Well there's two West Coast Mainline routes now. I'm hoping given past history that JT does Carlisle to Glasgow next as that makes logical sense (continue the same journey that started Blackpool to Preston, then Preston to Carlisle, then Carlisle to Glasgow.) Also make sense to connect to Glasgow as it links two existing routes in TSW. It's win-win-win. As for going SOUTH though, what would be the logical route from Preston? Preston to Milton-Keynes is too far for one route. So where would it make sense to cut it into two routes? Considerations: Existing routes To be fair there is the bit from Liverpool to Crewe on Spirit of Steam, but that's a bit problematic given that it would still have to link to Preston and it's more than a couple years out of date. The WCML South bit is a lot more modern, but I don't see that being remade so soon after it was just done, so we'll just have to hope there's some layers for that at some point. Multiple "lines" I haven't ridden the WCML on my travels to the UK, but there seems to be quite a bit of variety in the middle... the northern "split" by Tamworth and the southern "split" to Birmingham, etc. So it might make sense in terms of track distance to actually have slightly shorter routes given that like the SESH there's multiple "lines" on the same "route." Also for some reason Manchester seems to be considered on their website to be included in the WCML, so that's a huge spur that would have to be created. But, as I said I'm not a native so don't know what makes sense for actual timetable runs. On the map it looks like Stafford would be a good middle point between Preston and Milton-Keynes. Thoughts?
I have to agree on this. I feel like Stafford would be a good midpoint as it is a junction station for the Trent Valley line and the route via Birmingham and Wolverhampton.
Me personally: Preston - Crewe & Liverpool via Wigan Crewe - Birmingham New Street w/ Stoke-on-trent Birmingham New Street - Milton Keynes Central w/ Northampton With the Trent Valley Line as a seperate thing. Ideally with the Manchester Airport line extended to Crewe; adding to connections with Spirit of Steam at Lime Street and Crewe and Birmingham Cross-City at New Street. In all cases the shorter routes allow for a branch (Wigan - Liverpool) or for the additional loops (Stoke/Northampton)
How about Preston to Manchester airport? Its about 50 mins between these two locations and its an existing route that TransPennine make, then on up to Carlisle and Glasgow. I like continuity with routes.
