South Yorkshire’s public transport system will be rebranded as the “South Yorkshire People’s Network,” with a £1.5 billion investment set to overhaul trams, buses, and bike-hire schemes, regional Mayor Oliver Coppard announced Monday.
The initiative, described by Coppard as a “once-in-a-generation change,” aims to create an affordable, integrated transport network across the region, utilizing a color scheme of molten orange and asphalt black intended to reflect South Yorkshire’s industrial heritage. The rebranding follows the successful launch of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network and similar plans for the Weaver Network in West Yorkshire.
Buses will be brought under public control starting next year, joining the Supertram, which returned to combined authority ownership in 2024. A significant portion of the investment – £630 million – will be directed towards renewing and enhancing the Supertram system, while £350 million is earmarked for bus reform. Approximately 70% of the bus fleet will be electric by 2027, with funding already secured for 186 zero-emission buses in Sheffield.
“The vision for that transport network is joined up. It’s sustainable. It’s one that puts people at its extremely heart. It’s affordable,” Coppard stated. “And we will craft those principles real in everything that we do going forward.” He added that the new branding is a nod to the region’s past, stating, “We are referencing the coal, the steel, the industrial heritage, the spark of ingenuity, that South Yorkshire is so famous for.”
The network’s development will also include the rebranding of existing bike-hire schemes in the region, aligning them with the new color scheme. Coppard indicated a desire to offer free travel to individuals under 18, alongside increased funding for initiatives promoting road safety, walking, and cycling.
The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport in 2028 is also factored into the transport strategy, with Coppard suggesting improved tram and train connections to the airport will be crucial to its long-term viability. The airport closed in 2022 after airlines deemed it commercially unviable.
The plan also anticipates benefits from forthcoming investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail, a project championed by former Sheffield council leader and Labour home secretary David Blunkett. Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, emphasized the need for improved transport links to support economic growth in the region, stating South Yorkshire “currently is falling short” in this regard.
