Travelling Safely

We are asking customers to check before they travel, reduce the number of journeys they make and walk or cycle if they can. Where possible, travelling into or out of a Very High local Covid alert level area should be avoided although exemptions may be introduced over the Christmas period. Those that need to use public transport should think about the times, routes and ways they can travel, so that everyone has more space to stay safe.

A face covering must be worn when using public transport, in stations and interchanges. This applies to all passengers aged 11 and above, unless they are exempt. Customers are advised to keep a safe distance, wash or sanitise their hands frequently and use contactless payment or buy their ticket in advance. 

Do not use public transport if you or someone in your household or support bubble is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 – a new continuous cough, loss of sense of taste or smell or a high temperature – or has been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.

Christmas and New Year Services 

A summary of the services you can expect to see over the festive season is as follows:

• Sunday 20 December 2020 - Normal Sunday service.
• Monday 21 December 2020 – Bus – First, Stagecoach and Hulleys will run a Saturday service with some extra early morning journeys (Arriva, Globe, Powells, SCT and TM Travel will be running usual Monday to Friday service), Tram and tram train – Normal Monday to Friday service, Train – normal Monday to Friday service.
• Tuesday 22 Dec 2020 – Bus - First, Stagecoach and Hulleys will run a Saturday service with some extra early morning journeys (Arriva, Globe, Powells, SCT and TM Travel will be running usual Monday to Friday service), Tram ad tram train – Normal Monday to Friday service, Train - normal Monday to Friday service.
• Wednesday 23 December 2020 – Bus - First, Stagecoach and Hulleys will run a Saturday service with some extra early morning journeys (Arriva, Globe, Powells, SCT and TM Travel will be running usual Monday to Friday service), Tram and tram train – Normal Monday to Friday service, Train - normal Monday to Friday service.
• Christmas Eve (Thursday 24 December 2020) - Most local bus, tram, and tram train services will follow Saturday timetables with last departures between 6pm and 7pm. Trains will follow a normal timetable with an early finish, around 8pm.
• Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2020) - No bus, tram, tram train or train services.
• Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December 2020):
• Barnsley – no bus services except for Stagecoach operating a bus service to and from XPO Logistics for shift times. No train services.
• Doncaster – no bus services. No train services.
• Rotherham - no bus services except for Stagecoach operating a bus service to and from XPO Logistics for shift times, No tram train or train services.
• Sheffield – First, Stagecoach and TM Travel will run special bus services between 7am and 7pm, funded by Buses for Sheffield and Hulleys of Baslow will run service X57 between Manchester and Sheffield. Trams will also operate a special service on the Yellow and Blue Routes only between 6am and 9pm, which includes free parking at Park & Ride sites.  There will be no Purple Route tram, tram train or train services.
• Sunday 27 December 2020 - bus, tram, and tram train services will operate a Sunday service. Train services will run as normal but with a late start.
• Monday 28 December 2020 - buses will operate a Sunday service. Tram and tram train services will operate a Saturday service. Trains will operate as normal.
• Tuesday 29 December 2020 - bus, tram, tram train and train services will operate a Saturday service. Trains will operate as normal.
• Wednesday 30 December 2020 - bus, tram, and tram train services will operate a Saturday service. Trains will operate as normal.
• New Year’s Eve (Thursday 31 December 2020) - Most bus, tram, and tram train services will follow Saturday timetables with last departures between 6pm and 7.00pm. Trains will operate a normal service.
• New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January 2021)
• Barnsley – no bus services except Stagecoach service to and from XPO Logistics for shift times. Trains will operate as normal but with a late start.
• Doncaster - no bus services. Trains will operate as normal but with a late start.
• Rotherham – no bus services except Stagecoach services to and from XPO Logistics for shift times. Trains will operate as normal but with a late start. Tram train will operate a special service between 8am and 6.30pm.
• Sheffield - First will operate a special bus service between 8am and 7pm, funded by Sheffield City Council. Trams will also operate a special service on Blue and Yellow Routes only between 8am and 6.30pm, with free parking at Park & Ride sites. There will be no tram service on the Purple Route.  Tram train will operate a special service between 8am and 6.30pm. Trains will operate as normal. 
• Saturday 2 January 2021 – Bus, tram, and tram train services will operate a Saturday service. Trains will operate as normal.
• Sunday 3 January 2021 - Bus, tram, and tram train services will operate a normal Sunday service. Trains will operate as normal.
• Monday 4 January 2021 – Bus, tram and Tram Train services will operate a normal Monday service. Trains will operate as normal.

Concessionary travel

The 9.30am travel restriction will be removed for senior concessionary pass holders between Saturday 26 December 2020 and Friday 1 January 2021 inclusive. Customers may use their pass during this period to obtain free travel on bus, tram and tram train services, and half fare travel on Northern train services within South Yorkshire, from the start to the end of service. We are reminding customers to check before they travel and reduce the number of journeys they make.  

TravelMaster products

As usual, the validity of TravelMaster products does not change during the festive period, so TravelMaster tickets cannot be refunded or extended for days when there are few or no public transport services. Customers are advised to keep up to date with planned service changes prior to purchasing a ticket and to check for any reduction in services over the festive period by visiting www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/christmas/

How is this information being communicated to customers?

Customers can now access all revised information on bus, tram, tram train and train services running over the festive period on our dedicated web page www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/christmas/

Christmas Journey Planning will be available from Friday 11 December and further Information on the changes to services will also be available:

• via Twitter at @TSYalerts
• by calling Traveline on 01709 51 51 51

A marketing and communications campaign launched on Monday 30 November to inform customers about these changes. Adverts will be displayed on a range of channels including; our website, social media, printed materials in our interchanges and on vehicle, emails to customers and engagement with local businesses. 

Customers are advised to visit www.nationalrail.co.uk or call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50 for the latest information on train services. 

SYPTE site operating hours

There will be some changes to operating hours across our sites over the festive period:

Interchanges

All interchanges and mini interchanges will be closed on Christmas Day with the exception of Barnsley interchange coach waiting room which will be open for XPO services.

Meadowhall Interchange and platform ‘A’ at Sheffield Interchange will re-open on Boxing Day, closing after the last bus or tram departs. All other interchanges will remain closed until Sunday 27 December 2020.

On New Year’s Day, most interchanges will be closed. However, Meadowhall Interchange, platform ‘A’ at Sheffield Interchange and Swinton Mini Interchange will open until the last service departs.

All interchange operating hours can be found at www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/Christmas/ 

Park & Ride

The barriers at Park & Ride sites in Sheffield will be left up on Christmas Day, Boxing Day Sunday 27 December and New Year’s Day. Customers will be able to benefit from free parking at these sites on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

Doncaster North Park & Ride will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Sunday 27 December, Tuesday 29 December and New Year’s Day. Doncaster South Park & Ride and White Rose Way will remain open 24/7 over the festive period, although they may not be staffed on certain days.

For full details on the operating hours at Park & Ride sites over the festive period please visitwww.travelsouthyorkshire.com/christmas/

Broad Street West

Head Office will be closed on Wednesday 23 December 2020 and will reopen on Monday 4 January 2021. 

Traveline

Traveline will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and operating revised opening hours of 8am to 6pm on 24, 27 to 31 December 2020 and 2 and 3 January 2021.  Please refer to the table below:

* normal opening hours are still temporarily restricted to a 7pm finish, rather than 8pm, due to the impact of Covid-19.

These opening hours have been informed by historical call volumes and the number of services running across the network, due to revised timetabling throughout the festive period, combined with reduced patronage as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.