PLANS for a mass transit system that would link Bradford to other West Yorkshire town, as well as creating links in areas currently not supported by train, have taken a step forward.

A proposed City Region Transit Network was first revealed earlier this year. It included a line that would link Dewsbury to the University area of Leeds, via Bradford city centre.

It would include stops in areas not currently linked to rail networks, including Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton, Junction 26 of the M62, “South Bradford” and Laisterdyke.

It would also include stops at existing stations at Low Moor, Bradford Interchange and Bradford Forster Square and Pudsey.

Now the West Yorkshire Combined Authority has revealed more details about the plans, saying the routes would include frequent city centre stops and stops every kilometre or so in other areas.

Vehicles are expected to enable 200 to 300 people to get on/off at every stop and could be traditional light rail or tram train running on steel wheels, or bus rapid transit-based running on rubber tyres.

And the Combined Authority is now seeking "ideas and experience from across the world" to design a scheme that would be deliverable by 2033.

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The Leeds City Region, which includes Bradford, is the largest metropolitan area in Europe without an urban transit system.

The Combined Authority, which includes representatives from numerous West Yorkshire Councils, is now working with the University of Huddersfield’s Institute for Railway Research and University of Leeds’ Institute for Transport Studies to develop the plan.

It is also seeking the views of promoters, manufacturers, suppliers, constructors, engineers, system developers and operators of "the best urban transit systems across the world" to provide advice.

Research institutions, city planners, engineering and construction companies and consultancies are also being invited to take part.

The Authority says the routes could run through pedestrian and heritage environments in city centres and urban areas.

Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: "In Bradford we have long supported a West Yorkshire mass transit system.

"Along with the investment we need in the major train network for Northern Powerhouse Rail for example, we also need to make sure that everyone, no matter where they live, can access those major routes.

"A mass transit transport network would provide us with this. Connecting all the towns and cities of West Yorkshire more easily will grow all our respective economies.

"There is already an outline route map for where the mass transit system would go. This latest move takes us a step closer to establishing what the best kind of vehicles and technology to use would be for that route map.

"Technology has advanced significantly in recent years and we want to take advantage of that. Of course whilst these decisions are being made, we still need to make the business case to Government to draw down the funding to build it. It’s a significant piece of infrastructure and costly therefore it will be built over years, not months. But it’s an investment we need to make sure that, well into the future, all our businesses and our workforce can get around easily, so that we can compete effectively with other city regions both here in the UK and overseas."

Expressions of interest to take part in the market engagement must email urbantransit@westyorks-ca.gov.uk by October 31.