00:00Described as the region's biggest infrastructure project in decades, plans to have trams to and from Leeds and across West Yorkshire look more on track, following an announcement by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
00:15£2.1 billion of local transport funding is set to see the West Yorkshire Combined Authority commence work on West Yorkshire's tram project in 2028, with the first services operational before the mid-2030s.
00:30Speaking ahead of her spending review, the Chancellor unveiled West Yorkshire's Transport for City Regions funding for 2027-2032, which will also support other transport projects, including new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield.
00:46The first phase of West Yorkshire's mass transit network will create two tram lines, a Leeds line running from St James' Hospital through the city centre to the White Rose, and a Bradford line connecting Bradford and Leeds city centres.
01:00It forms part of an integrated transport network under the single Weaver Network branding, connecting bus, tram and train services, as well as walking and cycling routes, which was recently unveiled by the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracey Brabin.
01:14The Combined Authority will publish its preferred route options later this year with a full public consultation planned during 2026.
01:23The project promises to improve local transport for over 675,000 people and benefit those in some of West Yorkshire's most deprived communities.
01:32Last year, just under 5,000 people and businesses replied to a survey, with two-thirds backing the Bradford line plans, and more than three-quarters supporting the proposed Leeds line.
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