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| Company type | Passenger Transport Executive |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 1 April 1974 (Local Government Act 1972) |
| Defunct | 1 April 2023 (Transport Act 1985) |
| Fate | Dissolved – functions transferred to SYMCA |
| Headquarters | Broad Street West Sheffield England |
Area served | South Yorkshire |
South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) was thepassenger transport executive forSouth Yorkshire. It was responsible for implementing policies set by the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (SYPTA) and for operation of the Authority's bus fleet from its formation in 1974 until its dissolution in 2023, when its assets and duties were transferred to theSouth Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and Executive were founded in April 1974. The PTE inherited the bus fleets of Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster councils and operated the majority of bus services in the metropolitan county of South Yorkshire, except the Barnsley area which continued to be served by theYorkshire Traction Company, part of theNational Bus Company.
From 1986 until 1993, buses were operated by an arms length company,South Yorkshire Transport, until amanagement buyout created the bus operating companyMainline Group.[1] Shortly afterStagecoach purchased a 20% stake in the company, however this was sold in 1995 toFirstBus.
After detailed planning, a new tram network in Sheffield was approved byAct of Parliament in 1991. Three years later in 1994, theSheffield Supertram was opened, returning tram services to Sheffield after 34 years.[2] It was initially publicly operated, but was privatised in 1997 after encountering major operational problems.[3]Stagecoach operated the trams until March 2024 when the SYMCA brought the trams back into public ownership.[2][4]
Eleven new stations were opened by SYPTE between 1983 and 1993. Many of these were re-opened former stations previously closed in the 1960s under theBeeching cuts, but not all; Goldthorpe and Thurnscoe were entirely new stations, Rotherham Central was built to replace the closingRotherham Masborough which was further away from Rotherham town centre, andMeadowhall Interchange was built to serve the newMeadowhall Shopping Centre.
In addition to these new stations, many existing interchanges were refurbished during the early 2000s. These helped to provide a hub for local, regional and sometimes national bus and coach services, and in some locations also provide an interchange facility onto trams and passenger rail services.
The South Yorkshire public transport network, of which SYPTE is a key deliverer of passenger services, was re-branded asTravel South Yorkshire in 2006. Changes included the introduction of theYourNextBus scheme on all stops as well as the additionLED departure boards on the region's most often run routes at certain stops.
In October 2018, the new tram-train line between Cathedral and the newly built Rotherham Parkgate tram stop was opened.[5] It was the first tram-train service in the UK, and acted as a pilot scheme for determining the viability of other tram-train projects. On the opening day, an accident caused by a lorry derailed one of the new tram-trains, temporarily suspending services.[6] Faults found on the trains caused some further disruption in 2019.[7]
On 1 April 2023, the executive was legally dissolved via an order made under theTransport Act 1985, with all of its functions and assets being transferred to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.[8][9] TheTravel South Yorkshire brand is still used as the customer facing brand for its transport services.
SYPTE was responsible for all the bus stops, shelters and bus interchanges in the county, along withpark & ride sites. It was also responsible for theSheffield Supertram network infrastructure.
Travel South Yorkshire's interchanges atSheffield, Arundel Gate in Sheffield,Rotherham,Barnsley,Doncaster,Hillsborough and Dinnington provide information and advice about public transport in South Yorkshire. From these interchanges, information can be obtained and a range of multi-modal (TravelMaster) tickets can be bought from self-serve vending machines. Other travel passes which were previously available at 'Information Centre' desks at these interchanges are now only available from the Travel South Yorkshire website or over the phone from Traveline.
SYPTE provided timetable information for all bus and train services within South Yorkshire. This was found at stops, in the form oftimetable leaflets, information on the web and a telephone enquiry service called Traveline.
SYPTE sold a range of multi-modal tickets on behalf of the public transport operators of South Yorkshire, including countywide TravelMaster tickets. These were generally in the form ofsmart card tickets and are commercial products which do not receive asubsidy. It also administered the concessionary travel schemes for young people and students, senior citizens and the mobility impaired. Many of these schemes have continued since SYPTE's dissolution.
SYPTE was responsible for various public transport services in the county, including various subsidised bus services.
The first sections of the South Yorkshire Supertram were opened in 1994.[2] It initially ran mostly within Sheffield and was made up of three lines: Yellow, Blue, Purple. Since then a tram-train line has been created extending the network out to Rotherham Parkgate.
In 1985, the SYPTE purchased anAlexander RH bodiedDennis Dominator trolleybus with a view to reintroducing atrolleybus network. A one mile section on Sandall Beat Road alongsideDoncaster Racecourse was wired.[10] However withderegulation in 1986, the project was shelved.
TravelWise Awards
Institution of Civil Engineers' Yorkshire & Humber Awards
Light Rail Awards
Rail Business Awards
Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards
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