Route Ecml: Hertford Loop + Northern City Line (2019)

Another ECML route, this time it has a commuter focus out of the dense London suburbs into the countryside of Hertfordshire as well as the Historic Moorgate underground line. There was a time around 2019 where the 313s and 717s ran alongside each other so to have a little more variety this route will be set a couple years back.

Route Length: 27 miles (in total)
Stations: 17
Trains: Class 313, Class 717
Major stations: London Kings Cross, Moorgate, Highbury & Islington, Drayton Park, Finsbury Park, Watton-at-Stone, Hertford North and Stevenage.
Base service layer: Class 313 & Class 717
Extra layers+ AI: LNER Class 801, Class 700 & Flying Scotsman- London - Stevenage. Southeastern Class 395 at HS1 tunnel portal.

Things of Interest:
-Moorgate - Drayton Park uses 750v DC whilst the rest of the route is 25kv AC
-The Class 313s remained in their old (and very weathered) First Capital Connect liveries
-The Northern City Line is an old Northern line branch meaning the tunnels are a tight squeeze for both trains.
-There is a reversing siding north of Bowes Park for LNER trains heading for Bounds Green depot
-Not all stations are long enough for the 717s
-Emirates Stadium just south of Finsbury Park


Whilst the full ECML route between London & Peterborough may be unlikely for the foreseeable future, I think the Hertford loop with or without the Moorgate branch offers a good substitute with the same trains and traffic carried over from Peterborough - Doncaster and instead of it just being the ultra-modern 717, having the 313 included not only brings back an iconic train, but it also appeals to people who prefer older stock.

Thoughts?

 

Would be nice to see a 91 DLC that could also be used on here for services from KGX to Stevenage

 

It would be nice to be able to drive the Welwyn Garden City stoppers as well as semi-fast services as far as Stevenage, instead of only going via the Hertford loop. You might as well then extend north to meet up with Peterborough but then you've got ECML South!

IMHO if you're doing a route out of King's Cross it might as well be the full deal with Peterborough included, especially now we've already got that station in-game.

 

Would this be London Kings Cross & Moorgate to Stevenage via Hertford and Potters Bar? Or just via Hertford?

 

I was thinking just Hertford as it’s the route I think DTG are more likely to take

 

If it goes via both we have the chance for 801, 700 and 387 services between Stevenage - Kings Cross and Finsbury Park (Horsham trains)