20th century to the present Transport in Sheffield

railways in sheffield (1930)

the first electric tram route ran nether edge tinsley, opening in 1899. electrification of rest of system followed after, , last horse tram ran in 1902. in 1910 sheffield tram routes covered total of 39 miles, subsequent extensions increase 48 miles 1951. tram routes started abandoned , replaced buses 1952. when last public service tram ran leopold street beauchief on 8 october 1960 occasion marked parade of 15 trams (three of preserved @ national tramway museum in crich). beeching axe led closure of great central railway route london in 1966, followed woodhead route manchester in 1970. left victoria station obsolete; closed on 5 january 1970 , station buildings demolished in 1989, leaving wicker arches on stood standing. proposals new tram system first appeared in 1970s. after deliberation routes selected , construction of new system, named sheffield supertram started in 1991. first line, running castle square meadowhall opened on 21 march 1994.

south yorkshire county council (sycc) created in 1974, comprising several neighbouring metropolitan boroughs; sheffield, barnsley, doncaster , rotherham. metropolitan county councils created @ time, given responsibility provision of public transport. in case of sycc allocated new south yorkshire passenger transport executive (sypte). sypte assumed control of former local corporation bus fleets , took on coordinating role regarding services provided other bus operators , british rail in region, in addition becoming highway authority area. during period bus services received subsidy of 85% of operating costs, , low fares contributed increase in bus travel of 7% 1974–1984, compared 30% decline elsewhere in united kingdom.

the metropolitan county councils, abolished in 1986 but, despite disappearance of sycc, sypte remained, under control of passenger transport authority (sypta) included 4 borough councils involved. contrast, functions of local highway authority passed directly each of councils, , sheffield city council (scc) became responsible city s highways.

deregulation of uk bus services in 1986 brought end local authority s direct control of provision of local bus services, in essence leaving bus companies decide where, when , how run services, , compete commercially each other although sypte still maintains advisory role , funds running of non-commercially viable routes considered socially essential.