Trip to Burton-on-Trent / Swadlincote 11-06-2016

Bus	From	To	Service	Operator
3804	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 6)	Swadlincote bus park	9	Arriva Midlands
3774	Swadlincote bus park	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 8)	9	Arriva Midlands
2985	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 6)	Eton Park, Adj Kingsley Road	2A	Arriva Midlands
3713	Horninglow, opp The Navigation	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 8)	1	Arriva Midlands
2716	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 6)	Steppenhill, opp Sycamore Road	2A	Arriva Midlands
2987	Steppenhill, opp Maple Grove	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 8)	2	Arriva Midlands
2739	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 6)	Horninglow, Adj Longmead Road	3	Arriva Midlands
3709	Horninglow, Opp Outwoods Street	Burton upon Trent, New Street (stand 8)	3	Arriva Midlands

Today we decided to revisit Burton. We checked the weather for the North West and Midlands and the weather seemed to be the best in the East Midlands. Other research consisted of checking the Burton area saver ticket to where it was valid to and home much it costs. We gave Matthew a list of places to choose from and from the list he chose Burton. Matthew got up around 10:00 and had toast and orange juice for breakfast. We set off just after 12:00 and we headed onto the A5035. We went East up to Longton and we joined the Eastbound A50. As we traveled towards Burton we saw drove past the Copeland's Tours depot I the depot we could see MIB 116 & MIB 118 as well as a green coach which looked like an ex Robin Hood Bova. We also passed an unidentified coach. We came off the A50 and we joined the A511. a couple of mile down the road we stopped at The Salt Box cafe. For dinner Matthew had an all day breakfast and some toast washed down with some Coke. Whilst we ate we saw Arriva Midlands 2986/3713 on the #1 service. After we had finished we got back in the car and we continues into Burton along the A511. As we came into town we saw Trent Barton 616 on the V1 service, Midland classic 85 on the #403 service and Midland Classic double decker 47 on the #19 service. We came into town along Guild Street and we park in the surface car park off Station Street. Once we had parked up we said goodbye to mum and we walked past the shops and along the alleyway to onto New Street. We saw Arriva Midlands 3709 on a #3 to Winhill.

Arriva Midlands 3709 in Burton upon Trent

We also saw Midlands Classic 21 on a #21 to Swadlincote.

Midland Classic 21 in Burton upon Trent

We headed up to High Street and we crossed the road and walked through the arcade and into the market hall. Matthew used the toilet and then we walked back onto High Street where we saw Arriva Midlands 3767 on X38 to Derby.

Arriva Midlands 3767 in Burton upon Trent

We crossed the road and we turned to see Trent Barton 660 on a V3 villager service.

Trent Barton 660 in Burton upon Trent

As we turned the corner from High Street on to New Street we saw Arriva Midlands 3804 about to work a #9 to Coalville

Arriva Midlands 3804 in Burton upon Trent

We got on the bus and we booked Burton area Day Saver tickets at £4.20 each before sitting down towards the back of the bus. The bus set off along New Street and we turned left onto High Street and we ran to the end before turning right onto the A511. We crossed the floodplain of the river Trent and we continued East along the A511 past Burton Golf Course and then right onto Wood Lane. We continued forwards onto Bretby Lane and at the mini roundabout we turned left onto High Street. We ran East for around a mile and we turned right onto Darklands Road and we ran down the hill into Swadlincote. We turned left onto Civic Way and we entered Swadlincote Bus Park. When we got to the bus park we got up and got off the bus. Matthew then took another picture of Arriva Midlands 3804.

Arriva Midlands 3804 in Swadlincote

We saw dud Arriva Midlands 2986 on a #8 back to Burton, and we decided to turn it down. we checker the timetable and we saw there was a #9 back to Burton in under 10 minutes. We turned and we saw Arriva Midlands 3573 on a #2 to Derby.

Arriva Midlands 3573 in Swadlincote

We let that bus go and it was a good job too. The #2 was only hourly, and although we were valid on the #2 as far as Clay Mills, we probably would have had a long wait for the return service. Matthew had a bag okf Milky Stars whilst we waited. A few minutes later we saw the bus approaching. It was required Arriva Midlands 3774 on a #9 to Burton.

