Edinburgh Tram driver in row over Yes backing

A FLAMBOYANT Edinburgh tram driver has been carpeted by bosses after he used an image of the £776 million transport system to back Scottish independence.

By RACHEL WATSON Friday, 4th July 2014, 4:49 pm

Dale Buchanan, aka Tram Cruise, poses with two Edinburgh Trams. Picture: Greg Macvean

Dale “Tram Cruise” Buchanan - who was recently described as a “hotshot maverick” of Edinburgh trams - posted the image on his Facebook page.

It shows the aviator shades-wearing 22-year-old in front of two trams with the distinctive white-on-blue “Yes” badge superimposed.

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The post had attracted at least 15 “likes” and the comment “Lols” by the time it was spotted.

Within minutes of the alarm being raised, Mr Buchanan, who earns up to £24,000 as a tram driver, had deleted the post.

An insider said: “The driver has been told to update his profile. We do have a social media policy and we have recently reminded staff of this.”

The former St Margaret’s Academy pupil, from Edinburgh, appeared in the press on the lead up to the trams launch in May, with the picture in question - minus the “Yes” symbol - being used at the time.

In the photo he is wearing his Edinburgh Trams uniform with aviator sunglasses on while kneeling in between two trams.

Mr Buchanan had uploaded the picture twice on his Facebook page, and was also using it as his profile picture.

According to a source at Edinburgh Transport, employees should not be using their social media page to endorse any side of the referendum campaign.

During the lead up to the trams, Mr Buchanan was described as a “hot shot maverick” who had trained as both a tram driver and instructor.

According to reports at the time, the 22-year-old had been nicknamed Tram Cruise, as he always wore aviator glasses similar to Tom Cruise in film Top Gun.

The former go kart mechanic was one of the first four tram drivers to be hired in 2012, when he was just 20.

A spokesman for Transport for Edinburgh said: “Employees are of course entitled to express their personal political views outside of work.

“However, the Transport for Edinburgh Group is politically neutral and our staff, as representatives, are asked not to express political views when on duty or when they can be identified as working for the company.”

The tram project officially opened on May 31, five years later than initially planned.

A spokesman for Yes Scotland said: “The enthusiasm of our supporters is helping to ensure that we remain on track to win in September.