A new partnership has been formed between transport experts in Leeds and Huddersfield and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) to drive forward the region’s ambitious £2.5 billion Mass Transit scheme. The initiative, named the Centre for Transport in Cities (Centric), will see researchers from the University of Leeds and the University of Huddersfield provide a strategic alliance to support the project.
The announcement was made during the UK Light Rail Conference at the University of Leeds, where an official signing ceremony took place. West Yorkshire is currently the largest metropolitan area in Europe without a large-scale urban transit system. Plans for a new network, which could see trams running between Bradford and Leeds by the mid-2030s, were recently given government approval.
Through Centric, the two universities will provide academic expertise in transport planning, economics, and railway engineering to inform the Mass Transit proposals. They will also advise on other major regional investments in road, rail, bus, and active travel, with the goal of developing a “blueprint” that can be shared with urban transport schemes worldwide.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “Our ambition to get spades in the ground on our Mass Transit network by 2028 is on track, but there is still plenty of work to do. That’s why it’s vital for us to call upon the talent and expertise we have right here in West Yorkshire to help us create a state-of-the-art transport system. This will be central to our new integrated Weaver Network and will help us to create a greener, better-connected region that works for everyone.”
A public consultation on route options received nearly 5,000 responses last summer, showing strong support for the Leeds to Bradford tram line. A further public consultation is planned for 2026, with construction work expected to begin in 2028.
Richard Batley, Professor of Transport Demand and Valuation at the Institute for Transport Studies, University of Leeds, said: “West Yorkshire Mass Transit has the potential to be an exemplar for the delivery of a modern integrated mass transit scheme. Centric will play a pivotal role by providing independent expert advice along with research that identifies areas for innovation and opportunities for education and skills development.”
Professor Paul Allen, Director of the Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield, said: “Centric offers a unique proposition in bringing together the combined strengths of two world-leading academic transport research institutes. We are very much looking forward to working alongside WYCA and other local and combined authorities to help deliver innovative and sustainable transport solutions across the UK and overseas.”
The new partnership has also been welcomed by the Department for Transport (DfT) and UKTram, the representative body for the UK’s light rail sector.
Ian Mulheirn, Chief Analyst at the Department for Transport, said: “DfT welcomes the establishment of Centric, which will help strengthen the evidence base WYCA needs to optimise the integrated transport benefits and value for money of the proposed West Yorkshire Mass Transit. Bringing together leading academic institutions provides an exciting opportunity to support excellent outcomes for the region.”
Photo: (left to right) Professor Tim Thornton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of Huddersfield; Professor Paul Allen, Director of the Institute of Railway Research at the University of Huddersfield; Mayor Tracy Brabin; Richard Batley, Professor of Transport Demand and Valuation at the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS), University of Leeds; Professor Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Leeds.
Photo credit: Mark Bickerdike
