South Yorkshire People's Network. Future proposals & speculative discussion

[Gareth1990]

Hopefully Sunday services will improve dramatically, the number 2 between Sheffield and Barnsley only runs every two and a half hours, a few years ago the 2 then the 265 ran every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hours on Sundays

 

[woodhouse122]

It would be nice if they brought back the supertram link services to Killamarsh, Stannington and stockbridge ,these were handy services

 

[ALEMASTER]

It would be nice if they brought back the supertram link services to Killamarsh, Stannington and stockbridge ,these were handy services

problem was the Killamarsh and Stannington buses didn't see many passengers.

Stocksbridge a slightly difference scenario so perhaps has a better chance of coming back - well used in the daytime but loss making, however would Stocksbridge people prefer the improvements to be to the 57/57a that go direct to Sheffield? Of course longer term there is the possibility of the Stocksbridge railway line being reopened as a Tram Train service in which case the focus of connecting buses would be on that.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Aug 2026 ==

Hopefully Sunday services will improve dramatically, the number 2 between Sheffield and Barnsley only runs every two and a half hours, a few years ago the 2 then the 265 ran every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hours on Sundays

A lot of the SYMCA tendered services on evenings and Sundays are poor - and in some cases non existent. Question is will that policy continue into franchising or come franchising will they find some funding down the back of the mayor's sofa to be able to proudly claim that franchising has improved the evening and Sunday services...?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Hopefully Sunday services will improve dramatically, the number 2 between Sheffield and Barnsley only runs every two and a half hours, a few years ago the 2 then the 265 ran every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hours on Sundays

Apologies for my ignorance (and I don't know the area) but has the X17 impacted this service?

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Stocksbridge a slightly difference scenario so perhaps has a better chance of coming back - well used in the daytime but loss making, however would Stocksbridge people prefer the improvements to be to the 57/57a that go direct to Sheffield? Of course longer term there is the possibility of the Stocksbridge railway line being reopened as a Tram Train service in which case the focus of connecting buses would be on that.

A lot of the SYMCA tendered services on evenings and Sundays are poor - and in some cases non existent. Question is will that policy continue into franchising or come franchising will they find some funding down the back of the mayor's sofa to be able to proudly claim that franchising has improved the evening and Sunday services...?

I think that if the Stocksbridge Supertram Link service was brought back, it should be extended from Middlewood to Dunford Bridge & Crow Edge, thus giving Midhopestones, Langsett and Flouch some sort of bus service that can link into the Supertram network. Basically a mixture of the old SYPTE Rural Links Stocksbridge Flyer, Stagecoach's Supertram Link, Tate's Travel service 25 and Stagecoach's rotation of 57/57A/X57 when it extended to Holmfirth. Given that part of the Thurlstone Moors / Upper Don? having a somewhat sparce bus service.

 

[py_megapixel]

Hopefully Sunday services will improve dramatically, the number 2 between Sheffield and Barnsley only runs every two and a half hours, a few years ago the 2 then the 265 ran every 30 minutes on weekdays and every hours on Sundays

It would be nice if they brought back the supertram link services to Killamarsh, Stannington and stockbridge ,these were handy services

New thread created for this sort of future discussion of South Yorkshire matters, so that we can keep the other thread for current news/updates.

 

[JD2168]

A good start would be for the 2 hourly evenings & Sunday services to be increased to hourly at these times

 

[gazmark]

A good start would be for the 2 hourly evenings & Sunday services to be increased to hourly at these times

Can't see that happening, the 18a was cut again recently to allow Worst to run one bus each way, as I was recently after checking the price one way between Grimesthorpe and Gleadless Townhead £12, including a £2 peak surcharge with good ol' Veezu (add on another £1 for the driver)

My point is if you pump primed the evening routes at every 30-60 minutes, you might find you would nick taxi fares off a company who is unpopular.

After 6-12 months it might work, at the same time it might not, but if you don't try you never will, and if this happens please give it to TM, they will run it a damn site better than Worst, same goes with Stagecoach and the 137

 

[py_megapixel]

Can't see that happening, the 18a was cut again recently to allow Worst to run one bus each way, as I was recently after checking the price one way between Grimesthorpe and Gleadless Townhead £12, including a £2 peak surcharge with good ol' Veezu (add on another £1 for the driver)

My point is if you pump primed the evening routes at every 30-60 minutes, you might find you would nick taxi fares off a company who is unpopular.

If people can use public transport for their evening journey instead of a taxi, is that not a good thing?

After 6-12 months it might work, at the same time it might not, but if you don't try you never will, and if this happens please give it to TM, they will run it a damn site better than Worst, same goes with Stagecoach and the 137

First and Stagecoach may be unpopular, but this will soon be irrelevant. It will all be managed by Travel South Yorkshire and the operating companies will operate to TSY's specifically whether they like it or not.

 

[J-2739]

Apologies for my ignorance (and I don't know the area) but has the X17 impacted this service?

I used to take the 265 (predecessor to the 2) as a kid, and even then, I remember how long the route would drag on. It is a shame that we are losing options, but I am not surprised at the prospect of the X17 taking numbers.

