Transport officials from Metro, and York visited the German city of Karlsruhe to see how the city's highly successful tram-trains could be used to help fight congestion in the Leeds City Region.

Tram-trains are one of the elements of the £4.5bn 25-Year Transport Vision drawn up by Metro for the Leeds City Region. They are lightweight vehicles that run more frequently on existing rail lines like trains as well as on streets like trams, and could be used to transport people from York and Harrogate into the heart of Leeds city centre.

"Savings made by using much lighter tram-trains on the York, Harrogate rail line into Leeds, could be used to develop new on-street routes into Leeds city centre, to employment growth areas such as the Aire Valley and Five Towns and also to Leeds Bradford International Airport," said Metro Chairman Councillor Ryk Downes

"We need to investigate how we can use this modern technology to alleviate our transport problems," said City of York Council Leader, Councillor Steve Galloway. "Tram-trains could provide the flexibility to bring passengers right into York as well as providing essential links to new development sites at York Central and British Sugar, with a park and ride site, and a direct link to Leeds Bradford International Airport.

"I believe that this will contribute significantly towards a better public transport system for York and the region as a whole.

Councillor Mike Gardner, Leader of Harrogate Council said, "Growing numbers of people are commuting from the Harrogate area into Leeds and we need to find a fast efficient way for them to make the journey.

"The recently-introduced additional carriages on peak-time services have provided much-needed extra capacity but tram-trains would help to ensure we get the maximum efficiency from the existing rail line and the chance to develop some important new routes as well."

The visit included technical presentations about the vehicles and the system's operation, and details of the benefits that tram trains have brought to Karlsruhe and its region.

Network Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT) have indicated that they are keen to carry out a trial for tram-trains in the UK. Local transport leaders, including Leeds City Council Deputy Leader Councillor Andrew Carter, are keen to see the trial go ahead but not at the cost or inconvenience of passengers on the already busy York, Harrogate, Leeds route.

"Carrying out the trial on the route would provide all the information on reliability, frequency and costs that Network Rail and the DfT require," he said. "We will be using the additional information gained in Germany to impress this upon both organisations."

More information about Tram-Trains