Good ideas, I suggested the northern portion because DTG made the southern portion for TSC (despite the northern portion also being in TSC)
The route really would be a good one in steam era, but seeing the condition steam locos are in I think I would rather it with FLIRTs. And that is saying something!
If they're going to do a route out to Southend, I'd prefer them to do the C2C line. Much more interesting mix of passenger and freight not to mention the seawall at Leigh-on-sea and the superb views of Docklands north of Limehouse. If DTG do Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria you'll either get a 720 or a 321 as those are the only units used on that route since 2013. There's no freight, no express trains, just a slight variation in stopping patterns. The Crossrail trips would stop at Stratford before the Eastern Portal into the core and in the extraordinary event that any of the GEML express stock was included, that would be a very boring 20 minute drive out to Shenfield. ATS haven't released the updated TSC route to GEML to Ipswich yet, let alone the long-awaited extension to Norwich. They've already said the route they're building uses existing TSW traction, so you're looking at pre-electrification Ipswich to Norwich in a Class 47 or a Class 101 between Ipswich and Stowmarket and that's the only section they could do without creating a fleet of EMUs for TSW. Though it's worth pointing out that TSW has no 1st or 2nd Gen AC EMUs* yet, so that's something that needs sorting asap. *Yes I know the Class 323 but they've thankfully never been near London and the South East.
The whole GEML can not be done in one go and it is 112 miles not 133. The stretch between LVPST And IPS is the best part if it could be made as it's a very dense section with plenty of stations in-between such as Stratford, Shenfield, Ingatestone, Chelmsford, Hatfield Peveral,Witham,Kelvedon,Marks tey, Colchester,Manningtree and Ipswich (Also all the TFL Stations in London But Greater Anglia do not serve them) The GEML will most likely never be introduced as for some reason Dovetail have not been granted access to licensing for use of Greater Anglia branding which is a shame.
Fair enough, I actually agree with you here so your best option is Liverpool Street to Ipswich but Ipswich to Norwich isn't off the cards though
Yep, that's the info I have too, so the chances of a post-2012 era GEML are very slim indeed. Though there's nothing stopping them doing an Network South East version with a nice mix of slam and sliding door stock. DTG haven't touched AC slam doors at all in their simulators and given their desire to try new things in TSW a backdated NSE Great Eastern mainline would tick that box and introduce an area of Britain that is missing in TSW presently. I remain positive that East Anglia won't be forgotten.
Oh of course, they could do the ONE era as well with a similar variety of slam and sliding door stock but NSE is a great shout
