Six route options for the Leeds to Bradford line of the proposed new mass transit tram system were considered, before transport chiefs settled on a potential three.
As reported by WLD yesterday, three potential routes for a new tram line linking Bradford city centre to Leeds – via West Leeds – have been revealed, and the public are being asked for their views on which they want to see.
But a booklet available at yesterday’s public consultation launch of the £2.5bn first phase of the scheme has detailed some of the routes not taken by engineers as they were too complicated’.
“Several route options were considered for the Bradford Line,” the document stated. “Through the route assessment process, three of the six Bradford to Leeds route options will not be progressed as part of phase one of the mass transit network.”
Two potential routes would have included busy Pudsey Road.
The report adds: “… Sections of Pudsey Road [would need to be] closed to traffic during construction and require traffic reductions one mass transit was operational.
“We decided this would have a significant impact on road users and the local community far greater than any benefits introduced by the proposals, s out will not be introduced in phase one.”
They also rejected ideas to use the existing Bradford to Leeds railway line, which currently has stations at Bramley and New Pudsey. The proposed route follows the existing route in parts, but would not use the same line.
“Delivery of a scheme as part of phase one would be challenging,” the report stated. “This is because getting the required Network Rail approvals of the design and construction methods could take a long time, having an impact on the scheme cost.
“Also an interaction of mass transit operations with national rail serviced would require changes to railway signalling and timetable.
“With current National Rail timetables and the desired mass transit frequencies, this is not considered to be viable at this time.”
Proposed routes
At Monday’s consultation launch, West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin called the transport system a “game changer” and said she hoped spades would be in the ground by 2028.
As reported yesterday, the Bradford to Leeds line will connect Leeds and Bradford city centres, with three proposed route options.
- Route option B1 runs via Stanningley and Armley and generally follows the route of the A647, and going through Stanningley up to Dawsons Corner. It provides an option to serve more local communities than other routes, segregation from road traffic at Stanningley Road will support faster and more reliable times and it is the most direct route. New or widened bridges over the River Aire and Leeds and Liverpool Canal will be needed, but works would require significant changes to roads in Stanningley and many road junctions along the route. It is shown on the map below in dark blue.
- Route option B2 and runs via Laisterdyke and Wortley. From Bramley Station the route will go towards Pudsey and take the route of the old Pudsey railway, including via Crimbles and Greenside Tunnel. Engineers say using the historic Pudsey railway route could mean fewer opportunities for placemaking and regeneration in communities, and pointed to the need to manage and mitigate the impact on trees and green belt on the disused railway line and the loss of green space close to Pudsey Grammar School and St Joseph’s Primary School. Engineers says re-using sections of former railway could reduce impact on roads and traffic, but work would need to confirm suitability of Greenside tunnel and major bridges would have to be built over existing railway lines and the Stanningley bypass. It is shown on the map below in grey.
- Route option B3 and runs via Laisterdyke and Armley. It’ll follow the A647 through to Bramley. The route will go towards Pudsey and take the route of the old Pudsey railway, including via Crimbles and Greenside Tunnel. Many of the potential issues are the same as ‘B2’. It is shown on the map below in pink.
After the consultation one option will be selected as the preferred route.
A consultation on the Leeds Line, which runs from the North of Leeds city centre to the White Rose Centre and would also include St James’s Hospital, has also begun.
Have your say
People have until September 30 to comment on the proposed routes.
The consultation can be found here.
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What about rapid transit link from Leeds and Bradford direct to Leeds Bradford Airport?
Why? People travel to the airport maybe once or twice a year. There are much more useful locations for the tram to serve.
Surely it doesn’t matter how many times an individual travels there? There are 4-7 million flights which means 8-14 million journeys from the airport by passengers, plus thousands of people who work there.
There are on average 37 flights from LBA per day. I don’t know where you get the “There are 4-7 million flights …”?
We live in Rawdon, Bradford is only just down the road about 1 mile away & there is no direct bus to Bradford. You have to travel to be able to use the flyer A1 A2 or A3 buses which go in different directions & are only 1 every hour. The bus services are diabolical round here & are prone to blobbing. We don’t have the new electric buses either they tend to put the old pink & lilac one’s on our only 2 routes.