Arriva Midlands 3774 in Swadlincote

We got on the bus and we flashed the Burton area Day Saver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off out of the bus park onto Civic Way and we turned right onto Darklands Road. At the top of the hill we turned left onto High Street and we ran through Newhall. At the roundabout we turned right onto Bretby Lane and the continued forwards onto Wood Lane. At the roundabout we turned left onto the A511 and we ran west past the golf course and over the floodplain into town. We turned left onto High Street and we went across the end of New Street and forwards onto Lichfield Street. We turned right onto Lichfield Street and right again onto Lichfield Street (I know!), and we stop around the corner from the start of the service adjacent to the Octagon Shopping Centre. We let the bus empty out and then Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3774.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3774

We turned the corner and we saw required Arriva Midlands 2985 on a #2A to Eton Park.

Arriva Midlands 2985 in Burton upon Trent

We decided to do this bus so we could keep moving. We got on the bus and we flashed the Burton area Day Saver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off along New Street and we went forwards onto Borough Road and past the railway station. We encountered i little bit of traffic around the one way system and we followed the road around to the right. Going North up Waterloo Street we crossed over Dallow Street and onto Victoria Crescent. At the end of the road we turned left onto the A511 and few hundred yards up we turned right into the Eton Park estate. We followed the Shakespeare Road to the end and we turned left into Tennyson Road. We turned left again onto Masefield Crescent and we saw that some was waiting at a stop so knew we must be inbound again so we got up to get off the bus. Before we got off Matthew turned to get a picture of the now empty Arriva Midlands 2985.

Inside Arriva Midlands 2985

Once off the bus we decided to walk back towards the main road as the frequency of the bus service on this part of the route was only once every 30 minutes. We walked back onto Shakespeare Road and we continued back onto the A511. As we got to the main road we saw a stop to the left so we walked up the few yards. This stop was served by #1, #1A & #2 buses and a quick check of the timetable revealed there as a bus due in around 5 minutes. Whilst we waited for the bus we required Arriva Midlands 2711 on a #2 to Horninglow. A few minutes later we saw a bus approaching... As it got closer we saw that it was required Arriva Midlands 3713 on a #1 service.

Arriva Midlands 3713 in Horninglow

We got on the bus and we set off South Eastwards down the A511. We ran into town and onto High Street and we let the bus empty before Matthew took a photo inside Arriva Midlands 3713.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3713

We got off the bus and we saw required Trent Barton 745 on a X38 to Derby.

Trent Barton 745 in Burton upon Trent

We turned to see Midland Classic 44 on a #19 to Swadlincote.

Midland Classic 44 in Burton upon Trent

We decided to go and do some shopping so we crossed over the High Street and we went to the paper shop. Matthew brought a can of Coke as well as a couple of chocolate. bars. When we had finished shopping we paid for the goods and we returned onto the High Street. We visited the cash machine to get some money and then we returned around the corner onto New Street where we saw Trent Barton 657 on a V4 villager service to Centrum.

Trent Barton 657 in Burton upon Trent

We also saw Arriva Midlands 2716 on a #2A to Steppenhill.

Arriva Midlands 2716 in Burton upon Trent

We decided to do this bus so we got on and we flashed our Burton area Day saver tickets to the driver before we sat down towards the back of the bus. We set off up New Street and at the end we turned right onto Lichfield Street. When we got down to the A5189 we turned left to travel Eastwards. We crossed the floodplain and at the roundabout we turned right onto Main Street. We turned right onto Hill Street and we turned right again onto Heath Street. At the end we continued straight onto Waterside Road. We stopped briefly at the timed stop adjacent to the river Trent and then we carried on along the route back towards Burton. At the end we turned left onto Cumberland Road and we climbed the hill. When we saw somebody at a bus stop wanting to get on the bus so we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus we decided to walk to see where the next stop was. It was about 40 yards away on the other side of Roliston Road on the corner of sycamore Road. This bus stop had a shelter and a seat, so we decided to wait there. Matthew shared his double Milky Way with me and uncle Dave and and then he a drink of lemonade. A few minutes later we saw the next #2 approaching we saw an Arriva Midlands Versa approaching. As it got closer we saw it was required Arriva Midlands 2987.

Arriva Midlands 2987 in Steppenhill

we got on the bus and we traveled back into Steppenhill centre and up Main Street. At the roundabout we turned left onto the A5189 and we crossed over the river Trent. We turned right up Lichfield Street and we ran into town. Once off the bus we decided to visit the toilet again. We crossed the High Street and we went through the arcade and into the market. After visiting the toilet we returned onto the New Street and we saw Midland Classic double decker 52 on the #9 to Swadlincote.

