Trackless trams pilot due 'before end of the year'
BBCPlans to bring "trackless trams" to Teesside remain on schedule, the Tees Valley mayor has said.
Lord Ben Houchen promised last year that, at the very least, five towns across the region would see trials of "glider buses" within two years.
They have been earmarked for Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton.
When asked for an update on BBC Politics North, Houchen replied: "In the next couple of months we're about to go out on a procurement for exactly that, with the first ones going live before the end of the year."
The project was first announced by the Tees Valley Combined Authority as part of a £1bn settlement after the previous government scrapped plans for HS2's northern leg in October 2023.
When Labour took office, however, all transport plans were put under review.
Final decisions will be taken this spring by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
Houchen said: "We can start to roll them out with the pilot without that £1bn, but to roll them out across all five towns and have it up and running to the extent we want?
"Then absolutely we'd require some of that additional money that had been allocated by national government."
Trackless trams have already been trialled in Liverpool and in October 2024 a similar system - called "glider buses" - started in Belfast.
In January 2024 Houchen's combined authority cabinet - made up of the five Labour council leaders in the Tees Valley - approved a £20m plan to kickstart the project.
The scheme has broad cross party support.
Conservative Houchen's main rival in the 2024 mayoral election, Labour's Chris McEwan, called on him to not "lose sight of the basics" when moving forward.
"Investment is good and needed, but must be part of a coherent plan with ongoing discussions with those that understand the issues," said McEwan.
"Shiny trams are all good and well, but if we have potholes in our streets, what's the point?"
BBC Politics North airs on Sunday at 10:00 GMT on BBC One and iPlayer. Catch up on previous editions on the iPlayer now.
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