With proposals introduced to once again establish a tram network in West Yorkshire, it is time to take a look back in time
West Yorkshire has a long and fairly miserable history when it comes to its public transport network - especially when it comes to trams.
Age of the tram In 1871, during the reign of Queen Victoria, the first trams were constructed in Leeds by the Leeds Tramways Company. At first these were operated by horse drawn carts, with steam carriages introduced from 1882 onwards. In Huddersfield, the network had 15 routes, taking people from Almondbury to Marsden to Newsome. The Longwood Trolleybus Turntable was one part of the network of particular interest. It dates back to 1939 and was one of only four in the world.While trams in Bradford were shut down in 1950, the trolleybus network kept running. The network here covered 47 miles, but once again this was not to last.
However, even these services have been reduced from their previous states. The infamous Beeching Axe of the 1960s, named Richard Beeching, who was the chair of the British Railway Board, saw local train stations closed down across the country.Other train stations were closed even earlier as more people took to the roads to travel.
As a central point in West Yorkshire, this impacts the other cities and towns like Wakefield and Bradford, who also use buses and rail to get around. However, there have been attempts to change this. The Leeds Supertram system is the most famous of these. However, costs ballooned from £500 million to £1 billion and the scheme was cancelled in 2005, another disappointment for West Yorkshire. There was also talk of reviving the trolleybuses, but these plans were eventually cancelled.
Huddersfield Leeds Bradford Wakefield
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