Six bus operators in talks about running South Yorkshire People’s Network services
Buses will be run as part of the new South Yorkshire People’s Network from September 2027.
Six bus operators are in talks with the South Yorkshire mayoral authority about running services after they are taken under public control.
Mayor Oliver Coppard updated the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) board about progress on bus franchising at its meeting earlier this week (July 14).
He said that talks are under way with the six companies shortlisted to operate the service.
Buses will be run as part of the new South Yorkshire People’s Network from September 2027.
As previously reported, Doncaster and Sheffield will be the first areas to see the new bus service, which will cover the whole of South Yorkshire by the end of the decade.
SYMCA will have more control over bus routes and fares and owns the bus depots and fleet that the operators will use.
Mayor Coppard said that the Supertram network had to be suspended during last month’s heatwave because the temperature hit 34C.
At this point the overhead wires stretch and sag in the heat, so the service cannot run properly.
“That’s the challenge we face because the network was built a long time ago. Hopefully we won’t see too many more 34-degree days,” he said.
The mayor said that the network needs to be replaced so that it is more resilient to climate change.
He said that the first signs of South Yorkshire People’s Network are already appearing.
The new Magna tram train station in Templeborough, Rotherham, which opened in April, has been decked out in the network’s bright orange branding, Mayor Coppard said.