairman amid heavy criticism of his handling of the tram project.{{cite news |url = http://www.journal-online.co.uk/article/5108-edinburgh-tram-boss-resigns |title = Edinburgh tram boss resigns |date = 23 November 2008 |publisher = The Journal |access-date = 15 January 2010 |location = Edinburgh |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100217175247/http://www.journal-online.co.uk/article/5108-edinburgh-tram-boss-resigns |first = Lidija |last = Liegis |archive-date = 17 February 2010}} He was replaced by David Mackay, then Chairman of Transport Edinburgh Limited, on an interim basis.{{cite news |url = http://www.edinburghtrams.com/include/uploads/media_release/DMackay_Release_Nov08.pdf |title = Interim Chairman appointed for Edinburgh Trams |date = 21 November 2008 |publisher = Transport Initiatives Edinburgh |access-date = 15 January 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006195452/http://www.edinburghtrams.com/include/uploads/media_release/DMackay_Release_Nov08.pdf |archive-date = 6 October 2011}} In May 2009, Richard Jeffrey, the former Managing Director of Edinburgh Airport, was appointed as the new executive chairman of Tie.{{cite news |url = http://www.edinburghtrams.com/include/uploads/media_release/Media_Release_-_Richard_Jeffrey.pdf |title = Edinburgh Tram Project Appoints New Chief Executive |date = 1 April 2009 |publisher = Edinburgh Trams |access-date = 15 January 2010 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111006195801/http://www.edinburghtrams.com/include/uploads/media_release/Media_Release_-_Richard_Jeffrey.pdf |archive-date = 6 October 2011}} By December 2009, reported emerged that the tramway's cost was running £545{{nbsp}}million over budget and that the system was unlikely to be operational until February 2012 or later.{{cite news |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/blogs/scotland-now/edinburgh-trams-saga-is-far-from-over-1.991682 |title = Edinburgh trams saga is far from over |last = Henderson |first = Damien |date = 12 December 2009 |work = The Herald |access-date = 15 January 2010}}
During May 2011, by which point tramway contractor Bilfinger Berger had halted construction work completely and tensions over the future of Tie had only increased, Jeffrey resigned from the executive chairman position.{{cite web |url = https://www.insider.co.uk/news/edinburgh-trams-inquiry-key-figures-9891936 |title = Edinburgh trams Inquiry: Key figures 'point-blank' refused to co-operate |publisher = BBC News |first = Scott |last = McCulloch |date = 11 December 2014}}{{cite news |title = Richard Jeffrey quits as Edinburgh tram chief executive |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13454021 |work = BBC News |access-date = 19 May 2011 |date = 19 May 2011}} Shortly after Jeffrey's resignation, four non-executive directors and the communications director also resigned.{{cite news |last = Marshall |first = Chris |title = TIE bosses 'quit en masse' as trams shake-up looms |url = http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/TIE-bosses-39quit-en-masse39.6777220.jp |access-date = 11 June 2011 |newspaper = The Scotsman |date = 31 May 2011 |location = Edinburgh}}{{cite news |title = Mandy Haeburn-Little to leave Edinburgh Trams project |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13681271 |work = BBC News |access-date = 11 June 2011 |date = 7 June 2011}}
In June 2011, a substantial restructuring of Tie was launched, the cornerstone of which being a voluntary redundancy scheme aimed at halving the company's total headcount.{{cite news |last = Dalton |first = Alastair |title = Half of staff facing axe at troubled tram firm |url = http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Half-of-staff-facing-axe.6783290.jp |access-date = 11 June 2011 |newspaper = The Scotsman |date = 11 June 2011 |location = Edinburgh}} During August 2011, it was announced that further redundancies would be made and that Tie had been relieved of its responsibilities; in its place, an international consultancy, Turner & Townsend, had been appointed to support the Edinburgh Trams project.{{cite web |url = http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/turner-and-townsend-to-manage-edinburgh-tram/8618835.article |title = Turner & Townsend to manage Edinburgh Tram |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150713075031/http://www.nce.co.uk/news/transport/turner-and-townsend-to-manage-edinburgh-tram/8618835.article |archive-date = 13 July 2015 |publisher = New Civil Engineer |date = 22 August 2011}} In the aftermath of this transfer, tramway contractor Bilfinger Berger spoke out about Tie{{'s}} management of the scheme, expressing the view that Tie had exercised a poor risk management strategy and that it had failed to organise the necessary construction work to relocate various underground utilities prior to commencing construction of the tramway.