Bradford to Leeds tram plans will have 'naysayers'

But he also argued it will be important for politicians of all parties to put their differences aside and help sell the idea to people across county.

The proposed mass transit system was discussed by members of West Yorkshire Combined Authority at a meeting last month, where Mayor Tracy Brabin acknowledged the work would cause disruption to communities while it is built.

A consultation on the planned Bradford line, which will link Bradford city centre to Leeds, began last month and will run until September 30.

The first stage of the multi-billion pound West Yorkshire Mass Transit system will include a line that begins in Bradford – likely at Forster Square Station.

The route will link the city’s existing rail stations, as well as a new station planned for the city’s 'Southern Gateway' before heading East to Leeds city centre – stopping at multiple locations on the way.  There would also be a Leeds line, linking the North and South of the city.

The meeting of WYCA last month heard that almost 2,000 people have so far had their say in the consultation, which asks people for their opinions on three possible routes between the two cities.

Expected to cost between £2 billion and £2.5 billion, work on the mass transit system would begin in 2028.

At the meeting, Bradford Council Leader Susan Hinchcliffe pointed out that the Bradford line and the Leeds line were just the first steps of the system.

Other lines that have previously been proposed include a Bradford to Dewsbury Line that could take in stops in Holme Wood, Low Moor and Cleckheaton. However, this line is not included in the initial proposals.

Cllr Hinchcliffe said: “It is worth emphasising that this is just the first line. The network will grow from there. This will connect areas not currently well connected by public transport.

“I wish this had all happened 10 years earlier, but we are where we are.”

The meeting was told that developing the scheme has so far cost £29.8m, which included £10m in design and environmental work and £5.6m on “transport modelling tools.”

Members heard that much of this has come from Government funding.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin said the mass transit line would provide a local stopping service between Leeds and Bradford – opening the door for faster train services between the two cities.

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin at the Mass Transit launch (Image: West Yorkshire Combined Authority)

Ms Brabin said: “I recently spoke about this at the light rail conference, and there was a bit of cynicism. We have to be clear – this is not a Leeds project, this is a West Yorkshire project.

“These proposals are just the beginning.”

Councillor Alan Lamb, leader of the Conservatives in Leeds, said: “There will be a lot of naysayers. A lot of people will look at this and see that it will link Bradford and Leeds and think ‘this is nothing to do with me’ because they are such a long way from it.

“I’m not one of those people – it has to start somewhere – and I agree with Councillor Hinchcliffe, we’re decades behind where we should be.

“We all need to give a big push to let people know why this matters. This will be important for the whole region – it will also be impactful in York and Harrogate.

“We have to sell that and put party politics aside. As politicians we might have to hold our noses – we might want to make political jibes, but we have to sell this to the whole region.”

He pointed out that there was likely to be disruption for many areas on the route, and said it was important for the authority to plan for a compensation scheme in preparation for when land or property needs to be purchased.

Ms Brabin pointed out the project would make the area a hub for engineering jobs. She said: “There will be no other project of this scale happening anywhere else in the country.”

She added: “There will be disruption, communities will be disrupted. We need to make the case for people – we want to carry people through this journey.”

To take part in the consultation, visit https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/hub-page/mass-transit