Bus service changes from 2 October 2022
I am writing to advise you of changes to bus service provision in South Yorkshire, with effect from Sunday 2 October 2022, in response to government funding cuts and changing travel patterns.
You will be aware that our bus network faced the threat of being significantly reduced this year due to commercial reductions made by bus operators in the region.
The Government announced an extension to its Bus Recovery Grant funding on 19 August, for a further six months from October 2022 until March 2023. Whilst this emergency support package has enabled bus companies to protect some services, some operators have taken the decision to continue with planned changes.
Given the impact this could have on communities in our region, the four local authority leaders and South Yorkshire’s Mayor took the decision to allocate funding from budget reserves to protect services until July 2023.
This additional funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for bus contracts has been offered to bus companies to run as many routes as possible. It follows a recent call for communities to help shape how the region’s public money is used to support buses.
We have awarded contracts to cover as many services as possible from 2 October. However, we have not been able to secure an operator for some services and are currently looking for alternative operators, which means the services may be withdrawn and not replaced until late October/early November, subject to successful tenders being secured.
Many services will see route or timetable revisions from 2 October, with some services withdrawn.
What services are affected?
The attached spreadsheet contains a full list of service changes for South Yorkshire, for your information. New timetables will be added to travelsouthyorkshire.com/servicechanges when they are available. Please click here to view.
Customers are advised to keep checking our web page for the latest service information.
How is this being communicated to customers?
We are advising customers to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journey.
To ensure customers can stay up to date with the latest changes, ‘Star at the stop’ customer teams will be located at key stops across the network during October to hand out leaflets and talk to customers about the changes.
Further information on the service changes is available:
- via Twitter @TSYalerts
- at travelsouthyorkshire.com/servicechanges
- by calling Traveline on 01709 51 51 51(weekdays between 7am and 7pm and at weekends between 8am and 7pm).
Timetable information on all affected bus stops, on buses and in Interchanges, will be updated as soon as possible when all the information has been received from operators and processed.
How can you help?
I would be grateful if you could please advise your community, family and friends to plan their journey in advance and direct them to the above contact points in the first instance.
The Mayor will listen to representatives views at the forthcoming Enhanced Partnership Forum meeting on Wednesday 28 September.