Sheffield bus service restored after outcry

The SL1 and SL1a tram link buses, running between Stocksbridge, Deepcar and Middlewood, where passengers could hop on a tram to the city centre using the same ticket, were withdrawn by Stagecoach on Monday, June 1.

But the decision prompted a backlash from passengers, who warned it would leave rural communities even more cut off at a time when hundreds of new homes are being built or planned there.

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One critic asked if the announcement was ‘some sort of bad joke’, while Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Miriam Cates branded the decision ‘unacceptable’.

Stagecoach has now confirmed the route is being reinstated from Monday June 15 in response to customer concerns.

A spokeswoman for the operator said: “From June 15, following discussions with South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, we are reintroducing the SL1/SL1a service with buses running every hour. Tramlink single tickets will also be able to be used on this service. Services 57 and 57a are unchanged.

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“We are closely monitoring the number of customers using all of our services so we can support travel needs during this time as best as we can and we appreciate all customer feedback.”

Stagecoach had said when withdrawing the SL1 that passengers could use its ‘enhanced’ number 57 service, providing two buses an hour to Hillsborough, where tram and other bus links are available.

But Ms Cates argued that its removal would mean longer and more inconvenient journeys and ‘significantly’ higher costs for many passengers.

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