Mixed response to long-awaited arrival of trams

An artist's impression of the Mass Transit system

The announcement that a Bradford suburb would be included on the West Yorkshire Mass Transit network has been met with a mixed response among future passengers.

The Bradford Line's proposed tram routes that would link the city to Leeds feature a branch to Laisterdyke.

When the BBC visited the area this week, some residents said they were looking forward to more investment in transport - but others were sceptical about the scheme's chances of success.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), which will deliver the tram system, said that despite the "considerable" cost of the project, it would grow the region's economy.

Arshard Hussain, with 16-year-old son Mahdi, who is excited at the prospect of trams from Laisterdyke to Leeds

Laisterdyke currently relies on buses for connections to both cities. The suburb lost its railway station on the nearby Leeds to Bradford line in 1966. It had the UK's last trolleybus service until 1972.

Waiting for a bus with his son was Arshard Hussain, 47.

He said he travelled to Leeds frequently and would welcome any efforts to make the journey easier.

"I think it's a good idea to implement it into the city," Mr Hussain said.

Although he thought it was "relatively straightforward" to travel between Bradford and Leeds, Mr Hussain added, he said a tram would be simpler and more convenient.

"It will be more convenient for people if it's cheaper than the bus," he said.

Less convinced about the benefits of a tram was Raees Shah, 34, who spoke to the BBC while waiting for his coffee order at King Coffee Co.

"To be brutally honest, I think the money could be spent a little bit better," Mr Shah said.

"They've already spent a large amount of money on the cycle lane that goes from Bradford to Leeds and there are hardly any bicycles on there.

"It has created congestion and is of little to no benefit really.

"I don't know if the tram service will have the effect that they are looking for it to have."

Asked what else public money could be spent on, Mr Shah said the Combined Authority could look at "more frequent buses or upgrading buses".

Bus user David Hardwick, 64, said trams would be "fantastic" but isn't convinced the scheme will happen any time soon

Also catching a bus into Leeds was Claire Smith, 40, who described travelling between the two cities as "difficult".

"It takes me about an hour," she said, adding that she would definitely use trams if they were quicker and freed up road space.

David Hardwick, 64, said there should be more of a focus on improving train services "instead of building a whole new infrastructure".

Mr Hardwick said he did not think the plans would come to fruition, pessimistically adding "not in my lifetime".

He added that there was "a lack of trust in all governance", citing HS2 as a failed transport policy.

However, he said "it would be fantastic" if trams did link Bradford and Leeds.

"But honestly, I don't see it happening," Mr Hardwick added.

Working behind the counter of a vape shop, 18-year-old Harley Bray-Cargill said: "I don't think trains are too reliable these days, so if there is another reliable means of transport I'd most likely use it."

He added: "There's been a lot of work in Bradford city centre which has caused a lot of confusion with buses and stopped a lot of people from travelling."

With Bradford Interchange currently closed and trains being "on and off", Mr Bray-Cargill said it can be difficult to travel into Leeds.

"Tram lines, depending on where they're placed and where they are, I reckon could make it a bit easier," he said.

"Train tickets are not the dearest, but they're not the cheapest either.

"If they were a bit cheaper than train tickets then most likely it would get a lot more people to use them."

Teenager Harley Bray-Cargill says trains are "on and off" and buses can be "difficult

'Substantial benefits'

The BBC asked WYCA to respond to the concerns of Laisterdyke residents, including on whether the scheme would definitely be built.

A WYCA spokesperson stated that the project had been allocated £200m by the government to develop plans by 2027, and that the scheme covered the whole of West Yorkshire.

They added that "more detailed engineering work" would need to take place before an estimate on how long a route between Laisterdyke and the Leeds suburbs of Wortley and Armley would take to be completed was available. The authority envisaged that the branch would be a "reliable and quick" service that added capacity to the network.

Although fares have not been set yet, WYCA said that ticket prices would be in line with "equivalent" bus or rail journeys and that Mass Transit would be "affordable" for passengers.

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