Road, Rail & Access Issues

[White Heather]

The most likely option that would lead to more development is Option B, which from Horsforth Golf Club more or less follows Bayton Lane across to Victoria Avenue in Yeadon. I have got the impression though that the Council recognise that something must be done and that it will go ahead. Although the final choice of option will again go for consultation, it will to a large extent only confirm the route and engineering features and will confirm what people already know and what was consulted on nearly 2 years ago. Let's face it - whichever option they go for, some local people will not be happy. If they don't do something, the rest of the city and much of the airport catchment area won't be happy. There were loads of objections regarding the East Leeds Link Road, but it is going ahead anyway, and I fully expect the airport link road to do likewise.

 

[White Heather]

Tram train trials have started in Rotherham. Long over due.
This is what I'd like to see invested in as
a public transport investment to the airport doorstep as opposed to another road scheme.

A tram train link to LBA remains an option for the future but cannot be delivered in the same timescales as the Parkway Station which is a short term solution.
As for the road scheme, don't think that this is purely for the airport. It is needed whether or not the airport is there in order to take away much of the traffic currently clogging up Yeadon and Rawdon. The airport is a beneficiary obviously but both communities should also benefit. It has to go ahead and who knows, in the future, the tram train link between Leeds, Horsforth, LBA, Guiseley, Kirkstall and back to Leeds might be built. There is also scope for this scheme to include Bradford, but it is unlikely to be delivered within the next 10 years even if the Rotherham to Sheffield trial is a success. Ideally, we need the parkway station and the new road (by 2022 apparently) and then in the longer term, something like tram train. But, this is Leeds. Not Manchester, or Sheffield, or any of the other big cities that seem able to get the funding they need for tram schemes, so I won't be holding my breath and I doubt it will happen in my lifetime.

 

[LsS27]

The new rail franchise operator for the Welsh and Borders is going ahead with ordering tram-trains irrispective of the Rotherham trials.

 

[Len Fish]

The Rotherham tram train project is already running £60M over budget which is not a great start.

 

[White Heather]

It amuses me that for years and years, people have complained that LBA has poor road links. Those who don't support LBA always say it is in the wrong place with poor road links. Now, when one is proposed, all those affected, and some who are not, object to it for one reason or another. Other cities just get on with it (eventually) but here, nothing seems to happen. As Mode1 says, the road route goes nowhere near Bramhope Village. It also affects relatively few properties along its entire route assuming Option A (or B) is chosen.

The Park and Ride is intended to reduce traffic in the city - but inevitably, it will add some traffic in the area where it is built. There are always winners and losers for every scheme. If the original proposal to link LBA to the motorway system back in the 80s (which would have resulted in a motorway running where Scotland Lane is now and which pretty much followed the same route as the proposed link road adjacent to the airport), then LBA might now be a much bigger and more successful airport. But, the objectors won that battle and the revised scheme runs to the South of Leeds, some 12 miles from LBA at its nearest point and of no use at all for enabling people to get to the airport.

As for educating people to not use their cars to access LBA (or any other airport) - well good luck with that. It is somewhat easier to take a family's luggage plus kids to the airport in a car than it is on the bus. The parkway station will enable some passengers to get to LBA by train which will help, but the percentages using the train will always be relatively low. You only have to look at MAN to see that.

The loss of green belt is always a shame, but the fact is that Leeds is the UKs 3rd biggest city and growing all the time. We all want LBA to be successful and grow too. It cannot do so without adequate transport infrastructure and that means roads and rail. It is inevitable that if a person objects to road links to the airport then they should expect LBA to stagnate into the future and barely grow at all.

 

[Aviador]

Just to point out that 85.7% of the people who voted in the forum poll believe option A should be chosen.

 

[lbaspotter]

Heather I'm in total agreement with what you've just said in your last message. It's about time somebody spoke out and spelled out the truth.

LBA has being held back for long enough. We should be in positive forward thinking mood seen as the airport and local council have developed plans together for once!
Hopefully both Transport projects will soon be heading into the planning stages (Parkway station and New Link Road).
At the end of the day, anything that makes passengers journeys getting to and from the airport a whole lot quicker and easier has to be better situation than we have at the moment. We have all complained on here and in our own little groups in the past, Hence now I think is the right time to strike and get on building both projects for which I think most people will agree, we've waited far too long for.

To not do any of the transport infrastructure changes, I'm sure it would further hold back any future developments the airport owners have in mind and probably effect its ability to be able to attract more airlines and new routes.

 

[LBA787]

If the road link isn’t built then they might as well just shut up shop... honestly this city is beyond me sometimes!

10 years ago Leeds was the fastest growing city outside of London and winning the race to become the second city. What happened?? Just go to Manchester and see what they’ve done... the city is immense with skyscrapers everywhere a fully intergrated transport network and an airport to be proud of!

Leeds as good as it is really could have been something very very special by now.

Rant over...

Happy weekend folks.

 

[LsS27]

Not sure if this is the correct place for other infrastructure news relevant to Leeds. Yesterday it was announced that the Transpennine Route, Manchester to York is to be electrified starting next spring.

