South Yorkshire People's Network

South Yorkshire People's Network
A bus displaying a promotional livery[a]
at the People's Network launch event
Overview
OwnerSouth Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Area servedSouth Yorkshire
Transit type
  • Air travel
  • Buses
  • Commuter rail
  • Cycling
  • Park and ride
  • Trams and tram-trains
  • Walking
HeadquartersSheffield
Websitesypn.gov.uk
Operation
Began operation2027 (planned)
Operator(s)to be confirmed

The South Yorkshire People's Network (SYPN), also branded as The People's Network, is an upcoming integrated transport network in South Yorkshire, England. It will comprise bus, tram and cycling routes, including the South Yorkshire Supertram light rail network.

The network branding was unveiled on 16 March 2026 by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), which expects the People's Network to begin replacing the previous Travel South Yorkshire brand by the end of 2026. The project is aiming to create a London-style transport system, to encourage more people to take public transport instead of cars.

Design

The branding design and name of the network were revealed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority with a public event held in Barker's Pool in Sheffield city centre on 16 March 2026. The logo consists of a stylised letter "S" in orange on a white or dark grey background, depending on branding context.[1] According to official People's Network branding documents, the "S" stands for South Yorkshire and the four perimeter lines which make up the stylised letter represent the main settlements of the region: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.[2] Additionally, the name alludes to the region's nickname of the People's Republic of South Yorkshire, reflecting its historically aggressive left-leaning politics.[3]

The primary branding colour of the network is described as "molten orange," reflecting the historic industrial heritage of the South Yorkshire region, such as the fires of industrial furnaces and molten steel.[b] Secondary colours used across the branding are grey and "asphalt black," reflecting the region's coal-mining heritage.[2][4]

History

During his 2022 election campaign for Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard pledged to establish bus franchising in South Yorkshire, on the basis that an independent audit had recommended it and following the implementation of the similar Bee Network in Greater Manchester.[5] Coppard won the 2022 and subsequent 2024 elections, and subsequently commenced preliminary work into the establishment of a South Yorkshire integrated transport network.[6][7]

Bus franchising

In March 2025, Oliver Coppard announced that he would bring buses back into public control, unified under the South Yorkshire People's Network brand.[8] The local authority will purchase a new fleet of electric buses to replace the current fleet of diesel vehicles, which as of March 2026 had an average age across the county of 12 years.[4] The first electric buses will arrive in autumn 2027, and more than 30% of the county's bus fleet will have transitioned to electric by the time franchised services commence.[4]

On 1 August 2025, an initial two-year trial of free bus travel for 5- to 18-year-olds[c] in Barnsley commenced. Eligible passengers will have to present an ID card, known as the MiCard, to claim free travel.[9] Upon the launch of the People's Network, it was confirmed that free travel for under-18s would be made permanent and be extended across the county from 2027.[3]

Tranche 1

The first phase of bus franchising under the South Yorkshire People's Network, known as Tranche 1, will consist of services operated out of Olive Grove bus depot in Sheffield and Leger Way bus depot in Doncaster, both operated prior to franchising by First South Yorkshire.[10] These services prior to franchising had a daily peak vehicle requirement of around 400 vehicles. Services under Tranche 1 of the franchising programme are scheduled to transfer to South Yorkshire People's Network operation on 5 September 2027.[10][11]

By June 2025, preliminary negotiations were underway between the SYMCA and FirstGroup for the compulsory purchase of Olive Grove depot.[8] On 12 March 2026, the SYMCA announced that 186 new electric buses would be introduced at Olive Grove from 2027; including the cost of upgrading the depot and providing appropriate charging infrastructure, the plans would result in a total investment of £92.7 million.[12]

Tranche 2

The second phase, Tranche 2, will consist of services operated out of Rawmarsh bus depot in Rotherham and Wakefield Road bus depot in Barnsley, both operated prior to franchising by Stagecoach Yorkshire with a peak vehicle requirement of around 175 vehicles. Services under Tranche 2 of the franchising programme are scheduled to transfer to People's Network operation in 2028.[11]

Tranche 3

The third phase, Tranche 3, will consist of services operated out of the current Stagecoach Yorkshire depots at Ecclesfield and Holbrook and the current TM Travel (Wellglade Group) depot at Halfway, all of which are in Sheffield. Services from these depots have a combined daily peak vehicle requirement of around 200 vehicles. Services under Tranche 3 of the franchising programme are scheduled to transfer to People's Network operation in 2029.[11]

Commuter rail

The initial People's Network planning documents committed to delivering South Yorkshire's portion of the wider Northern Powerhouse Rail project and integrating this into the county's wider transport network, providing upgraded railway stations, more frequent and reliable local rail services, and new rolling stock.[4] Additionally, there will be collaboration with the equivalent Weaver Network in West Yorkshire and local authorities in East and North Yorkshire to deliver White Rose Yorkshire's Plan for Rail to strengthen commuter rail services across Yorkshire.[4]

Light rail and tram-train

Following the expiration of the Stagecoach Group's tender to operate the South Yorkshire Supertram network, it came back into public ownership on 22 March 2024, initially operated by the SYMCA arm's length holding company South Yorkshire Future Trams.[13][14] In future, the Supertram network will be integrated into the People's Network and receive the same molten orange branding on vehicles and tram stops, although the Supertram brand name will be retained.[4]

Construction of a long-proposed new tram-train station at Magna commenced in March 2025, with SYMCA contributing £6.6 million towards construction costs.[15] The station will feature 100 car parking spaces as part of a park and ride scheme and will serve the adjacent Magna Science Adventure Centre when it opens in early 2026,[16] marking the first new infrastructure project to be completed under the People's Network banner.

