Back when the previous government announced that the northern leg of HS2 would not take place they gave first details of funding being available for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for a mass transit network, finally giving hope that the much talked about new tram system for Leeds and the surrounding area may actually take place. Several months later and a public consultation has been launched into these plans with first mention of detailed routing for what its said would be the first lines for the network.
The WYCA have drawn up plans for two lines:
- Leeds to Bradford
- St James’s University Hospital to White Rose Centre via Leeds City Centre
This includes several different route options and this initial consultation – the plans and the chance to take part in the consultation can be done online at https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hub-page/mass-transit – will enable the WYCA to make decisions on preferred routes before a further consultation looks at more details of those preferred routes.
The different route options are:
Leeds to Bradford
- Via Stanningley and Armley
- Via Laisterdyke and Wortley
- Via Laisterdyke and Armley
Leeds City Centre
- Via East Parade and Infirmary Street
- Via East Parade (northbound) and Park Row (southbound)
- Via Cookridge Street and Park Row
- Via Regent Street and The Headrow
South Leeds
- Via Dewsbury Road
- Via Elland Road, Elland Road Stadium and the ring road in Middleton
- Via Gelderd Road, Lowfields Road, Elland Road Stadium and Old Lane
Leeds and Bradford have been chosen as the centres of phase one of the network as they are the region’s most concentrated centres of population, business, leisure and retail and can be the hubs that a greater network will grow from.
A number of different route options are being considered with all of them on the Leeds line running close to the White Rose Centre and a further two going near to Elland Road. Meanwhile, the Bradford line aims to connect areas such as Thornbury, Laisterdyke, Pudsey, Armley and Wortley.
Tracy Brabin is the Mayor of West Yorkshire: “West Yorkshire is a truly special place to live and work, but learning, earning a living or spending time with friends and family should not be limited by a difficult journey.
“A crucial part of our growth mission, Mass Transit will transform the transport options available to the people of West Yorkshire, as well as attracting investment into the region and boosting our economy. We want to create a better-connected West Yorkshire, with a Mass Transit system that is affordable, easy to use, and safe and secure for all.”
Cllr Susan Hinchliffe, Lead of Bradford Council and Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, added: “Having a tram system will be a leap forward for the West Yorkshire economy and, given the size of Bradford and the number of workers we have here, I’m pleased to see our city benefit from this tram link in the first phase.
“The route would service communities which have never been connected before, providing better access to jobs and opportunities. I’m pleased to see the Mayor and the Combined Authority making good progress on delivering the tram link which over the coming years will gradually build out across the whole of West Yorkshire.”
This is stage one of the consultation process with it open for comments until 30th September. Once it closes responses will be studied and detailed plans worked up. A further period of consultation will follow in 2025 and this will include details of stops, depots, potential park and ride sites and engineering works.
Then an application will be made to the Secretary of State for Transport for a Transport and Works Act Order – this will likely happen in the second half of 2026. This would allow work to start in 2028 and the first lines running in the early 2030s.
As well as the plans for these first two lines, the WYCA are working with Kirklees Council on the Dewsbury Line Development Project as well as Calderdale and Wakefield councils for future phases to make sure that no areas of West Yorkshire are left behind.
No mention is made of costs or how it will be funded, although like all other Metro Mayors, Tracy Brabin recently attended a meeting with new Prime Minister Keir Starmer where they discussed how the government’s growth strategy could be implemented. The BBC report that Rachel Reeves (MP for Leeds West as well as being the new Chancellor) has said that private sector investment will be required.