{{cite interview |last = Keysberg |first = Jochen |interviewer = David Miller |title = Edinburgh trams: What went wrong? |type = Television interview |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15245444 |work = BBC Scotland Investigates: The Great Tram Disaster |publisher = BBC |date = 11 October 2011 |access-date = 22 June 2012}}{{cite news |url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/be940888-1a99-11df-bef7-00144feab49a.html |title = Extra cost of Edinburgh tram line fuels dispute |last = Wright |first = Robert |date = 16 February 2010 |work = Financial Times |access-date = 17 February 2010}}{{subscription required}}{{cite news |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/council-loses-crucial-trams-dispute-1.999062 |title = Council loses crucial trams dispute |last = Henderson |first = Damien |date = 16 January 2010 |work = The Herald |access-date = 16 January 2010 |archive-date = 9 August 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140809105645/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport-environment/council-loses-crucial-trams-dispute-1.999062 |url-status = dead }}
Amid the Edinburgh Trams controversy, Tie received heavily criticism from various parties for its handling of the project.{{cite news |last = Hutcheon |first = Paul |title = 'Trams body talked rubbish', says Swinney |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/trams-body-talked-rubbish-says-swinney-1.1128237 |access-date = 16 October 2011 |newspaper = The Herald |date = 9 October 2011}} During late 2011, Tie was disbanded as a company; Transport for Edinburgh took over responsibility for the Edinburgh Trams scheme from the defunct organisation.{{cite news |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-23716810 |work = BBC News |title = Transport for Edinburgh: New body to oversee trams and buses |date = 15 August 2013}}{{cite news |last = Henderson |first = Damien |title = After eight years of chaos, city's £700m trams project is stopped in its tracks |url = http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/transport/after-eight-years-of-chaos-citys-pound700m-trams-project-is-stopped-in-its-tracks.14848264 |access-date = 22 June 2012 |date = 26 August 2011}} Initially, the company chose not to reveal the severance payments that had been awarded to its directors,{{cite news |last = Miller |first = David |title = Edinburgh trams: No details of pay-off for TIE boss Richard Jeffrey |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-17296426 |access-date = 20 June 2012 |date = 8 March 2012 |work = BBC News}} however, following a Freedom of Information application, it was revealed that the directors of Tie had received compensation totalling £406,635 after they stepped down from the company.{{cite news |title = Edinburgh tram project bosses payments revealed |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18518319 |access-date = 20 June 2012 |date = 20 June 2012 |work = BBC News}} The company had also worked to reduce the tax incurred by several of its consultants.{{cite web |url = https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/scotland-travel/trams-company-helped-consultants-to-save-tax-6g3lhq5mz7j |title = Trams company 'helped consultants to save tax' |publisher = The Times |first = Nick |last = Drainey |date = 25 June 2012}}
Projects
Tie was involved in several major transport projects in Scotland including:{{cite web |title = Achievements |url = http://www.tiedinburgh.co.uk/tie_achieve.html |work = TIE official website |access-date = 21 June 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081205173518/http://www.tiedinburgh.co.uk/tie_achieve.html |archive-date = 5 December 2008}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.tiedinburgh.co.uk/ Transport Initiatives Edinburgh]
{{Transport in Edinburgh}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Light rail in the United Kingdom
Category:Public transport in Scotland
Category:Transport in Edinburgh
Category:Tram transport in Scotland
Category:2002 establishments in Scotland
Category:Companies owned by municipalities of Scotland
Category:Transport companies established in 2002
Category:Defunct public bodies of the United Kingdom
Category:Government agencies disestablished in 2011
Category:Public–private partnership projects in the United Kingdom