West Yorkshire Mass Transit Tram Project

planned

West Yorkshire is planning a mass transit system that includes a tram network to end Leeds' status as the largest urban area in Western Europe without a mass transit, metro, or light rail system. The project envisions two tram lines: one connecting Leeds city centre to Bradford city centre, and another from St James's Hospital in Leeds to the White Rose Centre. The project requires a business case to be approved by the Department for Transport and the Treasury, with a funding request of approximately £2 billion. Early development funding of £200 million has already been provided by the government, along with £2.1 billion in local transport funding to support this and other regional schemes. The project has experienced delays due to the requirement to complete the business case before route planning, pushing the expected completion from the mid-2030s to the late-2030s. Local leaders insist the system must include trams rather than just buses, citing the benefits of light rail for connectivity and regeneration.