Public transport in South Yorkshire

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Public transport in South Yorkshire, England mainly consists of three modes: bus, tram and train. Passengers can switch between these modes of transport at various interchanges operated by the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority (under the passenger-facing brand Travel South Yorkshire).

Ticketing

Single-operator tickets

On buses and trams, single and multi-trip tickets can be purchased on-board from the bus driver or tram conductor. These are usually only valid for travel with the same operator. Each operator also sells mobile tickets via their respective apps.

At the start of 2023, a £2 single fare cap was introduced on buses and trams as part of a nationwide scheme to combat the cost of living crisis.[1] In November 2023 the tram fare cap was raised to £2.80,[2] and on 1 January 2025, the bus fare cap was increased to £3 in line with the national fare cap scheme.[3][4] Tram fares also increased again.

Since 1 January 2026, single tram fares have been capped at £3.[5]

Multi-operator tickets

TravelMaster is an organisation operated by the major transport operators within South Yorkshire, and sells a range of multi-modal tickets valid either within Sheffield or the whole county.[6] Tickets can typically be used across any operator in the valid area.

Most tickets require a smartcard to use, which can be purchased online, or alongside the ticket at some locations. Concessionary smartcards are available for young people, giving them discounts on most tickets.

1, 7 and 28-day tickets can be purchased online, on the TravelMaster app, at many bus interchanges and at Payzone outlets within South Yorkshire. 1-day and 7-day tickets can also be purchased on board trams and buses (with some restrictions when using contactless payments).[7]

Concessions

Various concessionary travel schemes are available for young people and students, senior citizens and the mobility impaired.

Child fares and passes

There is a single reduced fare for children under 11 across all buses and trams. Children under 4 can travel for free.

Young people between 11 and 18 years old who live in South Yorkshire can get a free Zoom Under 16 or Zoom 16-18, which must be shown to travel at the child fare.[8] There are also Zoom Zero passes which allow primary and secondary school students to travel to and from school for free - these can be purchased or funded by a local council if eligible.

Under 18s living in Barnsley can travel for free using the Barnsley MiCard.[9][10] There are plans to roll this out county-wide in the future.[11]

Zoom 18-21 pass

Young people between the ages of 18 and 22 who live in South Yorkshire (including students who live in Sheffield during term-time) can get a Zoom Beyond 18-21 travel pass, permitting the user to travel at reduced single fares on trams and some buses.[12] Originally it allowed the holder to travel at the same single fare as under-18s.[13] In 2023, reduced government funding led to the scheme nearly being scrapped.[14] It was later announced that the scheme would continue, but in a weaker form - with fares nearly doubling.[15]

Student fares

Most operators offer reduced fares to students if shown a valid student ID. However, the exact fares can vary between operators. This may include both single and multi-day tickets.[16]

Disabled passes

Residents with some disabilities may be eligible for a free Disabled pass, which entitles them to free bus services within England and free tram services within South Yorkshire, along with free Northern train journeys between South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.[17] There is also the +Carer pass, which allows a carer to travel with the pass holder, and the Visually Impaired pass, which allows the holder to show the card to the driver instead of scanning it.

Senior pass

South Yorkshire residents who have reached state pension age are eligible for a free Senior pass, which entitles them to free bus services within England and free tram services within South Yorkshire during certain times of day.[18] It also gives half-price tickets for Northern trains, and some free journeys to hospital appointments with some operators.

Bus

Bus services

Since 1994, most bus routes in South Yorkshire have been operated by private companies. These include First, Stagecoach and TM Travel.[19] There are some free "Sheffield Connect" bus services funded by SYMCA that operate in a loop though Sheffield city centre.[20]

Bus interchanges

Travel South Yorkshire operate nine bus interchanges[21] and several smaller stations, many of which have been newly built or refurbished in the early 2000s. These bus interchanges provide a hub for local, regional and sometimes national bus and coach services, and in some locations also provide an interchange facility onto tram and rail services.

Main interchanges[21]
Name Image Location Train station Tram stop Tram lines
Blue Yellow Purple Tram Train
Adwick Interchange Adwick Interchange building Church Lane, Adwick le Street, Doncaster National Rail Adwick None
Barnsley Interchange Entrance to Barnsley Interchange Eldon Street North, Barnsley National Rail Barnsley None
Doncaster Interchange Doncaster Station building Frenchgate Shopping Centre, Doncaster National Rail Doncaster None
Meadowhall Interchange Picture of Meadowhall Interchange Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield National Rail Meadowhall South Yorkshire Supertram Meadowhall Interchange ✓
Rotherham Interchange An entrance into Rotherham Interchange Frederick Street, Rotherham National Rail Rotherham Central (200m) South Yorkshire Supertram Rotherham Central (200m) ✓
Sheffield Interchange Entrance to Sheffield Interchange Pond Square, Sheffield National Rail Sheffield (200m) South Yorkshire Supertram Sheffield Station / Sheffield Hallam University (250m) ✓ ✓
South Yorkshire Supertram Castle Square (250m) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

'Mini' interchanges:

Smaller stations:

Tram

A tram at the Cathedral Tram Stop.

The South Yorkshire Supertram is operated by the South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority,[22] and runs regular services across four lines connecting various areas of Sheffield and Rotherham:[23]

Single/return journey tickets can be purchased on-board, or multi-day tickets can be purchased online. Single long-journey tickets allow changing lines and are valid for 1 hour travelling in the same direction.

