Diamond Bus East Midlands (was Midland Classic of Burton)

[markymark2000]

I can't see it lasting with 6/7 per hour to Tutbury but I have no idea on who will blink first.

Bearing in mind that Diamond has done nothing in the past 2 years or so except for make cuts to the network, faff with fares and now has some of the highest fares in the country for short distance journeys...... And given their marketing efforts have been dismal since they took over. I know where all my money is going on who will blink first, and if the X66 is anything to go by, it won't be Bus Link.

Buslink also come across as more customer orientated and professional

6 of 1, half a dozen of another. Buslink has some pros, but they also don't post any diversion noticed or any updates anywhere on social media, and despite being in business for nearly 2 years, they have only just got themselves sorted a website. For nearly 2 years they have just been another invisible operator in terms of online information and contact.

When you are on the bus they were decent, but the pre journey information from them has been dismal. Diamond, for all of their other faults, do provide more information to passengers pre journey.

 

[YX73OUB]

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

Long before the days of PSV glass! pilkingtons has gone from Somercotes now!

The irizar I3 is a peculiar beast, it can take 3 months for glass to come from Spain and of course the windows are different sizes on the shorter length ones to the longer lengths with the highest up opening windows I've ever seen!

 

[Russel]

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.

Diamond running a rag-tag collection of busses in different liveries isn't exactly a new thing, they've been doing that in Birmingham for the last 20 years!

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

I thought the Irizars were a strange buy for Midland Classics back in the day to be fair, given how unique they are and MC had a fleet of mostly E200s and Wright bodied buses.

 

[joieman]

I thought the Irizars were a strange buy for Midland Classics back in the day to be fair, given how unique they are and MC had a fleet of mostly E200s and Wright bodied buses.

But their rarity would probably hurt less given that MC snapped up nearly all the i3s in the country.

 

[YX73OUB]

But their rarity would probably hurt less given that MC snapped up nearly all the i3s in the country.

Indeed.

Having said that and slightly on a tangent but running odd fleet types doesn't phase the Dunns normally - anyone remember the rebuilds from the Dunn Line days.

I wonder if Buslink considered buying the I3s back!?

 

[Trainman40083]

Diamond running a rag-tag collection of busses in different liveries isn't exactly a new thing, they've been doing that in Birmingham for the last 20 years!



I thought the Irizars were a strange buy for Midland Classics back in the day to be fair, given how unique they are and MC had a fleet of mostly E200s and Wright bodied buses.

Yes, but they sure stood out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 May 2026 ==

Long before the days of PSV glass! pilkingtons has gone from Somercotes now!

The irizar I3 is a peculiar beast, it can take 3 months for glass to come from Spain and of course the windows are different sizes on the shorter length ones to the longer lengths with the highest up opening windows I've ever seen!

Just imagine if all bus parts were standard and available ex stock. Waiting three months must be a pane

 

[SubToBloxOrDai]

Indeed.

Having said that and slightly on a tangent but running odd fleet types doesn't phase the Dunns normally - anyone remember the rebuilds from the Dunn Line days.

I wonder if Buslink considered buying the I3s back!?

Currently on eBay Motoflow (Rotala) are listing the longer i3s at £54,000 and the shorter ones at £36,000. I imagine that if diamond weren't trying to sell them for so damn much that buslink would've bought the lot by now!

 

[Trainman40083]

Currently on eBay Motoflow (Rotala) are listing the longer i3s at £54,000 and the shorter ones at £36,000. I imagine that if diamond weren't trying to sell them for so damn much that buslink would've bought the lot by now!

An item is only worth what someone is prepared to buy it for. I doubt Buslink would want them. And I'd think Buslink could be seen as a threat to Diamond Bus.

 

[38291018]

How expensive would parts be for it compared to other bus types

 

[BusLink61]

Currently on eBay Motoflow (Rotala) are listing the longer i3s at £54,000 and the shorter ones at £36,000. I imagine that if diamond weren't trying to sell them for so damn much that buslink would've bought the lot by now!

Bus Link are seemingly trying to move on a decent portion of their fleet rather than buying (all their streetlites and their two scania omnidekkas are for sale). That being said with the rate at which they are picking up work, more buses could be needed in future.

Three of the irizars which have been taken off fleet must be sat doing nothing, the 17 plate was apparently sat at the tividale scrapyard. I hope they don’t go to waste given their age and their modern appearance! Shame they have to faff about with them really…

Their mileage has shot up a fair bit since they were bought by classic, the 17 plates show up as around 500K. The 64 plates appear slightly better off, although I understand the mileage recorded isn’t always accurate.

Given that the remaining ones are still in use, they could have more mechanical work needed, or some scratches etc.. so the price they are asking for them doesn’t sit right at all!

Cardiff bus had three longer length ones off Diamond in 2022 (I believe they were leased originally hence their sale earlier) Would be interesting to know what those sold for…

 

[Russel]

Currently on eBay Motoflow (Rotala) are listing the longer i3s at £54,000 and the shorter ones at £36,000. I imagine that if diamond weren't trying to sell them for so damn much that buslink would've bought the lot by now!

