Leeds

Work is ‘already underway’ on new tram system in Leeds, confirms Mayor of West Yorkshire

"Yes, I can promise you because we're already underway."

Sophie Smith Sophie Smith - 16th January 2023

The mayor confirmed that "work already underway" live on air.

In an interview with BBC Radio Leeds, Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin made the promise to get 'spades in the ground' on a mass transit system by the time she leaves her role as mayor.

At present, Leeds is the largest city in Western Europe without a built-in transport system, after the past transit system that ran across the city from 1871 – 1959, using a combination of horse-drawn, steam and electric trams over time, was deemed unaffordable by the City Council following the Second World War, they ultimately closed.

tram on a track with shops in the background.
The mayor confirmed that "work already underway" in an interview with BBC Radio Leeds last week. / Image: Unsplash

Naturally, it's been a talking point ever since (so much so it became a bit of an April Fool's joke last year) and this is not the first time Leeds has been promised a new tram network.

"We're definitely going to see spades in the ground on mass transit before I end up not being mayor...we're looking at surface, so trams", said Mayor of West Yorkshire to BBC Radio Leeds.

"The technology, we want to be ahead of the game we want the best tech, the most innovative , the greenest , the cleanest and also the cheapest. So we're going to have an amazing system."

"It's a long haul but I'm in for it"

Trams have been a talking point in Leeds for as long as anyone can remember. / Image: Unsplash

BBC Radio Leeds Breakfast Presenter Rima Ahmed pushed the mayor to confirm, asking "Is this a promise that you can make us then, by the time that you are no longer mayor Tracy Brabin, whenever that might be, that we have spades in the ground to get going on the mass transport system?"

Tracy responded: "Yes, I can promise you because we're already underway."

"I can't promise that the government are going to continue giving us the funding, it's a £2 billion project, we have £200 million currently to start the work, but I am pressing government to confirm that, whoever is the government, that they will continue investing in mass transit."

Plans for a network across the city centre have been going on for quite some time, including back in 2021 when it was briefly reported that ministers could consider an inner-city tram network instead of HS2.

There was even a Leeds Supertram plan that was scrapped in 2005 by the Transport Secretary after budget issues, but the proposed track would have served the inner city, both Universities and Headingley.

Leeds supertram plans were disbanded in 2005 but the plans are still available online. / Image: Open Street Map

The three lines would have run from Tingley, Bodington and Grimes Dyke and joined in the city centre at stations on Albion Street, Eastgate, Boar Lane and City Square. 

Back in 2019, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was “madness that Leeds should be the largest city in Europe with no metro rail system”.

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It is thought that over time more plans will be revealed about the new mass transit system that Tracy Brabin spoke of in this interview.

Feature Image- Unsplash

Leeds

Major DJ has set cancelled as overcrowding concerns continue at Leeds Festival

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

After closing for the entire second day, The Warehouse stage at Leeds Festival has once again been forced to evacuate.

One of the most anticipated dance acts of the day has been cancelled due to health and safety concerns just moments before the set.

Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa was due to take to The Warehouse stage today at 1:30pm, but the set was cancelled due to overcrowding.

It's not the first time this has happened at Leeds Festival 2026, as yesterday Omar+'s set was cancelled due to the same issue and the stage was subsequently closed for the rest of the day.

The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.

Announcing the news to Instagram, Silva Bumpa said: "So so sorry Leeds Fest but due to over crowding my set was cancelled last min I was just behind the stage and got told right before such a massive shame."

Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading on Friday afternoon, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.

"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."

It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.

If yesterday is anything to go by, we wouldn't be surprised if The Warehouse was closed for the rest of the day which means anticipated sets from Rossi and Mall Grab will also be cancelled.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

Leeds

‘Actually lost for words’ – huge artist speaks out as Leeds Festival set is cancelled due to overcrowding

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

For the second day in a row, a huge set has been cancelled due to overcrowding at Reading and Leeds Festival.

Day two of the festival and there's some pretty disappointed ravers hanging their head as one of the biggest dance music sets of the day is cancelled.

Omar+, a rising British electronic DJ and producer, was due to play on the brand-new Warehouse stage at Reading yesterday and Leeds today.

Yesterday's set was cancelled last minute due to overcrowding, and low and behold the same has happened here in Leeds.

Announcing the sad news to his story, Omar+ said "Actually lost for words. My Leeds set has been cancelled due to overcrowding."

He then went on to show a screenshot of a text message, reading: "I've never seen something like this in my entire life where two shows back to back are cancelled due to overcrowding."

The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.

Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading yesterday, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.

"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."

It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.

Read more from The Hoot Leeds:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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