Young people aged five to 18 living in Sheffield will receive complimentary bus and tram travel across South Yorkshire following approval of a pilot scheme by the city council.
Sheffield City Council's strategy and resources committee voted to proceed with the 29-week trial, which will commence on 15 February 2027 and is projected to cost £7.6 million. The council's published proposal confirms the scheme will run until 5 September 2027 and encompass both bus and tram services.
Council leader Fran Belbin emphasised the scheme's potential to support families facing financial pressures.
The cost of a bus or tram journey should never be what stops a young person getting to college, taking up an apprenticeship, joining a sports club or simply spending time with friends, she stated.
How does the timing work with regional plans?
The pilot has been deliberately scheduled to conclude when a separate region-wide initiative takes effect. Belbin revealed that South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard will launch a comprehensive free travel scheme for the same age group starting in September 2027, meaning the Sheffield pilot will bridge the gap until that broader programme begins.
What will the scheme look like in practice?
Eligible children and young people will receive a dedicated smartcard to access the service. Those who already hold a Zoom, under-16 or 16-18 travel pass will automatically receive a new pass, while others can apply online through MyTSY. The council will monitor usage patterns, journey data, costs and effects on the transport network to evaluate the pilot's effectiveness.
The scheme was shaped by feedback from young people who specifically requested that tram travel be included, reflecting their priorities in the design process.
What evidence informed this approach?
The pilot has been developed in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and draws on experience from Barnsley's established MiCard scheme. Barnsley's MiCard provides free bus travel when journeys start or finish in Barnsley, operating from 7am to 9pm seven days a week, and demonstrated that passenger numbers increased notably in some of the most economically deprived areas.
Sheffield itself has prior experience with youth travel support. The city ran a separate free bus and tram offer for children aged 5 to 15 during August 2026, providing a foundation for understanding demand and operational requirements for expanded schemes.
What are the broader policy developments?
This Sheffield initiative sits within a wider landscape of youth transport support across England. The government has confirmed that disabled bus pass holders will receive free travel at all hours from 1 April 2027, removing weekday time restrictions for approximately one million people. Additionally, 18-year-olds have gained access to half-price rail fares under changes to the 16-17 Saver railcard, effective from 17 August 2026.
Key facts
- The pilot runs for 29 weeks from 15 February 2027 to 5 September 2027, with an estimated cost of £7.6 million
- Eligible participants aged 5 to 18 will use a dedicated smartcard to access free bus and tram travel across South Yorkshire
- The scheme was informed by Barnsley's MiCard pilot, which showed increased passenger numbers in deprived areas
- Young people's feedback specifically requested tram travel inclusion in the scheme
- The pilot will transition to a region-wide South Yorkshire free travel scheme for under-18s in September 2027
