Leeds Bradford: Airport Road, Rail & Access Issues

[Len Fish]

No spades in the ground until 2028 at the earliest so plenty of time for it to crash and burn. As regards the route to Bradford, common sense always comes seconds to politics.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Leeds has always fallen behind. The trouble now is the city is so densely built in areas building a tram will cause havoc. If they had done this in the 80’s and 90’s and then continued to build on its success we’d of had fab infrastructure.

We’ll never have the tram going near or into the airport. It’s seen as a benefit. Therefore the morons at Labour and their hostage holders GALBA won’t have that.

As for the useless Mayor she is treating this and trying to build up a tram network similar to Manchester’s. Sadly she doesn’t realise West Yorkshire is no way the same as Manchester.

Yet again it comes down to simple analysis. Manchester MP’s and councillors care about their city areas and pushing for growth and infrastructure. West Yorkshire MP’s and councillors don’t give a flying f**k.

 

[Finger66]

Leeds has always fallen behind. The trouble now is the city is so densely built in areas building a tram will cause havoc. If they had done this in the 80’s and 90’s and then continued to build on its success we’d of had fab infrastructure.

We’ll never have the tram going near or into the airport. It’s seen as a benefit. Therefore the morons at Labour and their hostage holders GALBA won’t have that.

As for the useless Mayor she is treating this and trying to build up a tram network similar to Manchester’s. Sadly she doesn’t realise West Yorkshire is no way the same as Manchester.

Yet again it comes down to simple analysis. Manchester MP’s and councillors care about their city areas and pushing for growth and infrastructure. West Yorkshire MP’s and councillors don’t give a flying f**k.

With their lack of support for LBA perhaps the "flying" part of your final comment @Sherburnflyer92 is even more apt

 

[White Heather]

There are some within the council who openly do what they can to obstruct growth at LBA and clearly some who are buddies with the clowns who spend their life counting night flights. And the 5 Labour MPs of course, including our Chancellor of t'exchequer, all opposed it. But let's not forget there were more supported LBAs new terminal than opposed it. The new build WAS approved and so were the amended night hours. Prior to that the terminal extension, now being built, WAS approved. And prior to that, the terminal extension to the front WAS approved. In fact you have to go back a very long way into the 80s to find the council blocking a planning application at LBA ,that being the first application for 24hour operations.

So I don't get why there's always this fallacy that the council block LBA. They did until the late 80s. After that, every planning application that has been submitted has been given approval despite all the usual clap trap ftom NIMBYs .

The Cleud situation is different and not the remit of the plans panel, being a matter of legal interpretation of the 1990s planning restrictions. The council legal boffins don't agree with the airport legal boffins and now we want to see who is right.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

There are some within the council who openly do what they can to obstruct growth at LBA and clearly some who are buddes with the clowns who spend their life counting night flights. And the 5 Labour MPs of course, including our Chancellor of t'exchequer, all opposed it. But let's not forget there were more supported LBAs new terminal than opposed it. The new build WAS approved and so were the amended night hours. Prior to that the terminal extension, now being built, WAS approved. And prior to that, the terminal extension to the front WAS approved. In fact you have to go back a very long way into the 80s to find the council blocking a planning application at LBA ,that being the first application for 24hour operations.

So I don't get why there's always this fallacy that the council block LBA. They did until the late 80s. After that, every planning application that has been submitted has been given approval despite all the usual clap trap ftom NIMBYs .

The Cleud situation is different and not the remit of the plans panel, being a matter of legal interpretation of the 1990s planning restrictions. The council legal boffins don't agree with the airport legal boffins and now we want to see who is right.

I agree, the majority if those on the planning committee are not against the airport. Unfortunately they are not pro-active. They do not work with the airport to resolve issues unlike many other councils.

 

[White Heather]

I agree, the majority if those on the planning committee are not against the airport. Unfortunately they are not pro-active. They do not work with the airport to resolve issues unlike many other councils.

The plans panel can only decide on planning applications. It's not their remit to work proactively with the airport. That's down to the planning department who are not councillors. I can assure you too that they do liaise with airport management to proactively resolve issues but ultimately the final outcome is often not their decision. Politics gets in the way.

 

[Snackbar]

The strategy is to connect LBA to the mass transit system in addition to the Parkway station….https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/connectivity

Very much doubt this will ever become reality!

 

[Len Fish]

The problem is that local planning approval is only one of the hurdles to jump through, you then have the possibility of the Government of the day calling it in and a possible Public Inquiry. Sadly, we’ve all seen how that can end up.

 

[lbaspotter]

A debut visit for Flyer buses Citaro Hybrid at Leeds Bradford Airport yesterday afternoon to present it to the Airport team and have some photos taken.
The first bus is to be used for driver familiarisation. Once sufficient training has been completed they will be rolled out into service by first half of July.

Credit Paul Turner at Transdev.

 

[Bantamzen]

Personally, I find it hard to even consider this as a tram for Leeds. The vast majority of the city still wont have anything other than buses.

There isn't a train line between the Horsforth/Harrogate line in the NW and the York line to the East, yet there is no tram planned yet for that entire part of the city, other than a relatively short stretch up to St. James hospital. If they insisted on a line to Bradford, then why run it along basically the same route as the buses and existing train line? Here was an opportunity to have a tram line that linked BOTH cities with LBA, and a line from Leeds via Headingley, LBA, Rawdon, and either Apperley Bridge or Shipley would have vastly improved transport connections in an area where bus links are poor. It would also have provided mass transit to both the Headingley rugby and cricket stadia and given LBA exactly what it needs. But no. Another route via Armley, Bramley, Stanningley and Pudsey to add to already frequent and 24 hour buses, and regular trains. So predictable trying to provide something for Bradford when public transport between the cities is already superior to any other part of Leeds.

