Public Transit Control: A Gamechanger for Commuters.

Communities across South Yorkshire are reaping the rewards of having the tram system back under public control, four months on from the historic moment when control was regained.
The Supertram was brought back under public control at the end of March this year, and the people of South Yorkshire are now witnessing the positive impacts of the improvement and investment plans that are being implemented. More than £33 million is being injected into the network by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, with over £23 million of that allocated for this financial year alone.
Some of the key improvements that have been observed since the network returned to public control include:
- A 4.5% increase in passenger journeys compared to the same time last year
- A significant reduction in fare evasion, plummeting from 8% to less than 0.4% of journeys
- The introduction of handheld ticketing machines for conductors, making ticket purchases easier and quicker for passengers
- Over 20,000 downloads of the Travel South Yorkshire ticketing app, along with more than 40,000 ticket purchases
- Trialling of additional trams at peak times along key routes
Through collaboration with Supertram, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, and the Mayor, efforts are being made to develop a larger and more sophisticated tram network that will seamlessly integrate with other modes of transport. This initiative aims to provide South Yorkshire with a top-notch transport system, connecting communities to vital opportunities.
Oliver Coppard, Mayor of South Yorkshire, expressed his enthusiasm for the progress made, saying:
“After 27 years, South Yorkshire’s Supertram returned to our control in March. Just over four months on, we are making significant strides towards a public transport system that prioritises people, connects our communities, and contributes to the growth of a stronger economy in South Yorkshire.
“Since March, 20,000 individuals have already embraced our new app to purchase tickets, tram stops and trams are undergoing much-needed deep cleaning, and our conductors are equipped with new handheld ticketing machines to streamline the ticket purchasing process onboard.
“However, this is only the beginning of our journey towards a truly integrated transport network that links all our communities to the vast opportunities that exist across South Yorkshire.”
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