THE director of Edinburgh's controversial trams is leaving his post after just two and a half years in the job.
Tom Norris, director and general manager of Edinburgh Trams, is leaving to join Abellio, the Scotrail operator, and the recruitment process for the £80,000 a year job is under way.
The trams began operating at the end of May last year after six years of disruption and a long-running dispute between Edinburgh City Council and contractors.
The project cost £776 million, more than the original £545m, and arrived three years late.
It is now the subject of a public inquiry by Lord Hardie.
Mr Norris said thanks to "brilliant staff, passengers and supporters for making it such a positive experience".
"I'm looking forward to the next step in my career at Abellio Group and will always look back at my time with Edinburgh Trams very fondly."
Around five million journeys were taken on Edinburgh's trams in the scheme's first year of operation, about 370,000 ahead of the target set before launch.
Abellio is suffering its own troubles after the departure of Jeff Hoogesteger for his role in a scandal engulfing the Dutch
Mr Hoogesteger was dismissed following claims of irregularities at the State-owned Dutch Railways Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
Ministers have faced calls for an inquiry over the Dutch firm's recently awarded Scottish franchise.
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