Diamond Bus East Midlands (was Midland Classic of Burton)

[Andy Pacer]

Yes, First taking over the 22b on Saturdays only, only one an hour. The 22a now isn't going to operate at all on Saturdays.

An interesting anomaly there as the tender documents referred to to as 22A.

 

[ClydeCoaster]

Midland Classic has been acquired by Rotala for £2.58m. Its been confirmed that the vehicles will be branded as Diamond and painted into the blue livery.

Midland Classic bought by Rotala as group grows reach - routeone

Rotala has purchased Burton-upon-Trent operator Midland Classic in a surprise deal. The acquisition is worth a total of £2.58m.

www.route-one.net

Rotala has acquired Burton-upon-Trent operator Midland Classic. The acquisition is worth a total of £2.58m to the purchaser for a business that generated revenues of approximately £5.6m in the year to 31 July 2021.

Midland Classic – which operates around 60 vehicles on services in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Staffordshire and employs around 110 staff – will immediately be renamed Diamond Bus (East Midlands) Ltd. It will be controlled from the Rotala head office in Tividale.

The purchase “represents an extension of the group’s business to a new territory in the East Midlands from which further growth will be targeted,” Rotala says in a statement.

Adds Rotala Chief Executive Simon Dunn: “Midland Classic is a sizeable, well-established business in an attractive bus territory. It represents the entry by Rotala into the East Midlands, which is a new market for the group.

“However, at the same time, geographically it is adjacent to our existing operations in the West Midlands and so easily managed from there. The business also has its own freehold depot from which we will look to further expand Rotala’s services as the recovery in passenger numbers post-COVID-19 continues.”

The purchaser adds that full integration of the Midland Classic business is expected by the end of Rotala’s current financial year on 30 November.

Midland Classic was founded by James Boddice in 2005. It grew significantly in 2016 with the purchase of Arriva’s operations from Burton and in 2019 was recognised by a Transport Focus passenger survey as the third-best bus operator in the UK.

Purchase of Midland Classic represents further growth for Rotala’s business in the Midlands. Early in 2022 it agreed to purchase the bus business and certain assets of Claribel Coaches, while in April it agreed to acquire the Excelbus operation of Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel.

In Rotala’s interim results for the six months to 31 May, Non-Executive Chairman John Gunn noted that the bus industry’s recovery period “should bring a healthy flow of opportunities to Rotala, much like the acquisitions made in the first half of FY2022, for both organic growth and acquisitions.”

Mr Dunn has confirmed that Mr Boddice is to leave the business. Former Midland Classic vehicles will be repainted into Diamond Bus’s blue livery.

(Edit: apologies, I've just seen it's being discussed on Staffordshire Bus News thread.)

 

[Mikw]

An interesting anomaly there as the tender documents referred to to as 22A.

Indeed. The signs only went up this week on affected bus stops, hardly any notice and it's taken many by surprise. Including those who brought weekly tickets at the start of the week who now can't use them on Saturdays due to the change of operator.

 

[Bwsbro]

The first Diamond branded bus has arrived in Burton. Streetdeck MX20HVK

 

[Tubs]

The first Diamond branded bus has arrived in Burton. Streetdeck MX20HVK

Already? Thought it said that they wouldn't start rebranding until the sale was completed at the end of November

 

[43055]

Already? Thought it said that they wouldn't start rebranding until the sale was completed at the end of November

The Staffordshire live article says that the sale was completed on the 3rd August (Wednesday)

 

[Andy Pacer]

Already? Thought it said that they wouldn't start rebranding until the sale was completed at the end of November

The Staffordshire live article says that the sale was completed on the 3rd August (Wednesday)

That's right. The November date is, I believe, the deadline for back office systems to be transferred.

The Streetdeck is due to a Euro 6 requirement in Birmingham.
A streetlite should arrive today.

 

[WM Bus]

The Streetdeck is due to a Euro 6 requirement in Birmingham.
A streetlite should arrive today.

The A52 contract into Birmingham?
I think these were euro 6 single decks before.

 

[43055]

That's right. The November date is, I believe, the deadline for back office systems to be transferred.

The Streetdeck is due to a Euro 6 requirement in Birmingham.
A streetlite should arrive today.

The streetdeck (40726) is currently tracking on the A52 on bustimes. Would it make more sense now to move the A52 and X11 to Diamond in Birmingham now to save dead mileage?

 

[Andy Pacer]

The A52 contract into Birmingham?
I think these were euro 6 single decks before.

That's right. I think the Boots X11 used to use a decker (non euro 6) but then they had to swap the bus for a saloon to do the A52.

 

[317 forever]

We may as well mention the Rotala buyout of Midland Classic here, as this is the Midland Classic thread.

