The question is in the title really. Why don't they? From what I have seen of them they only run about one or two routes a few times a day. Why don't they run a lot more routes and provide choice on routes where there currently isn't any?

Probqably cos they only have a contract to run a few service routes. Also not enough buses.

I'm sure TM Travel can run as many services as they like and choose the route, although it will not be funded by a PTE (so operates for profit)

TM Travel are probably a small firm who are happy with the routes they have.

When it comes to the tendered/funded network I'm guessing they have to submit themselves to the local PTE (may be wrong)

TM Travel are not a massive company, although they are growing. Also remember they are based in Chesterfield.

The only service TM Travel operate in Sheffield commercially is the 293 Chesterfield-Dronfield-Bradway-Sheffield-Meadowhall, which they took over from a Rotherham based coach company.

All the other routes they operate in Sheffield are tendered - ie run under contract either to South Yorkshire Transport Executive or Derbyshire County Council. This is currently where TM Travels growth is coming from - they are winning a lot of contracts including school runs and some socially neccessary services that often replace buses other operators have axed.

I would also add that the impression I get is TM are an enthusiastic and proud bunch of people, who want a reputation for high standards in reliability and vehicle maintenance, and don't want to overstretch themselves and compromise that.

As a user of their route 293 I can only recall one time in the last couple of years that my bus hasn't turned up, and I have never been on a broken down bus, unless you count the one occassion when a windscreen wiper broke!

They don't seem to suffer the breakdowns or driver shortages that First seem to be prone to, nor do they run to unrealistic timetables that cause very poor timekeeping like Yorkshire Terrier.

A final thought - TM Travel's routes are generally unique - ie they provide links that other companies don't - rather than just doing the sheep thing and sending floods of buses along the same route as another company in direct competition.