Rapid Transit System For Leeds and West Yorkshire

[Coathanger16]

Any new transit system should aim to either serve previously unserved areas or enable a major modal shift (e.g. car to light rail).

Admittedly I don't know the West Yorkshire area at all really, but Leeds to Bradford is already served by two different rail routes. Is usage of these routes so poor that adding a third option or converting one to light rail would encourage more people to use public transport?

Looking at google maps, there's some fairly large urban areas - not city/town centre density however - that aren't served by rail at all. Connecting those to the major population centres in the region should be a priority surely?

 

[Brum X]

Any new transit system should aim to either serve previously unserved areas or enable a major modal shift (e.g. car to light rail).

Admittedly I don't know the West Yorkshire area at all really, but Leeds to Bradford is already served by two different rail routes. Is usage of these routes so poor that adding a third option or converting one to light rail would encourage more people to use public transport?

Looking at google maps, there's some fairly large urban areas - not city/town centre density however - that aren't served by rail at all. Connecting those to the major population centres in the region should be a priority surely?

Coathanger from the Midlands for West Yorkshire Mayor, he has it spot on unlike them councillors ooooop north, ha

 

[Aviador]

I notice there's been a few murmurs about this project again with initial route suggestions being put forward.

For me at least, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Jerry]

I notice there's been a few murmurs about this project again with initial route suggestions being put forward.

For me at least, I'll believe it when I see it.

According to this they're proposing 2 lines for phase 1. The Leeds line and Bradford line.

https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/improving-transport/mass-transit/

 

[White Heather]

All the talk about a tram system for Leeds, and it's turning into anything but, with lines running East to West but nothing for years to come to the North of the city, or South East, which have some of the worst roads and biggest traffic blockages.

Instead the mayor is trying to gain votes and adoration from all parts of West Yorkshire opting for a West Yorkshire wide system which will mean fewer, but longer lines, a longer construction period, and the vast majority of Leeds will get nothing. No tram for years to come serving Headingley (including the cricket and rugby grounds), nor the airport which should surely have been a priority. If they were going to build a line first between Leeds and Bradford, why not route it through the busy areas in both cities where demand is high but public transport between the cities isn't great. At least the second line goes past Elland Road and out to St James's Hospital (East) and The White Rose Centre (South West). But no tram route within 5 miles of where I live whereas the original Supertram scheme had a line through Headingley up to Lawnswood ( which in itself stopped short of many residential areas and was clearly catering for student halls if residence which are long gone now).

Leeds, Headingley Stadium, Horsforth , Airport, Yeadon, Guiseley, Shipley, Bradford would have covered so many areas that have poor transport and high demand. Instead, yet another service going through Armley, Bramley, Stanningley and Leeds Road, Bradford.

What's clear is that this is no longer a Leeds Tram system. Basically it won't solve the problems here at all.

 

[Aviador]

The entire North of Leeds suffers so badly from poor connectivity and yet routes which already have good connections with Leeds City Centre are chosen as the first routes. I'll still be surprised if it ever happens anyway. I do appreciate there is a possibility that the routes chosen are the cheapest options though, but they're most definitely not the routes that are needed.

 

[Aviador]

Leeds City Centre tram route options.

Leeds city centre route options maps | Mass Transit phase one - Leeds Line route options | Your Voice

The Leeds Line is divided into two sections: Leeds city centre has four options (labelled on the map as L1, L2, L3 and L4) and all these start from St James’s University Hospital. South Leeds has three options (labelled L5, L6 and L7). The Leeds Line will connect people

www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk

I'm not complaining about having a tram, Leeds has needed one for decades and we've watched other cities build entire networks before we've even got out first line. It still annoys me that city leaders always choose routes that are already well served by buses and roads. North West Leeds and routes to the airport are probably the most congested routes in the city and yet not even a suggestion of a route down or close to the A65.

 

[KARFA]

is that it? what on earth is the point of all this for such a stupidly short line?

 

[Finger66]

Because it's Leeds. Far better it for anything in West Yorkshire to be logical. It's no wonder we get left behind other areas of the UK

 

[Aviador]

The Metro has a good article featuring the proposed new West Yorkshire tram system. It's good to see things moving but it is hard to be positive about it as the politician's have wrangled about a tram system covering Leeds for decades with millions being wasted on multiple feasibility studies, eventually to be shelved. As good as all this seems it has all the hallmarks of HS2 mark 2 with an eventual watered down or cancelled outcome when the time comes, probably in another four years after another general election.

Inside the new £2,500,000,000 Leeds tram system with airport connection

All aboard the tram!

metro.co.uk