[7] In July 2007, preparatory work, including the diversion of underground utilities ahead of track-laying in Leith, started for the Edinburgh Trams scheme.

[9] 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.

On 13 November 2008, Gallagher abruptly chose to step down as executive chairman amid heavy criticism of his handling of the tram project.

[14] 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.

[17][18] 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.

[19] 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.