A bold vision showing how trams could return to York and ‘transform people’s lives’ has been revealed today (Friday).
It’s part of what would be the biggest integrated transport, planning and housing strategy in the city’s long history.
Created by community interest company Forwards York: Forwards Yorkshire (FYFY) the project proposes:
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It could dramatically cut people’s journey times.
According to a journey planner on the website, the tram journey from New Earswick to York Station would be nine minutes and Bishopthorpe to York Hospital would be 11 minutes.
While centred on a new tram network, the plan also encompasses improved rail and bus services, and a segregated network of walking, wheeling and cycling routes, “all designed as one joined-up system”.
The scheme has been 12 years in the planning. It was conceived by airline captain Greg House after he became fed up of getting stuck in traffic in York.
He told YorkMix: “I thought to myself, I’ve got two choices: one, I can be grumpy and a keyboard warrior and whinge about it, or I can do something a bit more proactive. And I dove into the rabbit hole and started to do the research.”
Given that 60,000 more homes are earmarked to be built in the next ten years, that congestion could soon turn to gridlock.
So Greg created FYFY to tackle the problem, and has liaised with transport professionals, business people, Government officials at both local and national level, and local special interest groups to develop the scheme.
Today, the vision has launched with high-profile supporters including John Nelson, former director of British Rail, Peter Cushing, light rail commissioner, Michael Solomon Williams of the Campaign for Better Transport, Ken Merry, principal of York College and Helen Jones of York Disability Rights Forum.
The plan’s first phase is a tram line running from Clifton Gate Village, a planned new settlement north of York’s Outer Ring Road, via York Hospital, the station and Askham Bar to the Designer Outlet in the south.
It has been identified as the most deliverable and highest-impact starting point.
The plan avoids the need to dig up city streets, being designed to run off road wherever possible, using dormant and existing railway routes, which minimises disruption and the cost to install the network.
The full project would run from three ‘Super Park & Ride’ sites, including a new one at Clifton Gate Village, at Askham Bar and the Designer Outlet, “eliminating the need to dual the A1237, saving hundreds of millions in unnecessary expenditure”.
Other park and ride sites, including the ones at Rawcliffe Bar and Grimston Bar, could be closed and turned over to affordable housing. Grimston Bar would be replaced by a new super P&R near Dunnington.
The scheme also includes the York Highline: a 3km, car-free walking, wheeling and cycling route from Askham Bar to York Station, offering “safe, accessible and segregated from road traffic”.
FYFY modelling predicts passenger numbers through York Station to double from 2025 figures by 2030, triple by 2033 and quadruple by 2036.
The plan envisages an internally remodelled York Station – with a new elevated concourse. The video above shows a fly through from York Central, through this concourse, to a raised plaza and bridge over Queen Street.
It would “provide a seamless, continuous flow option for through traffic from York Central to the city centre, whilst offering expansive spaces for travellers to enjoy with retail and amenities, in a light and airy atmosphere that feels open, safe and welcoming for all”.
FYFY also argues the plan would boost national investment and growth by unlocking over 150 additional weekday train paths on the East Coast Main Line through York.
They say this capacity benefit would be felt from London to Edinburgh, and Liverpool to Hull, multiplying the benefits of the developing Northern Powerhouse Rail corridor.
Sam Leach is co-founder of FYFY. The man who co-launched Spark York and is on the Mayor’s business board, said: “We know that a joined-up, high-quality public transport network in our city and region would be a game changer.
“It would boost our economy while ensuring the benefits are shared across all our communities. This plan is about raising our expectations for what’s possible and what we should be aiming for.”
The combined authority consultation on its draft local transport plan will open soon.
FYFY is urging the Mayor to formally adopt its proposals and incorporate them into that local transport plan.
It wants as many people as possible to get behind their vision to help make it happen.
Greg says: “We want the Mayor to succeed, building a better future for all of our residents and putting York and North Yorkshire at the heart of the North’s regeneration.
“We stand ready to help him make that happen.
“Residents’ collective voice is vital to say what sort of transport system they want. Our project shows what we could have, if we decide to get a move on.”
Sam told YorkMix: “Let’s put ourselves on the map with a scheme that is going to transform people’s lives here.”
Greg says: “York and North Yorkshire needs to build 60,000 new homes over the next decade.
“Our proposal shows how planning, truly affordable housing and high quality public transport can be delivered together, offering the Mayor a deliverable plan to improve lives and prospects across the city and region, and build the capacity for sustainable growth that would put York and North Yorkshire at the heart the North’s economic revival.”
The scheme is backed by Joseph Rowntree Foundation; the Campaign for Better Transport; UKREiiF; Create Streets; York Disability Rights Forum; York Cycle Campaign.
York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Mayor David Skaith is aware of the plans and has committed to involving FYFY in the region’s upcoming 2026 Local Transport Plan consultation.
FYFY say the authority’s transport plan “is a good start but needs more ambition and detail in order to deliver.
“We want the combined authority to succeed in building the homes and transport we so badly need. This is our collective opportunity to help the Mayor achieve those goals.”
Of course, there’s a cost to all this. But the hope is the network could be created far more efficiently than other UK transport projects.
FYFY say: “The plan builds on proven schemes from across the UK and Europe, cleverly reusing existing bridges and viaducts to save money.”
It also seeks to benefit from the Government’s new Mass Transit Taskforce, “which is working with industry leaders to develop standardised ‘off the shelf’ designs for things like stations, bus stops and trams, so new schemes can buy high quality, proven infrastructure much more affordably”.
Sam said: “It will pay for itself and so much more at the same time, and that’s on a local, regional, and a national level. The opportunities are enormous here.”
Now it’s over to you. FYFY want your feedback. Read all about the vision and how you can help at the new website.
