Sheffield £1 student singles are back

Sheffield student single bus tickets have returned to £1.

First Buses have reinstated their sorely-missed £1 student fares following discussions with Sheffield Students' Union.

The price of the student ticket had gradually increased in recent years, reaching £1.20 on First buses and £1.30 on Stagecoach in 2019.

It prompted Jake Verity, Sheffield SU president, to pledge the return of £1 student singles on First Buses during his election campaign in February.

The £1 student singles are being trialed until the end of December 2019, with Verity encouraging all new and existing students to use the city's buses to persuade bosses that the low fares should stay permanently.

“I’m absolutely delighted that I’ve managed to sign this agreement with First to reintroduce £1 Bus fares for our new and returning students" Verity said.

"Students deserve to have a cheap single fare that ensures they have affordable, safe and accessible transport in this brilliant city."

Almost 650 people have liked a Sheffield SU post on Instagram announcing the news, branded "a miracle" by one user. On Facebook, dozens praised the price slash, with one saying of Verity: "Make him PM."

There is a catch, however, as First have said that as of the end of September, student weekly tickets will be scrapped and student monthly tickets will hike in price.

But Verity insists this is for the best as 75% of students use single tickets in Sheffield.

First South Yorkshire Commercial Director, Alan Riggall, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside the Sheffield Student Union in reviewing our prices and ticketing offers for Students.

"The importance of the £1 single fare has been made clear to us and in order to keep fares low we need more people to use the bus."