The launch of Leeds’ long-awaited tram system has been delayed by several years following a government review of the £2.5bn project.
The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) confirmed that the mass transit scheme, featuring new tram lines linking Leeds and Bradford, is now expected to be completed in the late 2030s.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin expressed confidence that she would personally see the project come to fruition.
She said she was “fully confident that I will be driving this tram by the end of the next decade,” despite concerns the delay could threaten the scheme’s future.
Brabin added that the revised timeline would “help offer certainty” for the tram, which is central to plans for an integrated transport network incorporating the region’s bus services.
The delay follows a review conducted by Nista, the government’s infrastructure advisory unit, which reportedly requested an initial business case before further planning could proceed.
Brabin commented: “We wanted to try something new. That’s not the way it’s going to be. That’s fine. But we will continue to innovate throughout the process and with government by our side – the last thing we want to be doing is fighting government, which we’re not.”
Rail Minister Peter Hendy welcomed the WYCA’s approach, highlighting the benefits of careful planning.
He said: “I am pleased that WYCA are taking a robust approach to planning the schedule for the scheme, based on the tried-and-tested approach for delivering major infrastructure.
By building on these foundations the mayor is in a strong position to deliver a world-class transport system that will serve West Yorkshire for generations to come.”
In a letter to Brabin, Lord Hendy emphasised that the scheme remained a “vital part of our government’s ambition for your region.”
He acknowledged Brabin’s frustration at the slow pace of infrastructure development and pledged to support efforts to accelerate delivery.
Brabin said ministers’ commitment to easing bureaucratic hurdles was encouraging.
She stated: “While the new timeline helps offer certainty for the scheme, I am also pleased that ministers have committed to working with us to cut red tape and put tracks on the ground as quickly as possible.”
Leeds, Europe’s largest city without a light rail or metro network, previously lost its trams in 1959.
Attempts to revive tram services have repeatedly stalled, including the shelved Supertram project in 2005 and a rejected trolleybus plan in 2016.
Brabin acknowledged public scepticism due to past delays.
She said: “It’s disappointing because this has been promised twice. So people are understandably cynical. This is not about cancellation. It is about re-sequencing that’s going to add a bit of time.”
The WYCA consulted on 10 potential routes between Leeds and Bradford last year, with £200m of early funding allocated.
The broader Mass Transit scheme is financed as part of West Yorkshire’s £2.1bn transport budget from 2027 to 2032.
Conservative councillors voiced concerns that the new timetable could jeopardise the project.
Alan Lamb, Leeds City Council Conservative leader, told the BBC: “I think they’ve put a nail in the coffin of mass transit in West Yorkshire. It’s like Leeds Supertram and HS2 all over again.”
Brabin concluded with determination, reiterating her vision for the system.
She said: “We deserve a transport system that’s equivalent to London. At the end of the 2030s, I’m going to be driving this tram.”