Yorkshire Live
·26 Aug 2026
“Number 10 needs to get out of the way” — campaigners’ solution to make West Yorkshire tram network a reality
Campaigners are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government to devolve transport powers from London to West Yorkshire so a long-delayed mass transit system linking Leeds and Bradford can proceed. The proposed £2.5 billion network, originally targeted for operation in the early 2030s, may now be delayed until the end of the decade following a government review. The West Yorkshire Needs A Tram group blames the Department for Transport, Treasury and Number 10 for obstructing local decision-making, while the government says it is devolving Transport and Works Act powers and providing £2.1 billion in funding. West Yorkshire Combined Authority is preparing its strategic business case for submission later in 2026, and Mayor Tracy Brabin continues to target construction beginning by 2028.