Supertram fare freeze and cut start on New Year’s Day for 2026
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The weather may be colder but one freeze will be welcomed across South Yorkshire as New Year’s Day will see Supertram fares and child concessionary fares across bus and tram frozen, along with a cut to the long distance single Supertram fare.
The free freeze is the first in a non-Covid pandemic year for over 25 years and means that from January 1st 2026:
· Supertram fares will be frozen at their current rate.
· The Adult Long Distance Supertram single fare will reduce in price from £3.40 to £3 – putting the cost in line with the national bus fare cap price.
· The child concessionary fare across buses and trams will remain at just £1 per journey.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Last year, we took the Supertram network back into public control – and soon, we’ll do the same with buses. That means decisions made here in South Yorkshire, for the benefit of the people who live and work here. Whether you’re commuting, studying, visiting family or heading out for the night, we’re building a transport network that works for all of us.”
My mission is simple: to create a world-class, integrated public transport system that’s affordable and accessible.
He added: “I know rising costs are tough for everyone. So, from January, we’re cutting the price of an adult longer-distance tram ticket from £3.40 to £3, and freezing all other Supertram fares. We’re also keeping the child concession fare at £1 across buses and trams – helping families travel more easily.
“Freezing and reducing fares is just the start. In 2026, we’ll open the new tram-train station at Magna and prepare for bus franchising in 2027. It’s going to be an exciting year as we continue to transform public transport in South Yorkshire.”
The decision was taken at a meeting of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board (SYMCA) in November, chaired by South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, to support people with the cost of living and encourage the public back on public transport.
Since Supertram was brought back into public control, work has started on a £110m investment by SYMCA into the existing tram network improving the track, the lines and the network – and initiatives including allowing dogs on trams are opening up the network to more people.
The cut in the cost of the Adult Long Distance Single Supertram fare applies to on-board purchases of single tickets. Passengers can also continue to make more savings on travel by purchasing multi-day tickets and using the TSY Mobile App where further discounts apply.
More information on the tram fare changes will be available to customers via Transport South Yorkshire (TSY) and Supertram social media channels, on the TSY website - https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/YourFares2026 and leaflets on the trams.
The child concessionary fare was first introduced in South Yorkshire in 1984 and is now funded by SYMCA. Since November 2023 the price for a ticket has been £1 and the freeze on the fare applies across Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
In Barnsley, SYMCA is one of the partners, along with Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, funding the MiCard pilot which currently offers free bus travel for children and young people aged 5 to 18, as long as the journey starts or ends in the local authority area and is within South Yorkshire.
To date, child journey numbers in Barnsley compared to the same period last year have seen a 50 percent increase. The Mayor has an ambition to offer free bus travel to those aged 5 to 18 across South Yorkshire and the Barnsley pilot evaluation will inform next steps for the region.
Over the past year there has been a slight fall in the number of children and young people using buses so initiatives such as freezing the concessionary fare and the Barnsley MiCard pilot aim to increase usage by opening up more travel options and opportunities.