MORE SUMMER, LESS SPENDING: CHILDREN TO TRAVEL FREE BY BUS AND TRAM IN SOUTH YORKSHIRE THIS AUGUST

Published 30 July 2026 at 10:16am

Families across South Yorkshire will be able to save money this summer, with children aged 5 to 15 travelling free on participating local bus services and Supertram throughout August. 

The offer, which runs from 1 to 31 August 2026, is part of the UK Government’s Great British Summer Savings scheme, with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority funding the extension of free travel for 5 to 15-year-olds on Supertram.
 
There is no registration required for the August offer, with unlimited free journeys available for eligible children on participating services. Families are encouraged to check local travel information before setting off. 
The summer saving is designed to help families cut the cost of getting out and about during the school holidays, whether they are visiting friends and family, heading to summer activities, going to sports clubs, or enjoying days out across South Yorkshire.  

It also sits alongside South Yorkshire’s existing free and discounted travel offers for young people. In Barnsley, under 18-year-olds can continue to benefit from free travel with a Barnsley MiCard, while young people under 21 across South Yorkshire can access cheaper fares with a Zoom Travel Pass.  

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Free public transport has changed lives for young people and families in Barnsley, and I couldn't be prouder of that scheme. We're now building on what we've started, making it happen in Sheffield and working to extend that support across South Yorkshire through our People's Network.

"I'm really pleased that families right across South Yorkshire are going to get a taste over the summer holidays of what free public transport can do. We've gone further than the Government's summer travel scheme by extending free travel to Supertram too, meaning children and young people under 16 can travel for free on buses and trams throughout August.

"Summer should be a chance for families to enjoy themselves and make the most of everything South Yorkshire has to offer. We'll help families save money over the holidays now, while continuing our work to give every young person more freedom and access to opportunity, and every family a little more money in their pocket."

Families can travel by bus and tram to reach parks, museums, leisure centres, libraries, events, high streets, visitor attractions and community activities across the region.

SYMCA will be working with operators, local councils, attractions and community organisations to help families make the most of free child travel this August.  

Families should check participating services and local travel information before they travel on the Travel South Yorkshire (TSY) website.

In addition to the 5-15 summer offer, two new £10 tram ticket summer offers, valid across all Supertram services, are available to help adults make the most of tram travel for less over the summer (until Sunday 27 September):
- a Group One-Day Ticket, giving up to five people unlimited travel from the first tram until the end of service on the day of purchase.
- a Weekend Ticket, offering unlimited travel across the tram and Tram Train network from noon on Friday until the end of service on Sunday.