Who is going to pay that when you can pick up an E200 for far less?

 

[YX73OUB]

Who is going to pay that when you can pick up an E200 for far less?

Or a B7!

 

[capitalpotter]

Who is going to pay that when you can pick up an E200 for far less?

I always hoped chaserider purchased the longer version. They would of been ideal on their longer interurban routes

 

[derbybusdepot]

Diamond did manage to sell one of the shorter scanias. They all seem reliable and well used, so maybe although they are for sale, they may not be desperate to get rid of them.

Not sure that the problem is the expense of parts, more the availablity of them.

They certainly are a higher spec service bus,and the kind of thing you need to encourage people to use the bus.

 

[Russel]

I always hoped chaserider purchased the longer version. They would of been ideal on their longer interurban routes

Too niche and too expensive for most, if not all operators to purchase I'd say.

I'd take a punt on them not being overly fuel efficient either.

 

[YX73OUB]

Too niche and too expensive for most, if not all operators to purchase I'd say.

I'd take a punt on them not being overly fuel efficient either.

They definitely won't be

 

[BusLink61]

Diamond did manage to sell one of the shorter scanias. They all seem reliable and well used, so maybe although they are for sale, they may not be desperate to get rid of them.

Both of the short i3’s which aren’t in use with diamond I haven’t seen anywhere else yet. According to the Gov web, one has no MOT and is SORN. The other I can’t find details on, maybe if it has been sold it carries a private registration?

 

[SSmith2009]

Bus Link are seemingly trying to move on a decent portion of their fleet rather than buying (all their streetlites and their two scania omnidekkas are for sale). That being said with the rate at which they are picking up work, more buses could be needed in future.

If I'm remembering correctly the streetlites were purchased for a contract that didn't materialise leaving them surplus?

 

[BusLink61]

If I'm remembering correctly the streetlites were purchased for a contract that didn't materialise leaving them surplus?

Yes they were due to take over routes 77/77A and X15 in Sutton Coldfield early last year.

 

[CN12 AWU]

Currently on eBay Motoflow (Rotala) are listing the longer i3s at £54,000 and the shorter ones at £36,000. I imagine that if diamond weren't trying to sell them for so damn much that buslink would've bought the lot by now!

Could cardiff buy the rest?

 

[Trainman40083]

Could cardiff buy the rest?

They seem more interested in buying new EvoRas

 

[YX73OUB]

Could cardiff buy the rest?

They weren't interested

 

[derbybusdepot]

Both of the short i3’s which aren’t in use with diamond I haven’t seen anywhere else yet. According to the Gov web, one has no MOT and is SORN. The other I can’t find details on, maybe if it has been sold it carries a private registration?

I believe 30988 is currently withdrawn. If I remember correctly 30986 was sold, to an agricultural company around Kent? It may be in used on private land and not registered

 

[YX73OUB]

The Uttoxeter battle has been going on for a couple of months now, does anyone who sees the operation more regularly / closely know how things are going?

 

[08221]

I'm not an expert on buses, just take a passing interest.

I live in Uttoxeter and there has been a clear increase in the number of buses at the bus station recently - often 4 or 5 at a time when previously I've never seen more than 3 together.

 

[43055]

The Uttoxeter battle has been going on for a couple of months now, does anyone who sees the operation more regularly / closely know how things are going?

Obviously both operators have separate routeing so there is some sort of market for each but at the Burton end where I see them they never seem to be busy. Buslink have installed timetables at almost all the stops with stickers on the flags like the Midland Classic days. Being similar times it does mean bay 3 on New Street gets full and sometimes buses are just parked in the middle of the road as they can't get in.

 

[YX73OUB]

Obviously both operators have separate routeing so there is some sort of market for each but at the Burton end where I see them they never seem to be busy. Buslink have installed timetables at almost all the stops with stickers on the flags like the Midland Classic days. Being similar times it does mean bay 3 on New Street gets full and sometimes buses are just parked in the middle of the road as they can't get in.

Brilliant - I knew you'd have a good update, thank you.

I do wonder what the future has in store for Rotala's operation in Burton.

 

[43055]

Brilliant - I knew you'd have a good update, thank you.

I do wonder what the future has in store for Rotala's operation in Burton.

No problem.

As of today the Tamworth operation comes full under Diamond East Midlands. I believe there is also another batch of electrics in the pipeline and the infrastructure at the depot is ready for more electrics.

 

[YX73OUB]

Thank you.

Any word on when these future electric vehicles will be arriving? Assume they will be further custom dennings

 

[swinny1990]

No problem.

As of today the Tamworth operation comes full under Diamond East Midlands. I believe there is also another batch of electrics in the pipeline and the infrastructure at the depot is ready for more electrics.

So basically there should be a variety hopefully soon