Better bus services are coming to South Yorkshire
Built for people. Not profit.
The way buses are planned and run in South Yorkshire will begin to change from September 2027 thanks to new powers given to us by Government.
That means bus routes, timetables and tickets across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield, will all be decided locally.
We’ll also be responsible for setting standards for punctuality, customer service, and safety, so buses turn up on time, run as advertised and are safe and clean.
It’s one of the biggest changes to how buses are run in our region since the 1980’s and we’ll do it in three phases between 2027-2029 to make sure we get it right.
When changes will happen
Improvements to bus services in Doncaster and most of Sheffield from September 2027. Followed by Barnsley and Rotherham in September 2028. The rest of the bus network in Sheffield will follow in 2029.
The journey so far
In 2025, nearly 9 in 10 people who responded to a public consultation, supported proposals to change the way bus services are planned, agreeing that decisions about buses should be made locally, instead of by private operators.
Using this feedback, in March 2025 Mayor Oliver Coppard confirmed his decision to bring buses back under public control.
This means decisions about bus routes, timetables, tickets and standards for punctuality, customer service, and safety will all be decided locally.
This is often referred to as ‘taking back control of the bus network’ or, ‘bus franchising’.
Stay updated
Stay updated. This is a huge change to how buses are run in South Yorkshire and the work will take until 2029 to complete.
Along the way, we want to hear from you. Your feedback will help shape the improvements we make, from routes and timetables, to journey planning tools and the customer service standards you’d like to see. Follow us on social media and keep an eye on the consultations and survey page for opportunities to have your say, you can also sign up for updates on the future of bus services here.