South Yorkshire was once famed for its public transport system and now travellers have been promised it will once again be “world-class”.

South Yorkshire’s new £1.5bn People’s Network (SYPN) is being framed as a turning point and a chance to rebuild the region’s once-brilliant transport system.

The region was hailed as one of the most integrated and affordable public transport systems in the country in the 1970s and early 80s but deregulation in 1986 fragmented it under the Transport Act 1985.

The new scheme was inspired by Greater Manchester’s successful Bee Network.

The Bee Network service launched in Greater Manchester in September 2023 and has been considered largely successful with a 14% increase in the number of people using the service since last year.

While the plan clearly draws from that model of public control and integration, what is now taking place across South Yorkshire is rooted firmly in local need, local frustration and rising expectations from the people who rely on the system every day.

What can South Yorkshire learn from Manchester?

Nick Fairclough, Interim Deputy Network Director for Bus at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said: “Every region is different, but it’s really important not to underestimate the amount of preparation required before Day One. Transition programmes of this scale rely on strong programme management, deep operator engagement, clear communication with the public and workforce, and robust contingency planning. It’s also important to be realistic about phasing—franchising is a long-term transformation, not an overnight switch. Getting the foundations right gives you a far better platform for the improvements people want to see.

“Early, visible improvements made the biggest impact. In Greater Manchester, integrated Bee Network branding, simple £2 capped fares, and more reliable timetables helped build trust quickly. Clear communication – explaining that changes were coming in phases – also helped manage expectations so the public understood the direction of travel even before every improvement was in place.”

Last week, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, announced at Sheffield Town Hall that the region would be undergoing a £1.5bn investment transformation.

The aims of the network include more affordable and reliable bus travel, more investment in trams, a new e-bike scheme and rail services.

The Mayor’s vision is a simple, long term vision to provide “a network that’s genuinely people-focused – one that works for every community, every day”.

Coppard said: “Public transport in South Yorkshire has been broken for too long. 

“I promised to make change happen, to give South Yorkshire back the world class public transport system we once had, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

One of the most significant elements of SYPN is the bus reform and franchising as, under the current system, private operators largely control private fares, routes and timetables.

It is built around six key principles which include keeping transport affordable and prioritising people.

Residents often complained over hiked travel prices and unreliable bus times.

Marika Wyroslak on Facebook commented: “It’s been a disaster with the buses last week. It’s impossible to get to school or work.”

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) annual travel survey 2024-25 found that 72% of 1238 residents use public transport regularly. 

However, many people were dissatisfied with these services stating the “frequency, length of waiting, timing and reliability” a major issue. 

This new scheme would mean that all transport is under local travel authorities instead of private companies such as FirstBus and Stagecoach.

Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has shown that the franchising model can work at scale, offering a practical reference point for how to manage the shift.

Back in Manchester, Mr Fairclough said: “Under franchising, the relationship fundamentally shifts. That brings clearer accountability, a more collaborative working culture, and a shared focus on overall system performance. 

“Operators have responded positively, and the contractual framework gives both sides clearer expectations and incentives.”

The first major step for the SYPN is the franchising beginning in Sheffield and Doncaster from September 2027 when it comes under public control, with the aim of completing it for Rotherham and Barnsley by 2029.

Outside of London, Greater Manchester was the first city region to bring bus services under local control.

This came after after 40 years of deregulation, with a failing system that almost halved the number of bus journeys in Manchester, effectively being the first city to reverse deregulation completely.

With the new announcement of South Yorkshire’s travel plans, many have compared it to Manchester and how they have managed it.

Mr Fairclough said: “In Greater Manchester, growing numbers of people are travelling on an affordable, increasingly expanding and much more reliable network and we have created a solid foundation for long term improvement that will support growth and benefit all our residents and businesses.”

One large difference between their new plan and the Bee Network is free travel for under-18s.

While Manchester launched the ‘OurPass’ which allowed 16-18 year-olds free travel from September 2019, SYPN’s plan will be making travel completely free for under-18s later this year. 

This initiative has gone down particularly well with Sheffielders.

Jennifer Dunstan, on Facebook, said: “Never ceases to amaze me that little kids have to pay on buses when they don’t earn any wages.”

Many people on social media reminisced on the popular policy under SYPTE of 2p bus fare for children from 1974 to 1985.

The new services will have a molten orange, grey and asphalt black colour scheme with the colour scheme referring to South Yorkshire’s history of industry and ‘Northern grit and resilience’.

After the plan was launched by Coppard at Sheffield Town Hall, the vibrant buses went on tour around the four boroughs showcasing the new design.

However, there has been many mixed reviews on the colour and the name, comparing it to Manchester’s yellow Bee Network service. 

One comment on Reddit, from ‘flourypotato’, said: “Very much in favour of bus franchising, but “The People’s Network”; is that really the best they could come up with? Could literally apply to anything anywhere in the world. Couldn’t have had something a bit more distinctive, like Manchester’s Bee Network?”

This refers to how Manchester’s yellow buses and name refer to the city’s 150-year-old emblem that represents Manchester’s hive of community.

On Facebook, Nick Mason commented: “Can we have a consultation on that name its generally really poor. You could of leaned into South Yorkshire history and gone for Steel Network/Steel Link.”

But not all comments are negative. Ahead of the new franchising from next year, Chukwudi Ndubueze on Facebook commented: “This is a much-needed, welcome development. A great leap for the South Yorkshire community. Congrats to SYMA and the SCC team.”