Bus cuts hitting Rotherham again – but there's a new fare for youths

A new agreement will mean First and Stagecoach bringing in a new flat-rate £1.50 charge for Zoom Beyond pass holders.

The current 80p fares are among the major changes which will mean stripped back services across the borough in the evenings and at weekends.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said First and Stagecoach’s decision would bring certainty and stability to thousands of the region’s young people.

He added: “It’s great to see the operators step up for people across South Yorkshire and match our ambition in supporting cleaner, greener, better ways for people to travel. I look forward to continuing to work together with our operators to deliver a bus network in South Yorkshire that our communities deserve.”

Jude Daniel Smith, who launched a petition to stop the scrapping of the Zoom pass, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to hear that Mayor Oliver Coppard and the operators have announced a new concessionary fare for Zoom Beyond pass holders.

“It’s a brilliant win for South Yorkshire’s young people and is only going to fill us with miles more motivation to keep campaigning and keep pushing to get more investment for our region’s bus network.

“We will continue to rally round and push government to save the original Zoom Beyond fare and to invest more money into South Yorkshire’s vital public transport system.”

The £2 cap on adult fares will remain until the end of 2024, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced earlier this month.

But the lack of funding heading South Yorkshire’s way mean a further round of service cuts from this November 1.

Evening and weekend journeys will no longer run on the 8, 8a, 9 and 208 (Whiston) buses.

Services 19a, 73, 116, 140, 141, 218, 221, X5 and X54 will all see timetable changes resulting in fewer journeys.

Visit www.travelsouthyorkshire.com for details and new timetables.