I agree, the ECML has been suggested a lot on these forums, everyone wants either the ECML or WCML in TSW in the future Welcome to the forums btw
The great thing is, the annual survey determines future routes and features. ECML has been at top with WCML for years, you'd think that means it's bubbling right?
It is arguably the fastest railway line (bar HS1) in the UK and very iconic being operated by LNER and having beautiful scenery. It also connects the capitals of England and Scotland. Essentially it's the Bentley of British railways.
The ECML is special in my heart because Valenta HSTs, York, Mallard's record run and many other either historical or modern memories as well but everyone's views of the ECML are different, some people prefer the ECML, others prefer the WCML
Here's a little sad fact: I've never been on either - I often travel along the midland main line whenever going up north- seeing the 801's in Kings Cross is epic though.
Well, 222s are a different ride experience to a 390 or a 801 as the later two are electric and the former is diesel, so there is that
I think if King's Cross was done with the right level of detail, the walkable concourse, a varied stock straight off the bat it'd be incredible
No it's the other way round time wise: the ECML is slightly faster than WCML. Speed wise trains would be able to go much much faster on the ECML than the WCML if speed limits didn't exist. HS1 is what we have in TSW already and so I presume you are talking about HS2 which for my job security's sake I will say who knows what the future holds.
On the wcml 110mph max speed limit for trains that can't tilt. On the ecml max speed 125mph for any train (if the train is fast enough), Also 125mph for a LOT longer, only station approaches and a few curves are less than 125mph on the ecml
i mean the ecml specifically between stevenage and grantham is the fastest section in england and at a point in time had 140mph running, trains like the mallard, the hst, the 91 are all tested there because the terrain favours faster speed, the ecml has more straights up until about berwick while the wcml is very bendy, EXTREMELY bendy but the new IETs have been cleared for 125 running but they cannot run north of preston because preston to glasgow is the most bendy part of the wcml. But track and infrastructure has been upgraded
I felt that one! No I have to admit the WCML is better at being worse than the the ECML. Everybody knows though that the ECML is far superior and all the best people in the country live along and work on the ECML! Between York and Newcastle is a fast section too and was very enjoyable when 47s were still about and peaks on NE/SW runs!
It definitely should be or the higher ups should have taken note. I do see a mainline coming in 2023 but i'd rather have the WCML south because 1: its a full route for both intercity and commuter services, which means you can basically drive a full route, 2) you have more to do, more layers(BCC and bakerloo line), you have the watford DC lines, (the northampton loop) which i put in brackets because idk if dtg would do it but it would be nice to have if added, you have pendolinos and all the iconic wcml flagship trains and let's say the route was confirmed dtg could consider doing the electric legends of the wcml with iconic BR Locos and my favourite train the APT. That's not to say that i don't like the ecml. If they do add it i'd love it in the gner days because that livery is beautiful
Yeah the 4 track section between york and darlington is fast, if i'm not mistaken. one place i'd love if they add the ecml is doncaster, but with the accurate timetable, doncaster is my favourite ecml station.
Yeah Doncaster is a rather interesting place as you have plenty of variety in the traffic you get there. No but it has Doncaster, Leeds and Newcastle. Also not forgetting the complete dump wonderful haven that is Peterborough.
i always get lost there, that's the highlights of my journey. never a complete journey if i don't get lost at newcastle
I'm personally not really into UK route, but i have soft spot for ECML, especially if it comes with Deltics or even better if it comes with LNER express' steam engines.
You all make good arguments but I personally prefer the WCML just because I prefer the Pendilinos to the 80x
The ecml doesn't just have 80xs remember, you got the Intercity 225 too which is so much better than the 80xs and several other trains such as the class 700, class 387 and up north class 185, class 158, class 195
It would just be good to see the countless countless countless loads and loads and countless and umpteen and exuberant and massive and hyper frequent amount of request for them to transpire into a "you said in loads of posts and surveys so we made it"
For once - i completely agree with you - I am tired of EMCL south suggestions in the modern era with almost no detail
not only that, if multiple people suggest it on the survey it's more likely to be seen by devs and managers lmao
Has everyone forgotten the 22 members of the awesome Class 55 Deltics and perhaps also the 10 shortlived Class 23 Baby Deltics. Both ECML runners. There is a new build Class 23 that is nearing completion which will hopefully remedy the fact that the entire class of 10 locomotives were scrapped in the 1970s.
Personally would love if the ECML was done from Edinburgh to Newcastle. If as suspected the new route is Edinburgh to Glasgow, it would help populate Edinburgh. Could add the North Berwick branch using 385’s too. Imo EDI - NEW is the most scenic part of the ECML and is a normal crew change point too to increase realism of not doing the full route. WCML London to Birmingham would be ideal, to populate New Street but is maybe slightly too much from a development point of view.
would love a route that goes from Scotland to England. Edinburgh to Newcastle is definitely ideal for this.
Tbh the ecml north of newcastle doesn't have as much as the wcml does from a built up area standpoint, there isn't that many depots and the biggest station is newcastle. It's easier than adding a wcml south with the birmingham area, stations like rugby, willsden depot, places with heavy scenery would slow it down for gen 8 consoles, but then again we have seen routes with more depots. Tbh i think they should add the ecml south first, it's much less mileage and built up area than the wcml which has loads of depots, big stations, etc but i would love a wcml south anyday, it's just that i want a well done route not the mess that train sim classic was
Absolutely, King's Cross is stunning and would be amazing to see in TSW. Here is my picture at King's Cross from earlier this year, just incredible. This and St Pancras are my favourite stations for their beauty:
In my opinion ECML would only work if it the 50s or early as then you would have more rolling stock but also WCML has more to offer in terms of rollingstock. Like you would (not from experience) see more trains that are interesting. As I don't like the 80x, 91s or 55 deltics as they are in my opinion operated.
