Many (25+) years ago the old Highways Agency were interested in extending the Cross City north to a strategic park and ride near Fradley, where there was planned (and has been built) a major housing scheme alongside continued expansion of the logistics park on the old airfield. Not interested enough to fund anything, although I know the County Structure Plan did make developer contributions to "improved public transport" a condition of the housing development, much to the irritation of the builders. The A38 is seen as a major problem by the highways authorities and a substantial number of car commuters originate on the A38 from places like Barton under Needwood, so having a park and ride at Fradley would help reduce congestion on the A38 where lorries going to the logistics park have to fight for space with traffic for Birmingham. The car park at Lichfield TV has already been expanded, but if a park and ride for cross city customers could be put in at Fradley, it would reduce the competition for parking spaces at LTV for London bound traffic. Add in a turn back station at Alrewas for the National Arboretum, and you might be able to do that with a battery retrofitted Class 730, off the back of strategic park and ride, without electrification.
This isn't gum-flapping, it has been discussed a number of times but previous discussions were thwarted by the cost of wiring and the need for extra stock. Battery operation if possible and viable, might make it possible. I do agree though Burton to Lichfield isn't a major demand flow, nor is Burton to Birmingham, but expanded villages like Alrewas, Barton and Fradley, do throw a lot of commuters onto the A38 for whom a bus is not an option, but might be tempted by a secure park and ride by electric train.
