An idea for a nice remaster could be that of the Midland Mainline. It has been quite a long time since the route was set, and a lot has changed on the route, and there are a lot of points along the old route I just feel are missing. My proposal is that like has been done with Great Western Express, DTG (or any other 3P) can revisit the route and create the MML - Remastered. It would be set in modern day with the EMR Class 222 ‘Meridian’, EMR Class 170 (In its 2 car and 3 car variants), and a remodel of the EMR class 158, with the possibility of a further add on to add in the new class 810 ‘Aurora’, and the refurbished 158/170. Some places I would like to see in the route would be: • Derby Litchurch Lane - This factory situated just South of Derby station can technically be accessed in the current version, however it is not on the route map and so is not in very high detail with no services in and out. • Derby Chaddesden Sidings - These sidings are situated just North of Derby station, and like Litchurch can technically be accessed in the current version of the MML, however is not on the map and does not have any services in or out of it. • A rework of Derby Etches Park Sidings - This depot located just East of Derby station is EMR’s Base of Operations and relatively recently went under a big remake to prepare it for the arrival of the 810s. • Toton TMD - This giant freight depot is located North of Trent Jn and is one of DB Cargo’s primary locations, calling home to a large majority of their class 66s, 67s and what is left of their 60s • Ratcliffe Power Station - Located at East Midlands Parkway station, this coal powered power plant has now ceased all operations, being the last coal powered power plant in the UK to stop. When it was still in operation, it would have coal trains run in from via Toton or Nottingham daily operated by GBRf’s class 66s. • Loughborough Brush - These old works are located on the side of Loughborough station. • A remodel of Leicester LIP - This loco depot and maintenance point just North of Leicester station recently undertook some remodelling, adding a new loco shed for GBRf’s new class 99s. As for the stock running it, there are plenty of choices: • EMR Class 222 ‘Meridian’ - This DEMU runs only on the Midland Mainline, however is soon to have 001-005 sent of to Lumo for WCML operations. Units 001-004 are 7-car sets, whilst 005-104 are 5-car units with 104 being in a unique full purple livery. • EMR Class 170 - This DMU can be found all over the country, and this is no different for EMR. They own a large and varied fleet of 2-car and 3-car class 170s all based on their Derby Etches Park depot. • Rework of the EMR class 158 - Still in the same livery as their EMT versions in the game, the class 158 is EMR’s second regional stock, operating all over their network. Further layers: • It would be great if the CrossCountry class 170 would include playable services between Nottingham and Derby (2tph, 1 non-stop, 1 calling at Beeston and Long Eaton). Further Ai services between Leicester and Syston Jn would be nice to see as well. • The class 220 can layer over with Ai services at Derby coming from the North from Chesterfield and Sheffield down to Birmingham, with the possibility of a scenario in which they have to divert via Leicester. • Railtours can often appear on the midland mainline, headed in and out of Leicester, Derby or up the MML to Toton and beyond. It would be nice to see a large selection of steam and diesel tours operated by all sorts of old mainline stock in the game operating all over the MML network. Furthermore now that the GCRN mainline link has been reopened, it would be nice to see heritage stock moves to and from Loughborough with Ai taking the stock onwards to GCRN. Freight flows: • Intermodal freight services run frequently between Trent Jn and Leicester, Toton and Leicester or down the Melton line at Syston Jn, going both North and South. Playable services could operate between Leicester and East Mids Parkway (with Ai taking it off towards Castle Donnington) or from Leicester to Toton. • Aggregates operate in and out of Mountsorrel Sidings headed North through Derby and Toton or south through Leicester, and from Chaddesden Sidings headed down the Midland Mainline to Leicester. Playable services would include services to and from Mountsorrel via Derby, Leicester or Toton and a couple services from Leicester to Chaddesden and back. • Coal trains used to run frequently in and out of Ratcliffe P.S from Nottingham or Toton. Playable services would include a couple of runs from either location headed full into Ratcliffe P.S and empty out of it. A further scenario can be made to depict the final coal delivery into Ratcliffe, with a naming ceremony taking place in the power station. • Metals trains operate in and around Toton a lot, with a flow headed down to Boston Docks via Nottingham or down the Midland Mainline down the Melton line. Playable services can include one full and one empty flow to Nottingham from Toton, and a couple headed down the MML towards Syston Jn. • Oil trains operate between Kingsbury and to Immingham docks, with a playable stretch headed from Trent Jn to Nottingham. Future add-ons: • A future add-on for the new EMR class 810 and refurbished EMR class 158s and 170s operating under the new 2026 timetable. • If a deal can be struck with Colas Rail, the possibility of test trains to populate Derby RTC including the famous ‘Flying Banana’ NMT, T&T class 37 test trains and some DBSO stock as well. Tests can be played operated all over the network and can also later over into most modern day routes all over the country. • On-track Machines are a large part of keeping the network running, and there are very often many places along the MML in which we see these. Tampers and stoneblowers can be found at Trent Sidings and Derby RTC, with storage at Chaddesden as well. These are all the things I’d like to see at some point on this route. There could also be the chance to redo the original MML timetable with the current HST and 158, however this is not necessary. The route can do something similar to the GWML, in that users who own the old MML get the upgrade for free, but those who don’t have to pay, maybe a route priced from £20-30. I hope the route wound be a good addition.
Perhaps an extension upto Sheffield could be included. This would add Chesterfield, Dronfield, Dore & Totley* as well as obviously Sheffield. *(Dore & Totley's platforms are technically on the Hope Valley Line but the two lines run next to each other at that point so it would be wierd to be able to drive past, but not to, Dore & Totley) Of course this need a Northern DMU (most likely a 195) to run services from Sheffield to Chesterfield (bound from Leeds to Nottingham) and Sheffield to Dore & Totley (bound for Manchester Picadilly) EDIT; Forgot Belper and Duffield. My b. Side note, there's a lot of places with field at the end of their name around this area, huh
Kinda defeats the purpose of a remaster, If remastered it should stay in its original era but with a few more locos and line expansion
Skyhook already ruled out extending the route claiming it wouldn’t be commercially viable. It already got a makeover to fix the many errors and scenery issues it had on release. And with Skyhook seemingly stepping back from major TSW projects, the chances of them doing anything else with MML seem remote.
Fair points there Vern. I'm just hoping that at some point we can get the XC services added, at least.
Great Western Remastered is set at a slightly different time as the original route as I believe most the line will be electrified now and the stations that were under construction have finished construction, and it's not like the route will be changing from steam are to modern day, it's only a few years
Question is,who? Rivet now seem to operate as a full time consultant to DTG. AABS and JT have their own plans. I mean, JT would be the logical choice given their extensive coverage of the MML in TSC, so they would have all the necessary reference material. It’s by no means certain ATS are even contemplating another route, let alone picking up on extending or enhancing a previous developer’s work. Athena seem to have vanished into the night after their abysmal Class 47 Railtour Pack. There just don’t seem to be many 3P’s who are prepared to dig in for the long run with a route project.
Good point, there is also the chance that DTG could take it themselves (unlikely) or a new one could pop up too, but maybe it would be for a future plan after the current projects have finished.
Sheffield - Derby / Nottingham would be another route rather than extention. Licensing needed for further Northern stock if remember rightly could be wrong. Plus licensing needed for East Midlands Class 170s Quite right would be nice to gain more CrossCountry work. Sure it hasn't made its way to East Coast Mainline yet either. Ie AI at Doncaster from services from / to Sheffield direct rather than via Leeds. But we'll have to wait & see what the future holds for this route.
would be nice but I believe Liam (who does the remasters) has stated that GWE will be his last remaster