As part of plans to improve the passenger experience on board Supertram, Mayor Oliver Coppard announced a pilot scheme to trial allowing dogs to travel on board trams from March 2025 following a public consultation.[17] The decision to allow one "well-behaved" dog per passenger to travel on board Supertram was made permanent from October 2025 following positive feedback to the pilot scheme.[18]

Following the official People's Network launch, the SYMCA received £630 million in funding to renew and expand the Supertram network. Plans are being developed to upgrade existing tram stops, expand the network to new destinations, renew the existing tracks and signalling equipment, and procure an new fleet of trams to entirely replace the existing 35-year-old fleet of Siemens-Duewag Supertrams.[4]

Other ventures

Airport reopening

The only international airport in South Yorkshire, Doncaster Sheffield Airport, was closed by its owner The Peel Group in 2022 following the withdrawal of Flybe and Wizz Air flights from the airport and a decline in passenger numbers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[19][20][21] City of Doncaster Council subsequently announced their intention to take the airport into public ownership via a compulsory purchase.[22] The purchase was completed in March 2024 with £3 million of funding from the SYMCA,[23] and Munich Airport International were appointed as the airport's operator.[24]

Following the launch of the People's Network, the airport reopening plans were brought under its umbrella,[4] with passenger flights planned to re-commence from 2028.[25][26] Longer-term plans are in place for the improvement of bus services to the airport after re-opening and the construction of a long-proposed railway station at the airport on a new spur line from the nearby East Coast Main Line.[4]

Cycling scheme

Notes

  1. ^ This is not the final South Yorkshire People's Network livery, which will consist of all-over molten orange with black South Yorkshire People's Network logos.
  2. ^ Sheffield is commonly nicknamed the Steel City, and steel factories which remain in operation include Sheffield Forgemasters.
  3. ^ Children aged under 5-years-old could already travel for free across South Yorkshire prior to the launch of the People's Network.

References

  1. ^ Crawford, Alex (16 March 2026). "New brand and livery for South Yorkshire franchised network revealed". routeone. Brighton: Diversified Business Communications UK. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  2. ^ a b "South Yorkshire People's Network FAQs". South Yorkshire People's Network. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. ^ a b Stokes, Spencer. "New brand for South Yorkshire's transport unveiled". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Coppard, Oliver (16 March 2026). South Yorkshire People's Network: Mayor's Vision for Transport. Sheffield: South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
  5. ^ "Bus franchising recommended for South Yorkshire network". BBC News. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Mayor puts public transport at heart of plans". BBC News. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  7. ^ Hamilton, Kirsty (7 May 2024). "Back Our Buses: South Yorkshire bus franchising plans could be approved this year, says Mayor Oliver Coppard". The Star. Sheffield. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  8. ^ a b Sebestyen, Roland. "Purchasing Sheffield bus depot would mark next step in South Yorkshire franchising plan". Sheffield Star. Sheffield Star. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  9. ^ MacDougall, Tom. "Free bus travel scheme for under-18s begins". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  10. ^ a b "Thursday, 04 December 2025 Bus Franchising Update" (PDF). South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  11. ^ a b c "First franchised buses set for 5 September 2027 – South Yorkshire voices needed" (Press release). South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  12. ^ Aslett, Chloe. "£92.7m to replace city's buses with electric fleet". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  13. ^ "From March 22 a new chapter for Supertram begins". TravelSouthYorkshire. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Public control of South Yorkshire tram system given green light". South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  15. ^ Kessen, David. "Supertram: Work to start on new Magna station and Sheffield faces track replacement". Sheffield Star. Sheffield Star. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  16. ^ "Lifts and bridge added as tram stop takes shape". BBC News. 24 October 2025. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  17. ^ Spereall, David. "Dogs to be allowed on trams after public support". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  18. ^ Scheer, Victoria. "Pet dogs permanently allowed to travel on trams". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  19. ^ Dyson, Molly (4 April 2019). "Flybe to stop using Embraer jets". Buying Business Travel. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  20. ^ Thackray, Lucy (5 July 2022). "Why are so many flights being cancelled?". The Independent. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Bosses confirm closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport". ITV. 26 September 2022. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  22. ^ "Lease for former Doncaster Sheffield Airport signed". South Yorkshire MCA. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  23. ^ Davies, Phil. "Regional leaders agree £3m to support Doncaster Sheffield airport reopening". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
  24. ^ "International airport expertise secured to reopen Doncaster's airport". Doncaster Council. 4 February 2025. Archived from the original on 8 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
  25. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield Airport commercial flights unlikely until 2028". 27 August 2025. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  26. ^ "No passenger flights at Doncaster airport until 2028, says Mayor". 26 August 2025. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
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