Local MP calls for SL1 to be reinstated in Parliament

In Parliament, Marie Tidball MP, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has called for an improved tram link bus, like the SL1, to be reinstated as soon as possible in Stocksbridge, Deepcar, Oughtibridge, and Wharncliffe Side.

During questions to Transport Ministers, Marie Tidball MP told the Local Transport Minister, Lilian Greenwood MP:

“On the doorstep, at my constituency meeting last November and when I am out and about in Stocksbridge, Deepcar, Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side, time and again my constituents tell me about the urgent need to bring back the SL1 tram bus link, after it was cut under the Tory Government.”

“This route must be the cornerstone of the fantastic work that our South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is doing to bring our buses back under public control.”

Marie asked the Local Transport Minister:

“Will the Minister work with me, South Yorkshire mayoral combined authority and Sheffield City Council to reinstate and improve a tram link bus, like the SL1, as soon as possible, and to identify funding for delivering a pilot project as soon as possible?”

In response, Lilian Greenwood, the Local Transport Minister, told the Commons:

“[Marie Tidball] is absolutely right to advocate on behalf of her constituents living in South Yorkshire. It is almost as if the Conservatives have forgotten that they oversaw 300 million miles of bus route cuts.”

Lillian Greenwood told the local MP that:

“The Minister with responsibility for buses, [Simon Lightwood MP], would be happy to meet her to discuss further the plans that she is working on with the South Yorkshire Mayor.”

The local MP has been calling for an improved SL1 tram link bus service to be reinstated since last year, including in Parliament.

Buses will start to come back into public control across South Yorkshire from September 2027, and will all be under public control by 2029. These new franchising powers, for the South Yorkshire Mayor, were introduced by the Government’s recent Bus Services Bill. This new law gives every community new powers to set routes, fares and services, allowing them to take back control of their local buses, rather than services being run for profit by big companies. All profits made under the new franchising system will go back into the running of other routes.

Following the exchange, Marie Tidball MP said:

“I listen to constituents tell me time and time again about the urgent need for the SL1 tram link bus to be reinstated. I know what a vital route this is, to ensure people living across Stocksbridge and Deepcar can access work, education, healthcare and see friends and family.

“I am so ambitious about the potential for our local transport, and I want an improved tram link bus service form part of a longer-term fully integrated transport system, including multiple hopper bus services and an extension to the Sheffield tram-train network stopping at Stocksbridge, Deepcar, Oughtibridge and Wharncliffe Side.

“I look forwards to meeting with the Buses Minister soon, to discuss the urgent need for this route to be reintroduced, and will continue working closely with our South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, and Sheffield City Council. If anyone has any other bus routes in our communities they’d like to discuss, please contact me at marie.tidball.casework@parliament.uk”