Sheffield Labour has welcomed one of the first major announcements from new Prime Minister Andy Burnham – a £2 cap on single bus fares – as an important boost for Sheffield families and the city’s plans to transform public transport.
Throughout August, children aged 5 to 15 will also be able to travel free on local bus services across the region, helping families enjoy days out and visit friends and relatives for less during the school holidays.
New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made easing the cost of living his top priority, and from 1 January 2027, single fares on participating bus services outside London will be capped at £2 for the whole year. The £400 million investment will replace the existing £3 cap, cutting maximum fares by up to a third and making everyday journeys to work, education, healthcare and leisure more affordable.
As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham showed what Labour can achieve by backing buses, capping fares and bringing services under public control through the Bee Network. He is now taking that same commitment to affordable, locally controlled public transport into Number 10.
In Sheffield, Labour councillors are working with South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard to develop proposals for a scheme to provide free bus and tram travel for children and young people aged 18 and under, to launch from January 2027.
The proposals form part of Sheffield Labour’s wider plans to support families with the cost of living, widen opportunities for young people and prepare the city for the new South Yorkshire People’s Network.
Cllr Fran Belbin, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said:
“I’m delighted Andy Burnham is hitting the ground running with cost of living measures like the new £2 cap. This will put money back into the pockets of people who rely on buses every day.
“Also it’s great government is providing free bus travel for children this August – making it easier for families to get out and enjoy the summer holidays and all the wonderful things Sheffield has to offer for family trips, without worrying so much about the cost.
“Andy showed in Greater Manchester what Labour can achieve when we back our buses. It is great to see him taking that same approach into Number 10.
“In Sheffield, we want to go further. We are bringing forward proposals to make bus and tram travel free for children and young people aged 18 and under from the new year. That would give young people greater independence and make it easier to reach education, training, work, sport and opportunities across our city.
“This all supports the much bigger change that is coming through the South Yorkshire People’s Network, led by South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard. Labour is ending the failed era of bus privatisation and bringing decisions about routes, timetables, fares and standards back under local public control.
“Taken together, this is what Labour working at every level looks like – helping people with the cost of travel now while building a more reliable, affordable and joined-up public transport system for the future.”
The first franchised People’s Network bus services are expected to begin in Sheffield and Doncaster in September 2027. Under public control, decisions about routes, timetables, tickets and service standards will be made locally, with simpler and more integrated bus and tram tickets and a stronger focus on reliability.
Sheffield’s proposed free-travel pilot builds on the success of the Barnsley MiCard scheme, which has substantially increased bus use among children and young people and has particularly benefited communities with the highest levels of deprivation.
Labour’s action on buses and cost of living:
- Single bus fares capped at £2 from January and throughout 2027
- Children aged five to 15 travel free on buses this August
- Sheffield Labour councillors are developing proposals for free bus and tram travel for young people aged 18 – to begin in January 2027.
- Most Sheffield bus services set to come under public control from September 2027 under South Yorkshire People’s Network