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routeone > News > South Yorkshire confirms move to bus franchising
News

South Yorkshire confirms move to bus franchising

Under the plans, SYMCA will assume control of depots, fleets, service standards, fares and ticketing across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield

Alex Crawford
Alex Crawford
Published: March 18, 2025
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The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) has confirmed that bus services across the region will move to a franchised model following one of the largest public consultations on bus reform in the UK to date.

Mayor Oliver Coppard announced the decision today (18 March) after receiving majority public backing. More than 7,800 people responded to the 12-week consultation, with 87% “either strongly supporting or partially supporting” plans to bring buses back under public control.

Under the plans, SYMCA will assume control of depots, fleets, service standards, fares and ticketing across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.

The first tranche of publicly controlled services is expected to enter operation from September 2027, with a full rollout by July 2029.

The franchising scheme will be delivered through large ‘anchor’ contracts built around existing major operator depots, complemented by smaller contracts aimed at SMEs. SYMCA has indicated it may lower barriers to entry for smaller operators through a more relaxed pre-qualification regime, and the possibility of joint bidding.

The financial foundation for the move to franchising has been confirmed in the consultation response, with £350 million earmarked from the next City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (2027-32) for capital investment in fleet renewal and depot acquisition.

In addition, £5 million of transitional funding has been allocated for the 2025/26 financial year to support early implementation steps.

At the same time, SYMCA has appointed Katharine Hammond as Chief Executive, with a fixed salary of £220,000 per year.

Integrated transport ambitions

The move follows the earlier return of South Yorkshire’s Supertram into public ownership last year and forms part of the Mayor’s ambition for a fully integrated transport system. In the coming months SYMCA will engage with communities on future network design and vehicle features, and plans to announce a new integrated transport branding for buses, trams and other assets.

The authority acknowledges that franchising carries financial risks, particularly after 2042, when a second borrowing-funded fleet renewal cycle is expected to generate annual deficits. These deficits are projected to be offset by surpluses accumulated in the first 15 years of operation.

The decision also sets in motion the process to wind down the existing South Yorkshire Enhanced Partnership Scheme, with responsibility delegated to SYMCA’s Executive Director of Transport.

Mr Coppard’s move in seen as one of the most significant regional bus reform decisions since the introduction of Manchester’s Bee Network. Operators currently serving the region, which includes First South Yorkshire, Stagecoach Yorkshire and TM Travel, will now face a period of review as the market transitions from deregulation to a contract-based model.

“Today, we’ve made history; turning back the tide on the failed experiment of the privatisation of our bus network that was started in the 1980s, putting the public back into public transport,” Mr Coppard says. “When I was elected as South Yorkshire’s Mayor in 2022, I promised to take back control of our buses. Today I’m proud to say that is a promise being kept.

“Starting in 2027, we will begin to take back control of routes, fares and timetables across South Yorkshire, so we decide where buses run, when, and where.

“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 thirty years we took the tram back into public control last year. Today is another huge step on that journey. The destination is a fully integrated transport system across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, one that works in the interests of our communities and our economy, putting people back in control of essential services.

Commenting on SYMCA’s position on franchising, Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood says: “I am absolutely delighted that local leaders across South Yorkshire have voted with both hands today to take back control of their buses and give local people the services they deserve, meaning that residents from Barnsley to Bawtry will be able to visit their friends and family, reach exciting job opportunities and access the public services they need.

“Through our incoming Bus Services Bill, we are determined to unlock this opportunity for communities up and down the country that have been cut off from reliable local transport for far too long, and drive up living standards, as outlined in our Plan for Change.   

“Alongside the Bill, we’re investing over £1 billion to make services more reliable, frequent and affordable – including over £17 million right here in South Yorkshire that could be used to boost infrastructure, enhance service frequency or improve reliability.”

A summary of consultation responses and SYMCA’s response has been published and is available on the Combined Authority’s website.

TAGGED:Bus franchisingfranchisingsouth yorkshireSouth Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
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ByAlex Crawford
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andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
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