All signals go: Yorkshire trams get the green light
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to pledge £15bn of funding for mayoral authorities across the UK at a conference in Manchester today, including £2.1bn towards West Yorkshire’s mass transit system and £1.5bn to South Yorkshire, a chunk of which will be spent on renewing its tram network.
Ahead of the government’s spending review next week, Reeves is expected to highlight how “a Britain that is better off cannot rely on a handful of places forging ahead of the rest of the country,” underlining the devolved powers that now exist throughout England.
West Yorkshire will have its £2.1bn package confirmed, resulting in ‘spades in the ground’ for its mass transit system by 2028 and services operating by the mid-2030s.
Phase one of the tram network will create two lines, one running through Leeds to White Rose, and the other connecting Bradford and Leeds.
Other infrastructure projects across the region will also benefit, including new bus stations in Wakefield and Bradford, bus lanes and cycleways on the A641 across North Kirklees, and road and access improvements around Leeds, with the intention of regenerating six surrounding neighbourhoods.
Meanwhile, £1.5bn will also be allocated to local transport in South Yorkshire, with around a third expected to go towards reviving the county’s tram network.
The money will be spent on new vehicles and more up-to-date tram stops.
Around £350m will also be spent on improving bus services in Sheffield, Doncaster, and Rotherham by 2027, with further improvements expected across the county’s network by 2030.
The package is being touted as the largest investment in public transport in the UK’s history.
Highlights from the rest of the package include £1.85bn for a new Metro line in Tyne and Wear amongst other improvements, £1bn for train and tram plans in Teesside, £2.5bn for Greater Manchester for further tram improvements, and £2bn to design a new mass transit system in the East Midlands.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said the investment was ‘game-changing’: “It will mean new and better buses, new electric vehicles, integrated ticketing and better information.
“It will mean new trams and better tram stops and lays the foundation for extending the tram network.
“It will mean that our young people will be able to get to jobs and opportunities; that we can all access services, see friends and family, or go for a day, or a night out, without worrying how to get home.”
Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: “It is time for trams – today is a huge moment for our region.
“The Chancellor’s backing means we now have the investment needed to bring trams back to the streets of Leeds and Bradford – improving public transport connections and boosting growth.
“We will also be able to take forward other vital projects, including new bus stations for Bradford and Wakefield, which will help us create a better-connected region that works for all.”
Cllr James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Delivering a tram system will transform connectivity across our city, and between Leeds and Bradford, bringing jobs and opportunities within easier reach of thousands of local people.
“This sits alongside other transport improvements including bus reform that reach out across the whole city.
“Securing this funding is another important milestone because it demonstrates clear government backing for the scheme, offering greater confidence and surety as we work together with the Combined Authority and partners to bring trams to our two cities.”
