Plans for a new £2 billion tram system connecting Leeds and Bradford have officially been unveiled. That’s right: Leeds, often bemoaned as the biggest European city without a mass transit system, might finally get one!
Local government office the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has ambitions to initially build two tram lines in the region – creatively named the Leeds Line and the Bradford Line. If that all goes well, there’s hopes to build a third line to Dewsbury (south of Leeds and Bradford) shortly after.
The Leeds Line will run from St James Hospital to White Rose Shopping Centre while the Bradford Line will join the two cities, stopping by Bradford’s upcoming new railway station. Exact stops for that one haven’t been finalised yet, but the BBC reports that it could run via Bramley, Pudsey and Laisterdyke.
Tracy Brabin, mayor of West Yorkshire, said that the project would be ‘transformational for the north’ and revolutionise the region’s transport network. It comes after several failed attempts to kickstart bus and tram schemes in Leeds over the years. This marks the first time that West Yorkshire has focused on creating a region-wide trams network.
Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: ‘West Yorkshire is currently the biggest region in the country without a mass transit system. These tram proposals are part of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for comprehensive new transport links, which will undoubtedly enhance people’s lives.’
Next steps will see the scheme sent to the government for approval. If everything goes to plan, we’ll still have to wait a while before we see a tram network come to fruition – work would start in 2028 at the earliest.
Transport transformations with Time Out
There’s a lot of money going towards upgrading and creating new travel networks in and around the UK. And we’ve got our eye on a lot of them. There’s plans to create undersea tunnels between the Channel Islands, to launch a new luxury rail route in Scotland and big investment going towards making journeys between England and Wales faster.
Did you see that two UK cities are officially the cheapest in the world for expats?
Plus: All the winners of the British Pie Awards 2024.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.