Six operators shortlisted as South Yorkshire bus franchising reaches major procurement milestone

Six bus operators have been shortlisted to compete for contracts under the first phase of South Yorkshire’s bus franchising programme, marking a key step in the region’s move towards a publicly controlled “People’s Network” model for local bus services.

image: SYMCA

The procurement process covers two major contracts that will operate services from Olive Grove depot in Sheffield and Leger Way depot in Doncaster. These depots form the initial tranche of franchised services under the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s (SYMCA) wider bus reform programme.

Under the current timetable, shortlisted bidders will now progress to the next stage of the competition, where they will submit detailed proposals covering service delivery, operational performance, and wider social and environmental commitments. The contracts are expected to be awarded following a competitive assessment process later in the year.

The first phase of franchising is part of a wider plan to transition bus services in South Yorkshire away from the deregulated model introduced in the 1980s towards a system where the Combined Authority specifies routes, frequencies, fares and standards, while operators deliver services under contract.

According to SYMCA, franchised services will eventually operate under the region’s new integrated transport identity, the South Yorkshire People’s Network, which is being developed to unify buses, trams and other public transport modes under a single brand and operational framework.

The procurement forms part of a phased rollout of bus franchising across the region, which will see additional depots and service areas brought into the model over the coming years. Full implementation of franchising across South Yorkshire is expected to be completed by 2029, once all three tranches of contracts are in place.

Transport leaders have said the franchising programme is intended to improve reliability, simplify fares and ticketing, and enable greater integration between bus services and wider transport investments, including rail and active travel.

However, the scale of the transition also presents delivery challenges, including managing complex procurement timelines, securing sufficient operator capacity, and ensuring continuity of services during the changeover period.

The SYMCA programme is one of the most significant bus reform initiatives currently underway in the UK, alongside similar franchising and enhanced partnership models being developed in other city regions.