HAVE YOUR SAY: SOUTH YORKSHIRE INVITES PEOPLE TO HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF LOCAL BUS SERVICES

Published 25 March 2026 at 4:30pm

South Yorkshire is calling on people across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield to help shape a better, simpler and more accountable bus network. As the region prepares to bring buses back under public control from September 2027, local voices will play a crucial role in ensuring early improvements reflect what people really need from their services.

To support this, a new public survey is now open, giving passengers, residents, businesses and community groups the chance to share their experiences and priorities. The questions draw on what people have already told SYMCA about where the network falls short, focusing on improving links to key destinations, closing gaps in coverage and making services more reliable.

Potential priorities for the network include new and more frequent connections to key hospitals, stronger links to employment sites such as the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and better services to destinations including Crystal Peaks and Meadowhall. These early improvements would help shape the first changes passengers will see in 2027, when buses in South Yorkshire begin moving back under public control for the first time in decades.

From September 2027, SYMCA will take responsibility for setting routes, timetables, fares and service standards, with revenue reinvested directly into improving services. For the first time since the 1980s, the region will have the power to set clear expectations for reliability, cleanliness, accessibility and customer experience.

Change will not happen all at once. Franchising will be introduced in phases between 2027 and 2029 to keep the network stable while improvements are rolled out gradually. Some changes will be visible early on, while others will take longer as the full network comes under public control.

More than 3,500 people have already helped shape the design of South Yorkshire’s new publicly owned bus fleet. Their feedback has informed the specification given to manufacturers, ensuring the new bus fleet reflects what passengers say they need. Features include dedicated wheelchair and pushchair spaces, step‑free boarding, real‑time audio and visual announcements, improved lighting and handrails, clearer sightlines and CCTV throughout. At least 70 per cent of the new fleet will be fully electric.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Taking back control of our bus network gives us the tools we need to start building the system South Yorkshire deserves, putting people at the heart of the South Yorkshire People’s Network. This is the start of that journey.

“Right now, we’re not redesigning the whole network – that will come later. Trying to do that before the whole system is under public control would be like trying to finish a jigsaw without all the pieces. As more services come into public hands between 2027 and 2029, we will be able to take a proper look at what’s working, what isn’t, and where bigger changes need to be made.

“By listening to what matters most right now, and improving things step by step, we will build a bus network South Yorkshire can be proud of again.”

The full transformation of the bus network will take place between 2027 and 2029, with early improvements expected from 2027 including clearer real‑time information, new reliability standards, simpler and more integrated tickets and the rollout of the new public fleet.

SYMCA is encouraging everyone to take part in the survey, including people who live, work or travel by bus, and groups responding on behalf of their community. Feedback will help ensure the right priorities shape the first phase of franchising and support the creation of a bus network that works for the whole region. To take part in the survey, visit:     www.southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk/improving-bus-services