Mayor Tracy Brabin unveils detailed route options for West Yorkshire's Mass Transit network

15 July 2024

The Mayor visited Downing Street last week for a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to discuss how Metro Mayors will help deliver the government's growth mission. 

Less than a week later, businesses, politicians and other stakeholders gathered in Leeds city centre to hear more about the Mayor’s ambitious plans to revolutionise transport in the region. 

People are now being invited to have their say on a choice of proposed route options that will connect central and South Leeds; and Bradford with Leeds. 

Phase one of the mass transit network aims to connect St James’ Hospital with south Leeds, with another line running from Bradford city centre to Leeds city centre. 

Leeds and Bradford have been chosen as the hubs from which the West Yorkshire mass transit network can grow, as they are the region’s most concentrated centres of population, business, leisure and retail. 

All potential phase one options for the Leeds Line run close to the White Rose Centre, with two route options also running close to Elland Road.  

Some of the other places the proposed route options would aim to connect include Leeds General Infirmary, The South Bank, Holbeck and Beeston. 

The Bradford Line will connect people between Bradford city centre and Leeds city centre with the proposed route options aiming to connect areas like Thornbury, Laisterdyke, Pudsey, Armley and Wortley. 

Linking up these communities will enable more people to get to jobs and training and education opportunities, all while working towards tackling the climate emergency. 

The details were revealed at an event in the Hilton Doubletree Hotel in Leeds City Centre, attended by stakeholders, businesses and politicians. 

The Combined Authority wants to hear views from as many people as possible – a public consultation, open to everyone, starts today and will run until September 30.  

Feedback from members of the public will help us identify benefits and issues with our mass transit routes options for Leeds and Bradford, improve our proposals and help us decide which of these options will go forward to create a Leeds Line and a Bradford Line. 

The event also marked the start of the Combined Authority’s engagement on its Local Transport Plan (LTP_, which will guide  policy and investment for transport in West Yorkshire up to 2040. 

The region's plans for mass transit will form a key part of Mayor Brabin's growth plan.  

Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “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.” 

Once preferred routes have been developed, a further statutory consultation will follow in 2025. This consultation will include proposals for tram stops, depots, potential park and ride sites and engineering works. 

In parallel with phase one, the Combined Authority will continue to work with Kirklees Council on the Dewsbury Line Development Project, as well as Calderdale and Wakefield councils for future phases, so no part of West Yorkshire is left behind. 

Leader of Bradford Council and chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe said: “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.” 

Following this options consultation and the preferred route consultation in 2025, an application to the Secretary of State for Transport would be made for legal powers and planning permission to build and operate phase one.  

This would be in the form of a Transport Works Act Order in the second half of 2026. 

Work is expected to begin in 2028, with first lines operational by the early 2030s. 

Leader of Leeds City Council Cllr James Lewis said: "Mass transit will transform transport connectivity across our city, helping to deliver inclusive growth and attracting even more investment. 

"As the largest city in western Europe that does not currently have a mass transit system, it is vitally important that our residents and businesses across Leeds have their say on these initial options so that the preferred routes put forward by the Combined Authority next year are the right ones for our communities." 

  

Dame Linda Pollard DBE DL Hon. LLD, Trust Chair at Leeds Teaching Hospitals said: 

“We fully support a better-connected West Yorkshire, and are delighted that the next steps towards Mass Transit are now taking place in our region. 

“Our hospitals are a constant hive of activity, with over 20,000 colleagues and more than 1.6million patients every year. Including our two main hospital sites - St James’s Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary – would not only allow our staff and patients get to us easier and in a more sustainable way, it would also contribute to the reduction of health inequalities across our local communities. 

 “As we embark on our plans to build a state-of-the-art hospital for children, adults and maternity services at Leeds General Infirmary, access and connectivity is crucial.  

“The Combined Authority’s long-term plans to bring a tram to West Yorkshire will be a game-changer for the region and, along with our new hospital and the development of the Leeds Innovation Village, will strengthen our ability to attract the very best healthcare workers and economic investment to our city.” 

Director of Bradford Literature Festival Syima Aslam said: "This is going to be fantastic for transport in West Yorkshire, not just for our economy, but also culturally. 

"Ensuring as many people as possible are able to access the diverse cultural offerings across our region is vital for the region to be a national and international cultural destination, and to help enrich lives for generations to come.” 

Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, said: “Our analysis suggests West Yorkshire is one of the country’s biggest priorities for a major public transport upgrade to meet the needs of local residents and businesses – and this is now firmly on its way. 

“The effects of making journeys easier and reducing road congestion should unlock significant and sustainable economic growth for Leeds, Bradford and the wider region, as well as improving everyday life.   

“Mayor Brabin and her team deserve credit for progressing plans to this point, where now the public have their chance to shape the future of a scheme that holds so much potential for boosting commuting, trade and leisure links across the region.” 

Paul Swinney, Director of Policy at Centre for Cities said: “The UK economy will only close the yawning gaps we have with France and Germany if big cities like Leeds and the wider West Yorkshire area are able to reach their full potential. 

“Improving public transport in West Yorkshire to better link people to jobs will be part of achieving this. This makes the mass transit consultation important not just for West Yorkshire but for the national economy too.” 

Tom Forth, founder and CTO of The Data City, one of North England's fastest growing AI companies, said: “Whether it's worrying about arriving late for hospital appointments or nursery pickups, opting out of a better-paid job because the commute doesn't work, or businesses struggling to find the fantastic staff they need to expand, we know in our region how poor connectivity is holding us back.  

“I can't wait to make a positive response to the consultation, arguing for the investment that will unlock new homes, new business sites, and better access to nature, entertainment, family, and friends that long overdue investment can unlock 

“This is our chance to make the plans for mass transit in West Yorkshire irresistible to a new UK government focused on growth and prosperity." 

Marcus Johns, Senior Research Fellow at IPPR North said: “Public transport is mission critical for driving up economic growth, opening up opportunities, addressing the climate crisis, and boosting living standards, all shown clearly by the evidence in the UK and internationally. 

“This ambition to rapidly rollout a mass transit system across West Yorkshire is a major step in the right direction, and demonstrates how the gap left by decades of underinvestment in our public transport across the North and beyond can be plugged. 

“This is not only good for West Yorkshire, as the benefits of bolstering West Yorkshire’s economy will be good for the whole North. It is a clear lesson of the high ambition and benefits that Mayors, devolution, and investment are bringing to our wider region. To unlock shared growth and renewal, we hope to see schemes like this brought forward for cities and towns across the country.” 

The public are encouraged to have their say on both the Mass Transit Phase One Route Options and the Local Transport Plan.