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The South Yorkshire People's Network will replace the current Travel South Yorkshire brand, it'll also be used for the franchised bus network and the trams.
The way forward seems to be a name that ends in ‘network’ and/or a single bold colour. Merseyside is the only one who hasn’t gone down that route, it remains to be seen if the busy branding in West Yorkshire doesn’t just become the base dark green.
Red in London (& Cornwall), Yellow in Manchester, Lime Green in West of England now Orange in South Yorkshire. Ray Stenning will be out of a job.
‘The people’s network’ seems a bit too on the nose. I’d almost expect that as the strapline not the actual name.
That mock-up looks ok though the current penchant for painting stuff just one colour has appeared here too. Perhaps a Strathclyde black skirt would look smarter.
Still, at least it's a proper colour (unlike the insipid lemon in Manchester) and what looks dull as dishwater in the Weaver's network
I went to a presentation at Sheffield City Hall by the Mayor this morning.
He is very enthusiastic about transport and has a vision for South Yorkshire.
I went to a presentation at Sheffield City Hall by the Mayor this morning.
He is very enthusiastic about transport and has a vision for South Yorkshire.
Buses should be subsidised if needed, so all settlements and as many journeys as possible can be achieved by bus or a combination of bus and rail/ cycling etc. Ideally devolution would be greatly expanded so a region could raise and keep its own taxes, even borrow for key infrastructure. I'd say something like a tourist tax is ideal for funding a comprehensive bus network.
A key part of where buses has gone wrong the past 40 years is treating everything individually, when it's supposed to be a network and above all a public service.
Also interesting name (maybe a nod back to 2p buses) and I like the livery. Just needs 2 door buses on the main routes.
Not a bad livery to be honest. But the name reminded me of the sitcom Citizen Smith!
Perhaps they could use the straplines "power to the people" and "freedom for Totley"
I'm a huge fan of the livery, perhaps not so much of the name... The livery seems to suggest EasyJet; even more so on 11709 with the white text. Perhaps 'South Yorkshire Easy Network' would've worked
From what I've seen at least, franchising can only be positive for the people. We'll see many improvements I reckon, including new tramlines, simpler routes (no 120 or 52/52a faffing about), simpler ticketing and maybe even a service down Lydgate Lane.
As ever, I'm curious about the depot winners. Will we see a surprise Go Ahead or Metroline appearance? Will South Pennine be forced to get an O-licence and comply with BODS? Will Wellglade pull out entirely? We'll see...
I like the choice of colour and it certainly stands out much more than the grim colour schemes used by the three big corporates. As mentioned earlier it’s similar to Strathclyde’s Buses or what First adopted for Greater Manchester prior to Barbie.
I'm a huge fan of the livery, perhaps not so much of the name... The livery seems to suggest EasyJet; even more so on 11709 with the white text. Perhaps 'South Yorkshire Easy Network' would've worked
From what I've seen at least, franchising can only be positive for the people. We'll see many improvements I reckon, including new tramlines, simpler routes (no 120 or 52/52a faffing about), simpler ticketing and maybe even a service down Lydgate Lane.
As ever, I'm curious about the depot winners. Will we see a surprise Go Ahead or Metroline appearance? Will South Pennine be forced to get an O-licence and comply with BODS? Will Wellglade pull out entirely? We'll see...
Yes, in most cases, franchising will lead to service improvements, but it isn't guaranteed to be positive. In particular, it can lead to the network being simplified, which overall is usually a good thing but can mean that some passengers lose direct journeys. Franchising authorities can sometimes be slow to adapt or react to changes to travel patterns, whereas private operators can be a bit more agile, and they can sometimes be unimaginative about trying new things – it's hard to imagine a franchising authority speccing buses like Transdev have on the 36, for example.
For the most part, it's likely to be good, because authorities are most likely to want to implement franchising where existing operators aren't doing a great job – but that doesn't mean that it's automatically going to be an unalloyed improvement.
Yes, in most cases, franchising will lead to service improvements, but it isn't guaranteed to be positive. In particular, it can lead to the network being simplified, which overall is usually a good thing but can mean that some passengers lose direct journeys. Franchising authorities can sometimes be slow to adapt or react to changes to travel patterns, whereas private operators can be a bit more agile, and they can sometimes be unimaginative about trying new things – it's hard to imagine a franchising authority speccing buses like Transdev have on the 36, for example.
Is it? The 36/Witch Way buses are just a reincarnation of a not particularly new concept - the dual purpose vehicle (a bus with coach seats, basically), these existed in the 1970s/80s under full regulation. There were probably more of them then than now!
Meanwhile, Stagecoach (a "dynamic" private company) still hasn't done tap on tap off.
TBH I think large commercial companies and Government owned companies behave about the same. A very small local bus company might be more innovative (the likes of Grant Palmer) but they often aren't and most journeys are not on that sort of operator.
Buses should be subsidised if needed, so all settlements and as many journeys as possible can be achieved by bus or a combination of bus and rail/ cycling etc. Ideally devolution would be greatly expanded so a region could raise and keep its own taxes, even borrow for key infrastructure. I'd say something like a tourist tax is ideal for funding a comprehensive bus network.
