Earlier this year details were announced of a major public consultation into the planned West Yorkshire tram system which would, initially, see two lines built including one linking Leeds and Bradford. As part of the consultation Bradford Council have given their views which includes backing the overall scheme as well as giving their preferred route.
When the consultation was launched in July 2024, there were three options given for the route between Leeds and Bradford:
- Via Stanningley and Armley
- Via Laisterdyke and Wortley
- Via Laisterdyke and Armley
As part of their response to the consultation, Bradford Council have said that option B3 is their preferred option although the other routes are considered viable but less preferred.
The preferred option uses a disused railway corridor to the north of Holme Wood, a route through the Parry Lane Enterprise Zone and along Bowling Back Lane to Wakefield Road. It would then approach Bradford City Centre via Bridge Street and Market Street before stopping at Forster Square Station.
The main positives considered on this route are that it directly serves the Southern Gateway area and it would also serve more of the city centre area with potential stops at City Park and Bradford Interchange. It could also be adapted to take in the proposed new through station in the Southern Gateway area.
It would also serve Holme Wood and allows for better separation of Mass Transit from other traffic, leading to better journey times and less congestion.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “Connecting Bradford and Leeds with Mass Transit is such a huge opportunity to grow our economy and better connect our communities, not just across the district but the whole region.
“We’re working with the Combined Authority ensure the proposed Mass Transit system contributes to significant growth and regeneration in central Bradford and the Southern Gateway and that the designs take into account all the work currently being done to make our city centre more pedestrian friendly.
“Alongside the government commitment for a £2bn new Bradford rail station we now have a rare opportunity to develop a truly integrated transport hub, working across different modes of transport, with active and public transport as an attractive option for residents and visitors.”
“The project should also recognise the potential for easing the housing pressure between Bradford and Leeds. Having this Mass Transit scheme in Bradford aligns perfectly to the governments mission to kickstart economic growth and will help people have better access to jobs and opportunities, education and health as well as hospitality and leisure destinations.”
The Council are also keen that the tram route most supplement rather than replace rail or buses. The system should also be planned to function as part of the overall wider public transport network and how it works for both transport within the city and also in connecting urban communities considered.
Have they said where the gauge change will be this time?
The Gauge change? What do you mean?
Bradford trams were 4ft gauge and Leeds were standard gauge. Despite the difference a through service operated between the two cities between 1909 and around 1915/16 when it was abandoned due to maintenance difficulties. The operation relied on trams equipped with trucks having wheels on splined axles and a section of track at Stanningly where gauge gradually changed.
Leeds tramways were standard gauge. Bradford’s were 4′. Passengers had to change cars at the boundary.
When Trams ran between Bradford and Leeds in the early 20th century they had Trams which could change gauge from 4′ to 4’8 1/2″
Adam is ” ‘avin’ a laff”, Harvey. The ‘first-generation’ tramways in Bradford and Leeds were, respectively, 4′ 0″ and 4′ 8 1/2″ gauge: there was between 1909 and 1914 a length of tapered track at Stanningley that enabled dual-gauge tramcars to run from one gauge to the other, by having wheels that slid along splined axles.
Forgot about the “tapered track” era.
The disused BR Line from Laisterdyke Jct. to Dudley Hill station continued through a short tunnel under Tong St. lt then ran South to Tong Cemetery, and then curved round North Easterly through a tunnel to reach Pudsey. From there the Line ran on to join the Bfd to Lds Line at Bramley. Some parts of these Routes are still derelict, but many more sites have long since been built over with Housing or Businesses. How much will it cost to compensate all the people who live or work there ? At the other end, Bridge Street & Market Street have just been pedestrianised so are we going to watch them get dug up once again to make way for the Tramlines, which will also need even more Costs ?!?