Diamond Bus East Midlands (was Midland Classic of Burton)

[derbybusdepot]

Buslink have the services, confirmed by internal sources.

Won the tenders but what if Evolve or any other operator register it commercially, as we've seen with other tenders in the area recently?

Will be interesting to see how diamonds £4 flat fare works out for them. Will it drive customers to using Trent or other operators where routes overlap, and just put people off using the bus for short distances?

It's good that diamond will accept the Staffordshire knot ticket, at least that offers some consistency with ticketing in the area, especially with so many routes having different operators depending on the time of day, or day of the week.

 

[Trainman40083]

Won the tenders but what if Evolve or any other operator register it commercially, as we've seen with other tenders in the area recently?

Will be interesting to see how diamonds £4 flat fare works out for them. Will it drive customers to using Trent or other operators where routes overlap, and just put people off using the bus for short distances?

It's good that diamond will accept the Staffordshire knot ticket, at least that offers some consistency with ticketing in the area, especially with so many routes having different operators depending on the time of day, or day of the week.

Well, I'd say it would put me off catching the bus short distances, like Burton Railway Station to the town centre.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

Won the tenders but what if Evolve or any other operator register it commercially, as we've seen with other tenders in the area recently?

Will be interesting to see how diamonds £4 flat fare works out for them. Will it drive customers to using Trent or other operators where routes overlap, and just put people off using the bus for short distances?

It's good that diamond will accept the Staffordshire knot ticket, at least that offers some consistency with ticketing in the area, especially with so many routes having different operators depending on the time of day, or day of the week.

As I understand it, the delay in the details coming out is due to having to adjust the awarded contract in response to commercial changes made (by Diamond I believe) due to losing this work affecting aspects of what contracts are awarded and what the service will do in certain places but the core detail of the contracts having been won by Buslink remain true.

 

[43055]

Will be interesting to see how diamonds £4 flat fare works out for them. Will it drive customers to using Trent or other operators where routes overlap, and just put people off using the bus for short distances?

Stretton already has people who will wait for the villager even if the 17 turns up just ahead. Tutbury may still have a small market as the 401/402 covers the top part which is not by the villager. I think the villager market is stronger anyway as it is more frequent and daily.

 

[YX73OUB]

Changes to bus services

View changes to bus services in your area.

www.staffordshire.gov.uk

Changes confirmed now

 

[YX73OUB]

Diamond have posted the update and timetable for the revised 401/2a on their website

Service Updates | Diamond Bus

www.diamondbuses.com

 

[43055]

Diamond have posted the update and timetable for the revised 401/2a on their website

Service Updates | Diamond Bus

www.diamondbuses.com

Seems that Diamond are not going down without a fight on the 401. The timetable is changing again in 2 weeks to move the Monday to Friday off peak journeys 10 mins earlier. Conveniently putting it ahead of the Buslink 401's. The Buslink timetables which were upat some stops on Monday also diapered by Tuesday morning...

 

[YX73OUB]

Seems that Diamond are not going down without a fight on the 401. The timetable is changing again in 2 weeks to move the Monday to Friday off peak journeys 10 mins earlier. Conveniently putting it ahead of the Buslink 401's. The Buslink timetables which were upat some stops on Monday also diapered by Tuesday morning...

And they've also launched a reduced price weekly ticket which has proved rather controversial as it was introduced part of the way through a week and just after the single fares had gone up to £4 from £3.

 

[Kite159]

At least they have kept some sort of price cap, so at least passengers know how much they will have to pay. I guess the £4 is that "Zone B Single" which is referred to on the website?

Rather than going back to the days before the cap when single & return fares are a closely guarded secret.

 

[YX73OUB]

At least they have kept some sort of price cap, so at least passengers know how much they will have to pay. I guess the £4 is that "Zone B Single" which is referred to on the website?

Rather than going back to the days before the cap when single & return fares are a closely guarded secret.

It's not very proportionate when you look at some of the short distance of the journeys though, but there must be reasons behind the increase.

 

[BusLink61]

Bus fire on the A38 this afternoon involving the last Diamond EM streetdeck 40726 (MX20HVK)

Not my photo but a source off Facebook:

 

[Russel]

Bus fire on the A38 this afternoon involving the last Diamond EM streetdeck 40726 (MX20HVK)

Not my photo but a source off Facebook:

Are the flames coming up from the engine compartment or the back seats of the top deck?

Can't quite tell from the photo.

 

[43055]

Bus fire on the A38 this afternoon involving the last Diamond EM streetdeck 40726 (MX20HVK)

Not my photo but a source off Facebook:

Looking at Bus times it was on its first journey of the day.

 

[BusLink61]

Are the flames coming up from the engine compartment or the back seats of the top deck?

Can't quite tell from the photo.

Not sure, it would make more sense if it was from the engine bay, this could have been a fair bit after the fire initially started.

Going off bus times data, it hasn’t been out for a few weeks prior, this was infact its first run out if we go off that. I think that could have played a part - ie maybe a mechanical fault which wasn’t fixed correctly and the fire was a result.

I could be completely wrong though, it may become clearer with time.

 

[Russel]

Not sure, it would make more sense if it was from the engine bay, this could have been a fair bit after the fire initially started.

Going off bus times data, it hasn’t been out for a few weeks prior, this was infact its first run out if we go off that. I think that could have played a part - ie maybe a mechanical fault which wasn’t fixed correctly and the fire was a result.

I could be completely wrong though, it may become clearer with time.

Yeah, I'd agree more likley to be an engine fire, especially given it's running on the A38 which is probably quite taxing given the higher speed required.

 

[YX73OUB]

Also not posted on here but the Lichfield outstation is now the responsibility of the East Midlands op as opposed to the West Midlands.