 

[RT4038]

If people can use public transport for their evening journey instead of a taxi, is that not a good thing?

Not for taxi drivers...

 

[Hyebone]

Apologies for my ignorance (and I don't know the area) but has the X17 impacted this service?

Most likely. Loadings between Meadowhall and Barnsley tend to be fairly heavy. The Barnsley MiCard scheme has only bolstered this.

I've said before that I'd imagine the X17 could do with being half-hourly throughout the Matlock to Barnsley run at certain times of day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

Not for taxi drivers...

Taxi drivers are fine for now; there will always be people that think they're too good for a public bus... (I'm not ignoring certain accessibility needs fulfilled by taxis. This comment isn't about that.)

 

[sytransport]

First and Stagecoach may be unpopular, but this will soon be irrelevant. It will all be managed by Travel South Yorkshire and the operating companies will operate to TSY's specifically whether they like it or not.

Travel South Yorkshire is simply the brand used currently which will be discontinued in favour of SYPN as I understand. TSY themselves are not responsible for the management of said services.

The services people complain about being irregular, i.e. evenings, are already operated under tender from SYMCA. They could have very easily had more buses but refused in order to make themselves look good when franchising commences and services suddenly increase.

Have First, Stagecoach etc. made cuts to the network contributing to its decline over the years? Yes, absolutely. Have SYPTE/SYMCA helped this? Absolutely not.

The biggest blame goes to Central Government who have funded the absolute bare minimum for buses for decades. It’s easy to blame the private companies who have run your buses for that time trying to make a profit (you know, as any business would…) instead of blaming those responsible for neglecting buses in the first place.

I do genuinely hope we see improvements, but let’s not kid ourselves that First, Stagecoach etc. are the sole reason bus networks are in the state they are in.

 

[Teapot42]

Most likely. Loadings between Meadowhall and Barnsley tend to be fairly heavy. The Barnsley MiCard scheme has only bolstered this.

I've said before that I'd imagine the X17 could do with being half-hourly throughout the Matlock to Barnsley run at certain times of day.

I've read somewhere that SYMCA may take the Barnsley section of the X17 off Stagecoach - has anything been confirmed on that? It would be disappointing to lose the Chesterfield to Meadowhall link, but I don't suppose there are many journeys from Derbyshire beyond there, so there would be an argument for splitting it like that come franchising.

Do Stagecoach have any plans for Chesterfield services, or are they just in a holding pattern until the two CAs decide what is going to happen? I definitely think there is scope to up the X17 provision, either by increasing the frequency, or running even more limited stop journeys at peak times, but I can see why they'd be reluctant if decisions on provision will be taken out of their hands soon.

 

[Hyebone]

I've read somewhere that SYMCA may take the Barnsley section of the X17 off Stagecoach - has anything been confirmed on that? It would be disappointing to lose the Chesterfield to Meadowhall link, but I don't suppose there are many journeys from Derbyshire beyond there, so there would be an argument for splitting it like that come franchising.

Do Stagecoach have any plans for Chesterfield services, or are they just in a holding pattern until the two CAs decide what is going to happen? I definitely think there is scope to up the X17 provision, either by increasing the frequency, or running even more limited stop journeys at peak times, but I can see why they'd be reluctant if decisions on provision will be taken out of their hands soon.

The Chesterfield - Sheffield corridor is a prime example of where franchising specific regions isn't all plain sailing.

SYMCA have mentioned service permits (or something like that) for cross-border services run by non-franchised depots. That's all well and good, unless an entire corridor is dominated by such services. The Meadowhead - Woodseats - Heeley corridor through the south end of Sheffield hosts the 2-an-hour 43 service, the hourly 44 service and the express 2-an-hour X17 service, and the 30-minute combined frequency of the 50 and 50a through Mosborough and Manor. If SYMCA have these services run commercially by the Chesterfield operation under these "service permits", the tickets will be integrated still. This is a requirement for services in Greater Manchester such as the Skyline 199 and other bits; however, having such a large number of non-orange CCP-inspired branded buses flowing through might turn some heads and raise questions such as "I thought you said all buses would be orange *insert mithering 'ere*". On one hand, you'll have SYMCA saying things like "all buses will be under one brand for simplicity", followed by "oh yeah, except these two corridors. Shut up and put up".

Another solution is to rinse Chesterfield depot of several commercial routes containing a PVR of 16+ buses. That won't do the depot any favours. Good luck making 5s and 10s profitable enough to cover things...

 

[Teapot42]

The Chesterfield - Sheffield corridor is a prime example of where franchising specific regions isn't all plain sailing.

It's essentially a point I've been raising for a while. And while you put it well from a Sheffield perspective, there is also the converse EMMCA view that these services are crucial for several towns and villages within Derbyshire. Frankly, they seem like ideal services for joint operation as they benefit both CAs. The overall flow is in to Sheffield from Derbyshire, but as you note there are several parts of Sheffield for which these are important services.

As I keep banging on about, there is also the fact that, the X17 in particular, often isn't just used end to end, but has a feeder journey on one or both ends. Once you lose the entire journey being covered by a single ticket it becomes less viable for many.