Sheffield buses set to return to public ownership

Buses in Sheffield are set to return to public ownership by the end of 2027.

Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire announced plans yesterday for bus services across the region to fully publicly run for the first time since 1986.

Mr Coppard said the plans would enable the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to “take back control of routes, fares and timetables” for a transport system which works “in the interests of our communities and our economy, putting people back in control of essential services”.

He added: “Buses are essential for our communities. They connect people to services, to jobs, training and opportunity, and to friends and family. But over the last forty years we’ve seen public transport taken apart; fares go up, routes and passenger numbers go down, and our city centres, our high streets and our economy flatline.

“I want us to build a bigger and better economy in South Yorkshire and we need a public transport system that allows people to get to where they want to go, when they want to go there.

“After nearly 30 years we took the tram back into public control last year. Today is another huge step on that journey.”

Sheffield City Councillor Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, Ben Miskell, said he was similarly “delighted” by the move as it was “a vital step towards building the first-class, integrated bus network our city deserves”.

He added: “Sheffield is undergoing a major transformation — with thousands of new homes and jobs, and exciting new venues and public spaces coming to life. To support this growth, we need a reliable, accessible transport network that helps people get around quickly and easily.

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“Franchising is a critical step in creating a public transport system that works for our residents and is truly fit for the future.”

The decision follows a campaign by Students’ Union officers to see bus and tram fares reduced to £1 for students. Part of this campaign had included encouraging people to respond to the SYMCA public consultation into bus services, which concluded in January this year.

Of 7,800 consultation respondents, 76 per cent of people said they strongly supported bus franchising.

In November, following a meeting with Mr Coppard, the current Hallam SU President Martha Mitchell spoke to The Sheffield Tab about why cheaper student travel was important.

She said: “55 per cent of our students are commuters, which means they are the ones that are most affected by travelling into uni and the prices.

“The uni has been really good and they’ve changed the model of learning – so there’s some online and there’s some in person teaching – which does help those students. But I think there’s more that can be done to support them financially – especially with the cost of living – which I think this can do.”

Featured image from Google Maps