Rotala has a similar if broader place in the Midlands as Stevensons had. They are local to Burton and the 2nd largest operator in the West Midlands.

 

[43055]

Scania 81 is showing as withdrawn on bustimes.org, Apparently due to engine problems.

 

[Tubs]

Saw many debranded buses today.

 

[DaveLondon]

Saw many debranded buses today.

I have been on most of the routes today and I did not see any carrying other than Midland Classic names - route branding was thinner on the ground - are you suggesting that it is the route branding which is being removed? The Streetdeck had Midland Classic blind display! I was told by two drivers that renumbering of vehicles s not imminent as the computer systems are not compatible but who knows!

 

[43055]

I have been on most of the routes today and I did not see any carrying other than Midland Classic names - route branding was thinner on the ground - are you suggesting that it is the route branding which is being removed? The Streetdeck had Midland Classic blind display! I was told by two drivers that renumbering of vehicles s not imminent as the computer systems are not compatible but who knows!

So the numbering on bustimes.org is incorrect at the moment as all but 85 now have a 5 digit number. Only 1 of the route 9 Metrocitys was out yesterday afternoon which will explain the route branding being thin on the ground.

 

[Tubs]

What I meant was I saw many buses with the midland classic name removed from the side.

 

[SSmith2009]

40 still had MC branding this morning while on the 125

 

[broadwater]

I have been on most of the routes today and I did not see any carrying other than Midland Classic names - route branding was thinner on the ground - are you suggesting that it is the route branding which is being removed? The Streetdeck had Midland Classic blind display! I was told by two drivers that renumbering of vehicles s not imminent as the computer systems are not compatible but who knows!

Thanks. I paid a visit yesterday and all buses retain fleetnames and MC numbers. The earlier livery only has fleetnames above door/driver cab; newer livery, large fleetnames on the side below windows as well. The Airway, X12 and Tutbury Jinny brandings intact. No visible signs of Diamond takeover yet beyond notices inside. An impressive operation; a hard act to follow, I suspect.

 

[Tubs]

The Stevensons-liveried single deck (the modern one) just passed through Ashby with service 118 to Swadlincote? I'm very confused.

 

[sonic2009]

If Rotala have purchased Midland Classic in full now - then maybe this thread should be renamed?

 

[broadwater]

The stevensons livery single deck (the modern one) just passed through Ashby with service 118 to swad? very confused.

.... (as of 9th August) all buses retain fleetnames and MC numbers .... except for 85 which retains Stevensons heritage livery ...

 

[GusB]

If Rotala have purchased Midland Classic in full now - then maybe this thread should be renamed?

That was on my to-do list. Sorted now

 

[Tubs]

.... (as of 9th August) all buses retain fleetnames and MC numbers .... except for 85 which retains Stevensons heritage livery ...

I know I was confused about the fact it said it was the 118 to Swadlincote.

 

[43055]

I know I was confused about the fact it said it was the 118 to Swadlincote.

85 is apparently owned by one of the former owners (second to last post on here) and the 118 was a former Stevenson's route between Swad and Leicester. Maybe all the old routes are programmed in. The only times it went through Ashby yesterday was for driver changeovers on the 125 at Coalville.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I know I was confused about the fact it said it was the 118 to Swadlincote.

Surely "Sorry I'm not in service" would've been more appropriate.

 

[43055]

Second Diamond vehicle has arrived in the form of an Open Top ALX400 with fleet number 40100 and reg FOR 35T.

 

[Tubs]

85 is apparently owned by one of the former owners (second to last post on here) and the 118 was a former Stevenson's route between Swad and Leicester. Maybe all the old routes are programmed in. The only times it went through Ashby yesterday was for driver changeovers on the 125 at Coalville.

Wish there was an easier way to find information on past bus routes, information about past bus services in Ashby is practically non-existent.

 

[markymark2000]

Wish there was an easier way to find information on past bus routes, information about past bus services in Ashby is practically non-existent.

use the wayback machine on bus companies websites. Most sites go back to 2000s.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

use the wayback machine on bus companies websites. Most sites go back to 2000s.

Or timetable world for ancient history

 

[SSmith2009]

85 is apparently owned by one of the former owners (second to last post on here) and the 118 was a former Stevenson's route between Swad and Leicester. Maybe all the old routes are programmed in. The only times it went through Ashby yesterday was for driver changeovers on the 125 at Coalville.

Wish there was an easier way to find information on past bus routes, information about past bus services in Ashby is practically non-existent.

IIRC the 118 ended up becoming an arriva service that they changed during the early 00's to either the 28a/28b or was it 217/218 which now forms most of the current 29/29a.

Maybe one of the more mature members of the forum may know more about the exact history 118 route.