A key part of where buses has gone wrong the past 40 years is treating everything individually, when it's supposed to be a network and above all a public service.
Also interesting name (maybe a nod back to 2p buses) and I like the livery. Just needs 2 door buses on the main routes.
The point is that it is a central government dowry to get things set up. Then you have to manage on your own or hope that you get some more cash from central government.
Remember that London has to spend over £1bn on supporting its bus network, is trimming it back with every revision (and passenger numbers are falling so that they are back to 2014 levels). And of course, it can only spend that money because it's robbing the tube.
Remember that Sheffield introduced a Clean Air Zone... but only applied it to commercial vehicles and NOT to private cars.
Remember that Greater Manchester also proposed a Clean Air Zone (and scrapped it) and a Congestion Zone (which went to referendum and was voted down) and has limited bus priority.
Remember that most passengers aren't bothered by having a network. They want a bus that will actually turn up when it's supposed to and doesn't get stuck in traffic.
The stylised S yes but SELNEC/GMT was a lot of white with the orange whereas Strathclyde Red was all orange aside from window surrounds and a shallow skirt.
For the most part, it's likely to be good, because authorities are most likely to want to implement franchising where existing operators aren't doing a great job – but that doesn't mean that it's automatically going to be an unalloyed improvement.
That is the issue. Some people think in a very binary and simplistic Animal Farm manner - Public Sector (Bad), Private Sector (Good) whilst the 1980s doctrine was the reverse. In truth, it's a lot more complex.
The upshot is that improvements need financing, whether that is through grants or the farebox. The idea that you can finance improvements through "sticking it to the man" in reducing margins and then cross subsidy is for the birds, and the financially hard of thinking.
Is it? The 36/Witch Way buses are just a reincarnation of a not particularly new concept - the dual purpose vehicle (a bus with coach seats, basically), these existed in the 1970s/80s under full regulation.
Hmmm.... I remember the 36 in regulated times. The delights of vinyl seated VRs and Nationals. The 36 and WW vehicles are so far removed from a) those days and b) modern day equivalents, it is untrue.
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Is it? The 36/Witch Way buses are just a reincarnation of a not particularly new concept - the dual purpose vehicle (a bus with coach seats, basically), these existed in the 1970s/80s under full regulation. There were probably more of them then than now!
I wonder how much of that was because the PTE companies tended to have private hire side lines
So far it seems it’s one size fits all, every bus looking the same, London style.
In terms of Manchester, there is still no sign of network revisions, so it’s still the same network that the private companies paired back, and it’s too early to say what happens if the money runs out
London isn't quite all the same. The Superloop vehicles have a higher spec, while the 205 has a lower upstairs seat density to take account of the fact that a lot of users are travelling between stations with luggage and it can go by their knees.
My word, the name is completely awful.....the Soviet Union lives on! What's wrong with 'South Yorkshire Transport'? On a more positive note, the orange is fantastic.
In reality though, this is just window dressing at this stage....it will take more than a new livery and a stupid name to deliver real change.
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Do I detect a nod to the interior colour palette of the late 70s/early 80s South Yorkshire Transport branding, which featured orange quite heavily? But then so did a lot of transport colour schemes around that time
Is it? The 36/Witch Way buses are just a reincarnation of a not particularly new concept - the dual purpose vehicle (a bus with coach seats, basically), these existed in the 1970s/80s under full regulation. There were probably more of them then than now!
Meanwhile, Stagecoach (a "dynamic" private company) still hasn't done tap on tap off.
TBH I think large commercial companies and Government owned companies behave about the same. A very small local bus company might be more innovative (the likes of Grant Palmer) but they often aren't and most journeys are not on that sort of operator.
London isn't quite all the same. The Superloop vehicles have a higher spec, while the 205 has a lower upstairs seat density to take account of the fact that a lot of users are travelling between stations with luggage and it can go by their knees.
The 36 and Witch Way are, yes, about the buses themselves, but also about the whole route branding concept – things like getting local celebrities to do the audio announcements, the library shelf, all that kind of stuff that makes people see it as more than just a bus service. Superloop comes closest to that although it doesn't go as far, but that first appeared in 2023, whereas Transdev have been doing that for years, along with other sub-brands such as Stagecoach Gold, Arriva Sapphire and others (even if they haven't all been maintained!).
I'm absolutely not saying that franchising authorities will always be lumpen and slow, and private operators will always be agile and innovative! Just that sometimes that can be the case. From what I've seen in South Yorkshire, the mayor has a pretty low bar to beat!
Not for much longer, new single door luggage rack spec BYD BD11s are due for the SL7 and should enter service in a few months time. Other Superloop routes that aren't already electric operated are due new buses at some point in the near future.
Not for much longer, new single door luggage rack spec BYD BD11s are due for the SL7 and should enter service in a few months time. Other Superloop routes that aren't already electric operated are due new buses at some point in the near future.
As others have said it’s taken London a long long time to catch up. I’ve seen instagram style posts where London ‘influencers’ are amazed at usb charging points and high back seats, when outside of London they’ve been fairly common for years
Previously you could go on a brand new London bus and it would feel the same inside as the one it was replacing
Isn't this basically just another way of saying that the private operators will cut anything that threatens their profit margin, even if it would result in harm to the communities they serve?
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