Midland Classic 52 in Burton upon Trent

We spotted required Arriva Midlands 2739 and we decided we do that next. On the way down to it we saw Hammonds coach NH08 HAM heading East.

Hammonds NH08 HAM in Burton upon Trent

Further down the road Matthew took a picture of required Arriva Midlands 2739 before we got on it.

Arriva Midlands 2739 in Burton upon Trent

We flashed the Day Saver tickets to the driver before we sat down at the back of the bus. We set off down New Street and right onto Union Street and left onto Borough Road. We crossed over the railway by the station and we went forwards onto St Paul's Square. We went around the church and Forwards onto St Paul's Street West. At the end we turned right onto Shobnall Street where we passed required Arriva Midlands 4798, which we had been chasing all day!. At the end we turned left onto Dallow Street and we crossed under the A38 and we went towards the hospital. We turned right onto Calais Road and right again onto Wyggeston Street. We turned left onto Longsmead Road and we got up and got off the bus. Once off the bus Matthew took another picture of Arriva Midlands 2739.

Arriva Midlands 2739 in Horninglow

We decided to go back towards the A38/A511 to try and catch a #1 or #2. The thing is we crossed under the A38 and i had forgotten this fact! I headed towards the traffic sound and we walked through an estate which didn't have roads only footpaths (must be a bugger to find parking...). We spotted a distant double decker in a college... It was an unidentified ex London Plaxton President. We saw a main road and we saw a bus go by. we worked out that we had walked back Dallow Street. We had around a 20 minute wait for the next bus so we visited the corner shop and Matthew purchased another can of Coke and chocolate bar. We saw the bus go up towards the hospital and we saw it was dud Arriva Midlands 3709. A few minutes later it returned as expected, dud Arriva Midlands 3709.

Arriva Midlands 3709 in Horninglow

We got on the bus and and we flashed the Day Saver ticket to the driver for the last time. The bus was empty so Matthew took a picture inside Arriva Midlands 3709.

Inside Arriva Midlands 3709

We returned along Dallow Street and then right into Shobnall Street. We went around St Peters Square and around the one way system before passing the railway station. We went along Union Street and we spotted where mum had parked the car. we turned into New Street and we got up and got off the bus. Opposite to us was required Arriva Midlands 4798 on the #3 to Winhill.

Arriva Midlands 4798 in Burton upon Trent

We walked back to the car and we drove out of town along Union Street and forwards onto Guild Street. we joined the Westbound A511 and we crossed over the railway line and we went out of town past Eton Park and through Horninglow. We ran through Tutbury and Hatton we followed Arriva Midlands 3713 on the #1 towards the A50. We ran fast along the a50 and we saw A&P Travel V20 APT on the A515 Lichfield roundabout. We carried on West through Uttoxeter and Meir and we came of the A50 at Longton to check what was at Z Carz tonight. In the first row was Z Carz minibus X599 WDY.

Z Carz X599 WDY in Longton

Closest in the first row was Z Carz minibus BN03 OVS.

Z Carz BN03 OVS in Longton

In the second row was Z Carz Mercedes minibus CE02 LYX.

Z Carz CE02 LYX in Longton

Closest in the second row was Z Carz Ford minibus HK57 LFY.

Z Carz HK57 LFY in Longton

we turned the corner into Willow Row to see what was in the compound... In the actual compound was Z Carz Ford minibus YS09 LWV.

Z Carz YS09 LWV in Longton

On the road itself were a couple of minibus. The first we saw was Z Carz PN06 ONM.

Z Carz PN06 ONM in Longton

we turned around and we saw Z Carz PY08 KDX.

Z Carz PY08 KDX in Longton

We crossed the A50 and we went to Tesco to fill up with diesel. After filling up we got back onto the A50 and we ran up to Heron Cross. We ran through Blurton on Blurton Road and we turned right onto Church Road. We turned right into Beaconsfield Drive and we saw white minibus NX03 BFP. We got home around 19:00. For a late tea we had a jumbo sausage and mash with carrots followed by a chocolate covered shortbread biscuit. Matthew then chilled out on his computer until bedtime around 00:00... Mark