A West Yorkshire mass transit system is in no way what Leeds as a city needs or deserves. The Mayor has watered down what Leeds was originally getting and is now spending huge amounts on a system that's useless to most of the city. The airport should have been a priority. If Elland Road is on the tram route then why not Headingley? And in Bradford, why not Valley Parade? The whole thing feels predictable and short sighted and if this is a mass transit system for Leeds, then it's barely worth waiting for unless you live along the chosen routes.

I know there's supposed to be more to come, but not in my lifetime. I'm totally underwhelmed by what is proposed.

To be fair, starting with a Leeds - Bradford route might mean not only can the business case to start to be strengthened, but parts of the existing rail route can potentially be used to reduce the overall cost (it's proposed to electrify Leeds - Bradford via New Pudsey at the back end of the TransPennine upgrade) by making use of tram-trains. Plus it could also link into the Forster Square line via Bradford city centre, which would allow it to get to Guiseley with very little upgrade work. It's then just a matter of getting a tram line up the ascent to LBA, probably via Yeadon itself.

(It's worth noting here that the new line wouldn't necessarily be the main route between the two cities, but getting some of the traffic off the existing trains would allow for some non-stop services on the heavy route, and the tram-train soak up the demand from more stops en route).

If that gets approved, built and working, then a similar option might be open to get tram-trains up the Horsforth line, or at a push the Leeds-Guiseley line, before jumping off the existing alignment and up to the airport, avoiding for the most part all of the Leeds West NIMBYs / Them-What-Shall-Not-Be-Named objectors. Once the tram is up and running, all parts will be screaming for their own bit, apart from the aforementioned of course. It's pretty much how Manchester started out, albeit they just took over two heavy rail lines and stitched them together in the city centre. It will be much easier to justify further lines once there is a core network running and pulling in punters, as is the case in Greater Manchester now. It's a case of get something in to demonstrate it'll work, then the objections will be more likely to be outweighed by the benefits.

Of course all this requires competent councillors both locally and across West Yorkshire. Therein lies an issue...

 

[leedslad]

I think they have already drafted a route to the airport in the long term masterplan (stops rather than specific route)

 

[Snackbar]

I see the airports MP Katie White has posted on her facebook page about speaking in Parliament recently about the lack of transport provision at LBA - perhaps someone should tell her to speak to Tracy Brabin! Presumably she is trying to get some gov funding for the Parlway station.

 

[White Heather]

I see the airports MP Katie White has posted on her facebook page about speaking in Parliament recently about the lack of transport provision at LBA - perhaps someone should tell her to speak to Tracy Brabin! Presumably she is trying to get some gov funding for the Parlway station.

I guess at least she is trying to improve things. Her opponents in this ward would be trying to shut the airport down given the chance.
You're right though. Tracey B has the money to allocate to the Parkway Station and has already passed up the chance to make LBA a priority in the so called Leeds tram network. She will be long gone before LBA and trams are ever seen together.

 

[lbaspotter]

Just so that everyone is aware Flyers new Hybrid Citaros buses are starting to enter revenue earning services today.

I’ve just seen 1504 in service on the A1 just now in Leeds City Centre

 

[scottrhino]

Major water pipe replacement works due 14th July until January 2026 between Rawdon Cross Roads and Green Lane Yeadon. Two way traffic signals just as a heads up. Just in time for peak holiday season!!!

 

[LBA4EVER]

Major water pipe replacement works due 14th July until January 2026 between Rawdon Cross Roads and Green Lane Yeadon. Two way traffic signals just as a heads up. Just in time for peak holiday season!!!

Yes its the period where no schools are on and less folk at work due to travelling away so on any other road its the best period to do the works but this is one of the primary routes to LBA, so not the best situation!

 

[Aviador]

Problems on the M62 is becoming an all too common occurrence.

Leeds man's nightmare M62 journey to Manchester taking 2.5 hours

Derv Chown said he drove just 55 miles at an average speed of 21.7mph

www.examinerlive.co.uk

 

[White Heather]

Problems on the M62 is becoming an all too common occurrence.

Leeds man's nightmare M62 journey to Manchester taking 2.5 hours

Derv Chown said he drove just 55 miles at an average speed of 21.7mph

www.examinerlive.co.uk

Na! It's easier to get to Manchester than LBA apparently. Just down the M62/M60. No problem.

Until this happens, and then, all bets are off.

 

[Finger66]

Ironically, and I hate to say this but we encountered no issues at all on our recent journey to/from MAN. No real surprise on the to as it was fairly early Sunday morning but the from was Friday teatime. Yes it was a little slower but only a little slower. So clearly very much luck of the draw me feels, although agree that darn motorway is getting ever more awful.

 

[YorkshireLad]

I’ve been fortunate so far to have never had a catastrophe on that motorway, however I’m fully aware that one is never too far away. I’ve had a 30 minute delay between Huddersfield and Rochdale (that’s how far the tailbacks were) due to 1 closed lane on one of the bridges, and I’ve had family members have a 4 hour journey from York to Manchester (centre). However that’s as bad as it’s got for me

Also due to my location I’m able to take alternative, though much slower, routes to Manchester.

However, the drive to LBA is much shorter, calmer and with much less jeopardy, so I’d choose that any day of the week