Class 350/1 for Birmingham Cross City Line The train: Description: The British Rail Class 350 is a class of electric multiple-unit built by Siemens Transportation Systems to its Desiro design between 2004 and 2014. All 87 are now operated by West Midlands Trains, having previously been operated by Central Trains, Silverlink, Southern, London Midland, First TransPennine Express and TransPennine Express. All of London Midland's 77 Class 350s were inherited by West Midlands Trains on 9 December 2017. WMT operate all of the units primarily under its London Northwestern Railway brand, however some units also run routes under the West Midlands Railway brand at times. A further 10 were transferred from TransPennine Express in 2019–20. Why? The Class 350 would be a brilliant addition to the line. It would be the first Desiro for Train Sim World® but sadly it couldn't later onto any other routes so far. In the Cross City Line it would operate between: Four Oaks - Birmingham New Street Aston - Birmingham New Street (Credit description from Wikipedia.org) Interior: The seats are laid out in a 2+2 configuration and have a pis display at the middle of each coach and at the toilet. The have automatic doors between caridges which can be opened by a button on the doors. The PIS is a smart PIS display with green text displaying: Current Station, Next Station and Final Destination. I would love to see this train in the game so if your DTG, then please consider making it and if not then let me your thoughts bellow.
Now this. is something I cant deny. This would make for a good dlc train. Also giving the route a tad bit more life.
Do 350s go to Redditch or Bromsgrove? Also what route would a 350 layer onto because I can't think of any route apart from the Bakerloo line as AI on the WCML. Personally I think that a 170 dlc would be better.
I believe this to be incorrect on all counts, I'm afraid. I'm not 100% on the stretch to Four Oaks, but they definitely don't run from New Street to Redditch or Bromsgrove. Nope. They run into New Street, but I don't believe they stop at any of the featured stations, so would only ever be AI services and then only just to the north of New Street. The 170 would be a much better addition to this route.
You would see the Class 350 between New Street and Aston (on the Chase line), otherwise they don't run Cross City services.
I’m sure I’ve seen a photo of a 350 at Bromsgrove many years ago. I don’t know what service it would have been working though. i think 350’s did a portion of the Brighton Mainline whilst it was still London Midland
Really because from what has been said above they don't go down that part of the route. Maybe you are getting mixed up with a 170 as they go down Bromsgrove way. Where? I though they only took power from the OLE.
Some of the dual voltage Class 350/1 fleet was used by Southern for a few months in 2009 to operate Watford Junction - East Croydon services whilst some of the Class 377/2 fleet went to First Capital Connect due to delivery delays of the new Class 377/5 fleet.
I assumed it runs services to Bromsgrove because I saw an image of it there Might have just been a special service. Sorry. I have changed the original post for my corrections
Maybe so, but as far as I know it's just the Class 323, plus the Cross City route we have at the moment only has 4 car stop markers up to Aston I think.
*facepalm* sorry. Your probably right. A Class 170 would suit the route better but... Come on... A Desiro??! What's not to love!
I think we'll see one of the iterations of the Desiro UK at some point. DTG have based a lot of DLC on them in TSC. I've been so won over by the Black Country charm of BCC that I'd actually be happy if DTGs next route added to the West Midlands area by doing Coventry to Wolverhampton. While the Midlands isn't my favourite railway area it's nice having a bit of a network. South Coastway seems more fun now BML goes to Brighton too.
Wonder what the appetite would be from folk to have a proper West Midlands network. Adding in the Walsall line up to Rugeley Trent valley, the line down to Hereford would provide a good selection of routes, a good amount of traffic at New Street and some varied trains(no idea what trains run on each line tbh haven’t researched it yet) At a push the two lines from Rugby to Stafford would allow Avanti & London Northwestern for some proper variation of traffic through new street.
Having travelled from Stafford to New Street on one when it was fairly new I can think of plenty of things, it was like sitting on a concrete slab, I don't think I could endure a longer journey on one. I was quiet though I grant you and seemed to ride smoothly. They do look quite nice too.
As a local I would be very pleased to see it. I think an extension to Worcester or Hereford would be great with a DMU included, that end of the route would be quite a contrast with its mechanical signalling and traditional signal boxes, plus line through Malvern to Hereford is very pretty too and for operation interest you have the single track section. You wouldn't get very far in the Black Country by describing anywhere relating to Birmingham as Black Country , and definately don't say they have a Brummie accent.
Whilst I do think a Class 350 would be sensible (could be used to make New street more busy + for the WCML seen at Litchfield + the stretch on bakerloo), i think it would be more benefitial for the route if a Class 170/172 was the DLC instead, considering they extensively run down the line, or even Class 730 when they enter service
Coincidentally, a post on Class 350s at Bromsgrove was posted on RailUKForums on Monday. One of you maybe? It can be read at https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/class-350’s-at-bromsgrove.239761/
I think a 730 would be a good move. The next generation of Rail Simmers will be into the latest units (at first anyway) so from a commercial sense having a 730/323 transition and a 730 only timetable addition would be good. Stick a few green 730s at New Street as they'll be replacing some of the Desiros soon. Anyway, I have a feeling WCML South is on DTG's wish list, so like Brighton was when the South Coast route was released, New Street will be a bustling rail hub in TSW3 at some point.