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As a way of update.  We have 3 of the Custom Denning Buses now registered in Burton. 

Once they have been inspected - they will be entering service.

Simon

Thank you for the update.

I was also pleased to see a printed guide to the Burton area services at Burton train station this morning alongside other trentbarton leaflets. 

221108 and 221113 are now in service with Cross Country meaning 6 of the 12 Avanti units are now in use. It does look like 221107 through to 221118 will be the 12 transferring over.

So there is 8 more left and then 8 spare plus the two that went to grand Central is it known which 8 XC are taking

I'm not sure which others are going to be leased to Cross Country. At least 4 are parked at Alstom in Derby for the last few months. With the timetable increases later in the month, the other 8 may enter service in the next few weeks?

I noticed CrossCountry now have some ex Avanti 221's apparently they have 12 does anyone know which 12 they own

I believe only 4 are in service so far which are 221109, 114, 115 & 116. 

SDC has posted the timetable for the 1 on their facebook,
South staffs also confirming their takeover of the 12E on their facebook, but no timetable.
starting the 17th of may for the 12E, 19th for the 1.

Also routes 125,129 out of loughborough and leicester are to be cancelled (unless a new operator is found just like these two services)

Staffordshire CC says the 12E is won by LA Travel
Changes to bus services - Staffordshire County Council

• Service 12E (Burton - Lichfield) will be operated by LA Travel with a revised timetable.

Not sure what has happened at Sheffield but the 13:01 from Edinburgh due Sheffield at 16:55 left at 17:30 my dad is waiting for this train in New Street to get to Cheltenham to get another train for a work event. It was on time before getting to Sheffield

Looks like some sort of signaling/points problem I think. A Liverpool - Nottingham service was also held at Sheffield for 48 mins at around the same time and other trains were delayed through a junction between Sheffield and Chesterfield.

The 12 is partly subsidised. However a new operator is taking over the current 805/806 school services after Easter which will be renumbered 12A/12B.

Which will probably explain why I didn't find anything for the 12/12E changing.

Services 125 and 129 show up on Bustimes as cancelled effective 31st of May

The 11 is shown as cancelled from the end of May as well.

Apparently Diamond have lost tender for Routes 1, 12, 12E and South Staffs Coach Hire based in Tamworth have win the tenders.

For the 1 it appears that it will be no longer run by Diamond from 24th May. The 12 is commercial is it not?

Vehicle Operator Licensing - GOV.UK

221109 has entered service with Cross Country

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C65959/2025-04-06/detailed

Hi Simon,

Passed 31430 on the 1435 401 to Burton yesterday which had no destination on the front or rear.

[Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 Update]

Potentially more electric buses on the cards for Burton.

Committee Report

Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) 2 Update

[...]

26. In November 2024, the DfT has provided all successful ZEBRA 2 bids the opportunity to expand their projects. Diamond Bus has worked with SCC to propose an expansion to the Burton element to deliver:

a. Five additional electric buses for services 8/9 to completely electrify the route.
b. One electric bus for service two which completely electrifies the route.
c. Two electric buses for service X12 that runs between Burton and Lichfield via Fradley Park.
d. Nine gantry chargers and associated infrastructure at the Burton depot.

27. A ZEBRA 2 expansion bid was submitted in December [2024] that could potentially secure an additional c£5.3m investment into Staffordshire. The DfT has not indicated timescales for informing local authorities of the outcome.

Thats  good. Just on the 13.10 derby to new st. I cant believe they use 2 carriage DMUs its already standing only and hasnt even left derby yet

It use to be worse as they had quite a few 2 car 170's but the center cars in the WMR (now EMR) 170's got transferred over to Cross Country a few year back but they still do have 6? 2 car 170's which do seem to be concentrated on the Cardiff - Notts route with a mix of 2 and 4 car diagrams.

On the 2.12 new st to nottingham ( gettimg off at Derby). Jesus the state of Cross Country 170s is awful. Filthy, and a fair few ripped seats, most of the seats that arent in that state have got padding thats collapsed . Hopefully they refurb them cos they certainly need it!

They are. The first one (170 101) is currently at Crewe being done which will include new seats and a new livery on the outside.

[Longer trains set for popular commuter route]

Great news!

Longer trains set for popular commuter route
from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8xq5eyjejdo

While I'm glad to hear this - as I'm hoping to have a few more trips over to west Wales this year - does this MP not realise that there are other rail services between Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton and Birmingham?

Most if not all services are 4 car anyway are they not? Anyway a test of a 7 car 197 took place recently so I presume they will enter service between Birminahm and Holyhead soon.

I am advised.

31418 - has been fixed.
31000 - this vehicle did not feature in our new platform, this in the process of being corrected.

Buses in New Street.  Do you have any fleet numbers?



Simon

Thanks for getting back to me Simon,

40526 and I believe either 31001 or 30990 was the Scania on stand 3. The E400 was on the 1640 route 10 whilst the Scania behind had an engineer look at it after the E400 left before leaving not in service. Just before the 402 arrived (40527), 31419 arrived empty and parked up on the stand. Bus times shows this then worked the 1720 9 to Ashby from stand 9 on the other side of the road.