 

[Russel]

Also not posted on here but the Lichfield outstation is now the responsibility of the East Midlands op as opposed to the West Midlands.

Where is the Lichfield Outstation, is it the place near Whittington?

 

[43055]

Also not posted on here but the Lichfield outstation is now the responsibility of the East Midlands op as opposed to the West Midlands.

Thought it was Tamworth?

Anyway it means the Evora is back under Burton along with some Eclipse 2's, a Eclipse 3 and MCV Evolutions.

 

[YX73OUB]

Where is the Lichfield Outstation, is it the place near

Thought it was Tamworth?

Anyway it means the Evora is back under Burton along with some Eclipse 2's, a Eclipse 3 and MCV Evolutions.

Apologies you're quite right I did mean Tamworth! Very long day...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 May 2026 ==

Has anyone noticed if the fare increase has affected passenger levels?

Or how things are going on the 401?

 

[43055]

Apologies you're quite right I did mean Tamworth! Very long day...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 May 2026 ==

Has anyone noticed if the fare increase has affected passenger levels?

Or how things are going on the 401?

From the villager point of view, I haven't noticed any major change in passenger numbers but people would leave the diamond to catch us anyway if we were right behind. I think the fare increase has had more of effect for Stretton where it's £4 for diamond and £2.80 on the villager into Burton.

 

[YX73OUB]

From the villager point of view, I haven't noticed any major change in passenger numbers but people would leave the diamond to catch us anyway if we were right behind. I think the fare increase has had more of effect for Stretton where it's £4 for diamond and £2.80 on the villager into Burton.

Reason I was asking was because I was on the Arriva X38 to Burton the other day, a chap got on who had let the 401 go by the station - and moaned it was going to cost £4 from there to town, so wondered if this was a typical comment.

It's amazing how much demand there is all of a sudden for buses from Tutbury to Burton.

Wonder which direction Diamond will go in next in Burton.

 

[43055]

Reason I was asking was because I was on the Arriva X38 to Burton the other day, a chap got on who had let the 401 go by the station - and moaned it was going to cost £4 from there to town, so wondered if this was a typical comment.

It's amazing how much demand there is all of a sudden for buses from Tutbury to Burton.

Wonder which direction Diamond will go in next in Burton.

From what I understand it is £4 for any single now on diamond. I have had a few comments about how the fares for them has increased and I think BusLink is cashing in on that with large £3 stickers on the buses.

I can't see it lasting with 6/7 per hour to Tutbury but I have no idea on who will blink first. I even don't know how the Tutbury Jinny keeps going without being supported now.

 

[Trainman40083]

Reason I was asking was because I was on the Arriva X38 to Burton the other day, a chap got on who had let the 401 go by the station - and moaned it was going to cost £4 from there to town, so wondered if this was a typical comment.

It's amazing how much demand there is all of a sudden for buses from Tutbury to Burton.

Wonder which direction Diamond will go in next in Burton.

More likely, go for a Burton . No way will most people pay to catch the bus from Burton station to the town centre. Still, if they walk, it might be good for their health

 

[YX73OUB]

More likely, go for a Burton . No way will most people pay to catch the bus from Burton station to the town centre. Still, if they walk, it might be good for their health

You'd be surprised - 2 did on that one I was onboard!

The thing with Buslink too is we know that the owner is more than adequately prepared to battle with the biggest of firms - and win!

 

[Trainman40083]

You'd be surprised - 2 did on that one I was onboard!

The thing with Buslink too is we know that the owner is more than adequately prepared to battle with the biggest of firms - and win!

The last time I caught the bus from the railway station into Burton, Midland Classic charged £1. Ah yes, the owner of Midland Classic... Sorry Buslink.

 

[43055]

You'd be surprised - 2 did on that one I was onboard!

The thing with Buslink too is we know that the owner is more than adequately prepared to battle with the biggest of firms - and win!

Buslink also come across as more customer orientated and professional with a fully branded fleet whereas it seems the diamond are more after the money. Almost 4 years on and there is still a number of vehicles in midland classic livery.

 

[joieman]

Buslink also come across as more customer orientated and professional with a fully branded fleet whereas it seems the diamond are more after the money. Almost 4 years on and there is still a number of vehicles in midland classic livery.

Granted, Diamond want the Irizars gone, so wouldn't bother repainting those, but they seem to be having serious trouble selling them off.

 

[43055]

Granted, Diamond want the Irizars gone, so wouldn't bother repainting those, but they seem to be having serious trouble selling them off.

Considering they are basically the only ones in the country it is not really surprising but there is still 4 E200's and 1 metrocity that could be done. The latter looks quite scruffy with the Airway branding still remaining in places.

 

[YX73OUB]

Considering they are basically the only ones in the country it is not really surprising but there is still 4 E200's and 1 metrocity that could be done. The latter looks quite scruffy with the Airway branding still remaining in places.

The Metrocity was definitely on the list to be painted, the E200 with dual door was meant to be disposed of, along with the I3s.

In the end I did think the PVR would be cut enough to quietly dispose of these vehicles.

At one point they were asking for 60k for the I3s - they didn't cost MC that much. Though granted, as always an excellent refurbishment was carried out

 

[Trainman40083]

The Metrocity was definitely on the list to be painted, the E200 with dual door was meant to be disposed of, along with the I3s.

In the end I did think the PVR would be cut enough to quietly dispose of these vehicles.

At one point they were asking for 60k for the I3s - they didn't cost MC that much. Though granted, as always an excellent refurbishment was carried out

I'd have thought the Irizars would be far to non standard for most operators. There really wasn't that many built. Reminds me of a visit I made to Pilkingtons years ago.. A Delta windscreen cost more than a whole Leyland National