The press release from West Yorkshire Combined Authority announcing ministers’ decision to put the region’s mass transit system on the not yet list, along with Northern Powerhouse Rail, is a classic of its kind, and trips over its own contradictions.
Announcements that a scheme will be later than promised never come out and say that up front but begin with an assurance that everything is going swimmingly:
West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been working with the Government to consider the plans for successfully delivering this game-changing scheme for the region.
This has included undertaking an independent review, which is part of the usual process for projects of this size and scale. As a result, a robust, sequential timeline has been developed, which aims to reduce risks and ensure that the project is put firmly on the path for successful delivery.
And then the kicker:
The revised plan has been welcomed by West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and Transport Minister Lord Peter Hendy, despite the changes meaning services will now start running later than planned, from the mid-2030s to the late 2030s.
I’m sure West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin thought she was being helpful when she said:
Transport Insights 