 

[flyboy]

Fake News!! What's the source for this??
There won't be any announcement until Network Rail have completed their review into future investment proposals which won't be before the autumn at the earliest and, in any case, nothing will start in the near future as it is not in the current Network Rail budget. Also, Failing Grayling (Secretary of State for Transport) thinks the route can be upgraded without electrifying it!

 

[Finger66]

And now that Bradford Council seem to have more of a forward thinking cap on - something they should have done decades ago, this is also starting to bring a bit more of a buzz back to Bradford. Yes it's a long long way behind Leeds but finally moving in the right direction and that too can only be good for LBA. And I am with mode1 - you certainly ain't taking this Yorkshireman out of Gods Own Country

 

[Len Fish]

Fake News!! What's the source for this??
There won't be any announcement until Network Rail have completed their review into future investment proposals which won't be before the autumn at the earliest and, in any case, nothing will start in the near future as it is not in the current Network Rail budget. Also, Failing Grayling (Secretary of State for Transport) thinks the route can be upgraded without electrifying it!

Announced by Failing Grayling himself 3 or 4 days ago. Reported in reputable railway publications.

 

[LsS27]

Try railwaygazette.com/news/infrastructure/single-view/trans-pennine-upgrade-will-include-electrification-grayling-confirmshtml

 

[Aviador]

In a YEP publication some time ago Leeds City Council said they wouldn't rule out tunnelling for parts of the project saying it isn't as expensive as it used to be. Cut and cover might also be an option for parts of the route so some of the green space could stay green with the right design and planning.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

As for educating people to not use their cars to access LBA (or any other airport)

Recent research has shown that young people under 30 are shunning the motor car.
Under 30's are making 36% less car journays then a decade ago and the percentage is rising.
There has been a drop of 20% in under 20's applying for a driving licence and a 10% drop in the total number of under 30's holding a driving licence.
Statistic shows youngsters (17 to 29) are shunning the car and spending one hour more at home then this age group in the 90's, many reasons but the major one seems to be the inability to remove themselves from the social media and social media being incompatiable with car driving.
The interest of youngsters in the planet especially air pollution issues has been a big driver in getting young people to use local transport, bike or walk.
Any changes have to be good, surprised on this site people hailed the new bus purchase in 2016, yet more diesal polluting buses on the road, when an electric version available, meant to emit less fumes, we all know how testing on this subject can be controlled.

 

[White Heather]

Well sadly, it isn't predominantly the young people that use the airports - it is families and business passengers who will tend to use a car given the chance, and I believe that even these young people without cars will somehow get a lift from Mum or Dad to the airport when jetting off for their break in Ibiza or wherever.

I suspect the main reason behind young people 'shunning the car' is that quite simply, they are not affordable if they are to have any chance of saving the deposit for a house, and for most, that is their priority. I somehow doubt that these young people would choose public transport over a car if finances were not an issue, but as we all know, statistics can be spun any way you want. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon airports, and the local authorities, to ensure that passengers can access the airport using their chosen method of transport, whether that be bus, train, car or whatever, and ensure the required facilities are available. If they don't, then leakage to airports that do will accelerate even further.

 

[Aviador]

Recent research has shown that young people under 30 are shunning the motor car.
Under 30's are making 36% less car journays then a decade ago and the percentage is rising.
There has been a drop of 20% in under 20's applying for a driving licence and a 10% drop in the total number of under 30's holding a driving licence.
Statistic shows youngsters (17 to 29) are shunning the car and spending one hour more at home then this age group in the 90's, many reasons but the major one seems to be the inability to remove themselves from the social media and social media being incompatiable with car driving.

What nonsense. Younger people might be driving less but not because they're shunning the car or using social media more, it's because of high insurance premiums. Young people who I know say they simply can't afford to drive because it's too expensive, it's not that they don't want to and it's definitely not because they're using social media.

This graph is only based on the average cost of UK motor insurance and it doesn't take into account other factors such as roadside parking and using the vehicle for work etc.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting people out of cars. Whatever your opinion on Co2 omissions causing climate change are, it can only be a good thing reducing the number of car journeys but it needs to be done through choice of adequate alternatives being available and they're not.

 

[airforced]

I think I may have mentioned this before in another context but if anyone can inform me of a practical and cost effective method of getting to LBA from the east coast for one of the many early morning flights by public transport please share that information with me. I might then think about leaving my expensive car on the drive when I go away on holiday and forget about what it is costing me by way of standing charges.

For some people a car is a necessary evil? due to inadequate/non existent public transport once you are in the country.

 

[Aviador]

I think I may have mentioned this before in another context but if anyone can inform me of a practical and cost effective method of getting to LBA from the east coast for one of the many early morning flights by public transport please share that information with me. I might then think about leaving my expensive car on the drive when I go away on holiday and forget about what it is costing me by way of standing charges.

For some people a car is a necessary evil? due to inadequate/non existent public transport once you are in the country.

www.parkonmydrive.com is a good alternative to using one of the airport parking sites. It offers the security and piece of mind and your car is unlikely going to be maliciously damaged by angry locals by parking illegitimately in front of somebody's house. As for public transport, as you say it's shambolic and I can't offer you any advise on that.

 

[Bigman]

You would probably be as well coming over the night before and booking into the Yeadon Stoops Premier Inn. Cracking brekkie!!!