A new ‘red-eye service’ for the Edinburgh tram is to be given a trial in a bid to help passengers make earlier flight connections.

The services are to be extended earlier in the morning during a six-week period from 19 October.

Trams will leave Edinburgh airport 89 minutes earlier and York Place 29 minutes earlier.

It will see the first tram from the airport leaving at 04:46 and from York Place at 05:00.

Lesley Hinds, chairwoman of Transport for Edinburgh said: “The Edinburgh Trams service is doing well and we know there is potential to continue to enhance what we offer.

“What we’re doing here is testing that potential out to see if extended hours will benefit customers whilst at the same time being commercially viable.”

Ian Craig, chief executive of Transport for Edinburgh said: “The red eye trial is part of fitting a missing piece of the jigsaw into our service.

“Passenger numbers are healthy and customer satisfaction is high so now, after a successful first year and a healthy start to year two, it’s the right time to work up proposals for further enhancements.

“It’s important to remember that this extension will only last six weeks initially and then go back to normal so we can assess the findings properly with our maintenance contractors.

“Once that work is complete then full consideration can be given to a permanent extension of service.”

Gordon Dewar, chief executive of Edinburgh Airport said: “We wholeheartedly welcome this trial as it offers our passengers more choice on how to get to the airport during what is our peak time.

“It responds directly to what our passengers are telling us and we look forward to working with TFE during the trial on how we can make the service permanent.”

David Birrell, chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce said: “This is a positive move from Edinburgh Trams and something we’ve been keen to see for some time.

“Any enhancement to the service is welcome but this will be of particular benefit to business travellers so I hope the trial is a big success.”

The early morning service trial will run until 29 November.