Transport Secretary refuses to guarantee trams for West Yorkshire mass transit scheme

Speaking to The Yorkshire Post, Ms Alexander said that West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin was making the case “very powerfully” as to why the scheme should consist of a tram network, but added that the Department for Transport must make sure that taxpayer money is “spent wisely”. The West Yorkshire Mayor has previously said she was “determined” to bring trams to the region, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves also backing the plan.

It comes after The Yorkshire Post revealed last year that civil servants could overrule Ms Brabin and turn the mass transit system into a bus network, with West Yorkshire Combined Authority asked to set out an alternative business case for buses. The Department for Transport is the ultimate body which will sign off the plans for the scheme

Asked if she was able to reassure people in West Yorkshire that the system would include a tram network, the Transport Secretary said: “We fully back Tracy Brabin's aspirations for a mass transit system in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

“It is ludicrous that Leeds is the only large city in western Europe not to have that mass transit system. We do want to look at the business case, because we have to make sure that every pound of taxpayers money that we spend has to be spent wisely, and we need to make sure that we're getting good value for money, but we're working really closely with Tracy's team.

“We want to see spades in the ground as soon as possible, but we also want to make sure that we're spending money wisely as well.”

Asked if she could rule out the possibility of the system consisting solely of buses, Ms Alexander added: “What I want is a mass transit system for Leeds and West Yorkshire, and Tracy is making the case very powerfully as to why that should be a tram. We're looking at routes at the moment. We will need to evaluate the final bit of the business case. But all of that work is going on at pace.”

The proposed route for the network would run from past Elland Road to the White Rose Centre, with the potential for future extensions to other areas.

Ms Brabin told The Yorkshire Post: “I understand the fine line the Secretary of State has to walk on this as the decision maker for this project. However, I am clear that West Yorkshire needs a Mass Transit system. That means a tram – and we have the backing of business, local leaders and the Chancellor Rachel Reeves on this. We have been working closely with colleagues at the Department for Transport at every stage of this process and will continue to do so as we press ahead with our ambitious plans.”

Ms Brabin added that a tram network would “unlock economic growth in our regional and national economy for generations to come.”

Funding for the scheme was allocated by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in a Spending Review last year, with Ms Brabin given £2.1bn to spend on transport projects between 2027 and 2032. The Chancellor said in January: “Mass transit does not mean a few better buses, mass transit means a tram network.”