A call by a Leeds MP for Leeds to develop an underground rail system has received a massive swell of support from YEP readers.
Earlier this week, Leeds East Labour MP George Mudie criticised city chiefs’ plans for a new trolleybus system, branding it “unambitious”.
Revealing that Leeds looked at creating a Tube-style system in the 1980s, he called for today’s transport brains to “think bigger”.
His comments were almost universally backed by YEP readers who commented on our website.
Here is a selection of their views:
Hyde Park Ranger wrote: “I agree totally with George Mudie. A trolleybus system is just as inflexible as the Supertram. I cannot see any advantage that it has over the current bus system. Any reduction in exhaust emissions from public system will be counter-balanced by increased emissions from traffic congestion. I am suspicious of any alleged journey-time reductions.
“A real push towards an underground system should be made by supporting George Mudie.”
Jan08 said: “If, as George Mudie says, Leeds thinks bigger and actually chases what it needs rather than what it doesn’t, then we might actually see some progress.
“I don’t agree we couldn’t get funding for an underground – it can be built in sections and if we had started on one 30 years ago when Supertram was first suggested, we would have it by now.”
Silver Bullet added: “The Government is looking for big infrastructure projects to spend money on. If Metro had submitted a sound business case for an underground system to this government, we could now be looking forward to tube travel in Leeds.”
Earl said: “It seems to me that the only reason people are arguing against an underground is because they don’t think we would get one. I think we should try regardless. New Generation Transport themselves say an underground would cost 10 times that of trolleybus. When you compare that to the cost of cross-rail, it’s nothing.”
However, FieldOfClothOfGold had another view: “Now George Mudie has put his two penny worth in, the trolleybus project will be put on hold.”
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