Following an independent review, the start date for services on the West Yorkshire Mass Transit (tram) system has been pushed back from the mid-2030s to the late 2030s.

One of the first lines will run from St James’s Hospital, through the city centre past Elland Road to the White Rose Centre and West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said she still expects to see ‘spades in the ground’ in 2028.

However, a senior opposition councillor has branded the announcement a ‘disaster’.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been working with the Government to consider the plans for successfully delivering this game-changing scheme for the region.

This has included undertaking an independent review, which is part of the usual process for projects of this size and scale.  As a result, a robust, sequential timeline has been developed, which aims to reduce risks and ensure that the project is put firmly on the path for successful delivery.

The revised plan has been welcomed by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Transport Minister Lord Peter Hendy, despite the changes meaning services will now start running later than planned, from the mid-2030s to the late 2030s.

The Government is also considering adding Mass Transit, the largest local transport project in the country, onto the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio, further bolstering the scheme’s standing as an important national infrastructure priority.

This would provide access to further expertise and support for the scheme, while also looking at other ways to cut red tape and accelerate the programme.

In an exchange of letters published on Thursday, Lord Hendy committed the Government’s backing for West Yorkshire Mass Transit and pledged to look into ways to accelerate the programme in the coming years. The Minister and Mayor both shared their frustration that major projects like this take too long to develop and build in the UK.

Leeds is the largest city in Western Europe without a mass transit network, and local leaders have long pushed for one to be built to help drive economic growth and connectivity for the region.

The need to accelerate Mass Transit led to an innovative approach from West Yorkshire Combined Authority, to work on the business case and planning process at the same time. Work on planning will now take place later in the programme.

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said:

“We are clear that Mass Transit will have a transformational impact on the region and the UK’s economy and I welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for the people of West Yorkshire.

“While the new timeline helps offer certainty for the scheme, I am also pleased that Ministers have committed to working with us to cut red tape and put tracks on the ground as quickly as possible.

“As part of our Weaver Network, Mass Transit is vital for us to create a better-connected and greener West Yorkshire that works for all.”

Rail Minister Lord Hendy said:

“Mass Transit has the power to transform West Yorkshire – boosting connectivity and unlocking economic growth across the region. That’s why I’m delighted to reaffirm that the Government fully supports the Mayor’s ambition’s to deliver this hugely important scheme.

“We are pleased that WYCA are taking a robust approach to planning the schedule for the scheme, based on the tried and tested approach for delivering major infrastructure.  By building on these foundations the Mayor is in a strong position to deliver a world-class transport system that will serve West Yorkshire for generations to come.”

Letter from Lord Hendy, Minister for Rail to Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

Response letter from Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire to Lord Hendy, Minister for Rail

Cllr Alan Lamb, WYCA member and leader of the Conservative Group on Leeds City Council, said:

“If this was Manchester, the mayor there wouldn’t be trying to make this sound positive, because it isn’t. This is a disaster for Leeds and West Yorkshire as a whole.

“Whatever is said, I don’t see there being shovels in the ground during this decade, and no passengers on any trams until the late 2030s.

“Almost 20 years ago to the day, I remember Alistair Darling pulling the plug on Supertram. This feels very much like déjà vu. Twenty years on, we still have no tram in Leeds, and no plan for one for another decade at the very least.”

 

This post is based on a press release issued by West Yorkshire Combined Authority

 

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