Rail

Stations

There are multiple railway stations in each of the four towns/cities of South Yorkshire. Regional services to destinations across the UK are available from Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield, and Meadowhall Interchange.

All stations with National Rail services are listed below (in no particular order):

Passenger rail stations in South Yorkshire[24][25]
Barnsley Doncaster Rotherham Sheffield

Opened and re-opened stations

Eleven new stations were opened by SYPTE between 1983 and 1993. Many of these were re-opened former stations previously closed in the 1960s under the Beeching cuts, but not all; Goldthorpe and Thurnscoe were entirely new stations, Rotherham Central was built to replace the closing Rotherham Masborough which was further away from Rotherham town centre, and Meadowhall Interchange was built to serve the new Meadowhall Shopping Centre. Parkgate, the terminus of the Sheffield Supertram tram-train pilot scheme from Sheffield city centre, opened in October 2018.[26]

Routes

Stations in italics are located outside of the South Yorkshire CMA area.

Hallam Line Wakefield Line Dearne Valley Line Penistone Line Sheffield–Leeds via Castleford Line

Operators: Northern Trains, East Midlands Railway

Operators: Northern Trains, CrossCountry

Operators: Northern Trains

Operators: Northern Trains

Operators: Northern Trains

Hope Valley Line Sheffield–Hull Line Adwick–Lincoln Line Doncaster–Leeds Line Doncaster–Scunthorpe Line Sheffield–Rotherham tram-train

Operators: Northern Trains, East Midlands Railway, TransPennine Express

Operators: Northern Trains, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express

Operators: Northern Trains, CrossCountry, TransPennine Express

Operators: Northern Trains, Grand Central, London North Eastern Railway

Operators: Northern Trains, TransPennine Express

Operators: Sheffield Supertram

Notes:

A – Station is located in West Yorkshire, but TSY multi-modal TravelMaster tickets are valid to and from these railway stations.

Historical

Tramways

Before the Sheffield Supertram there used to tramway networks across each town in South Yorkshire. The Sheffield Tramway was the largest and the longest lasting, opening in 1873 and closing in 1960.[27] Some of the trams used on the Sheffield Tramway are now at the National Tramway Museum.

Trolleybus

In 1985, the SYPTE purchased an Alexander RH bodied Dennis Dominator trolleybus with a view to reintroducing a trolleybus network. A one mile section on Sandall Beat Road alongside Doncaster Racecourse was wired.[28] However with deregulation in 1986, the project was shelved.

References

  1. ↑ "Bus fare cap: England charges to be held at £2 for three months". BBC News. 3 September 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  2. ↑ "Single tram fares to rocket by 40 per cent as price of some bus tickets also rises". The Star. 13 October 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  3. ↑ "Why Sheffield bus fares are set to rise as other cities maintain £2 price cap". The Star. 21 November 2024. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  4. ↑ "Bus fare cap: Passengers in England face £1 rise". BBC News. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "South Yorkshire Supertram network fares capped at £3 for 2026". BBC News. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "The new bus and tram fares in Sheffield for 2025, as ticket prices rise". The Star. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  7. ↑ "Where to Buy Travel Tickets". TravelMaster. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Take advantage of great travel discounts for young people – get your Zoom card". The Star. 25 July 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "Extra buses to ease MiCard launch demand". Barnsley Chronicle. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Free youth bus travel scheme in Barnsley hits a million journeys". BBC News. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "South Yorkshire People's Network - Mayor's Vision for Transport" (PDF). South Yorkshire People’s Network. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "Petition launched to save cheaper bus travel for young people". BBC News. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2025.
  13. ↑ "Under 21s can now travel for less in Doncaster". Doncaster Free Press. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  14. ↑ "Zoom Beyond 18-21 Travel Pass to end". Travel South Yorkshire. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "The end of the 80p 'Zoom Card': Students' Union take campaign to Mayor's office in battle to stop transport fare hike". Forge Press. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  16. ↑ "End of the road for affordable Rides: Student Bus Fare rises to £1.80!". Forge Press. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
  17. ↑ "Disabled Pass". Travel South Yorkshire. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "Senior bus pass". Travel South Yorkshire. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Yorkshire – Bus Times". bustimes.org. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  20. ↑ "Sheffield: Free electric bus service to run in city centre". BBC News. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  21. 1 2 "Bus interchanges". Travel South Yorkshire. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
  22. ↑ "South Yorkshire's Supertram back in public control". BBC News. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  23. ↑ "Sheffield Supertram". Travel South Yorkshire. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  24. ↑ "Rail Stations". Travel South Yorkshire. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  25. ↑ "Railway map of Yorkshire | Yorkshire.guide map of stations, routes and rail services". yorkshire.guide. Retrieved 10 March 2025.
  26. ↑ "UK's first ever 'tram train' launches in South Yorkshire". www.railtechnologymagazine.com. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  27. ↑ "history : Sheffield Supertram : TheTrams.co.uk". www.thetrams.co.uk. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  28. ↑ Trolleybus starts days at races Commercial Motor 20 July 1985
Category:Bus transport in England Category:Rail transport in South Yorkshire Category:Tram transport in England
Category:All Wikipedia articles written in British English Category:All articles lacking reliable references Category:Articles lacking reliable references from August 2023 Category:Bus transport in England Category:Rail transport in South Yorkshire Category:Tram transport in England Category:Use British English from December 2016 Category:Use dmy dates from April 2023