Is it possible to extend the ECML-[PETERBOROUGH - DONCASTER] to either Dalington or Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to give a more full service on the route, connecting the Tees Valley Line route to Mainline Services possibly including the new LNER services to and from Middlesbrough. I believe this would make the route more exciting, having more station stops en route, like York, which is home to the National Railway Museum - where TSW could incorporate a fascinating exhibition on its railside view; Durham, with its viaduct taking you over the north part of the City and the spectacular view of the Gothic style Cathedral and Castle; then moving up to Newcastle, with its tight corners/rail loop and gradients to challenge even the most proficient and expert of drivers! This then opens up the options for Add-ons from stations, like York, for Hull and scarborough/Harrogate as examples; Newcastle - Carlisle/Middlesbrough**/Sunderland***; Newcastle - Edinburgh, which would then open up links with ScotRail routes - increasing the route-jumping feature even wider! *Introducing the Multiple Units used by First Trains; **Introducing a new Multiple Unit (I believe) that Northern trains are operating - sorry, I can't recall the Unit Class! ***Bringing in the EMU operated by Arriva-Grand Central that run Sunderland, Hartlepool, Eaglescliffe (on the Tees Valley Route) to London Providing more station stops, between Peterborough to Doncaster, would in itself be great and more of challenge for players, making it more interesting as well - extending the route also challenges the players stamina and ability for a longer route and timetabling services.
Darlington to Doncaster is Do-able but it would kinda screw up the rest of the ECML because Darlington to Newcastle which is only 36 miles. An extension to York from Doncater could work, it's only an extra 30 odd miles and makes York to Newcastle more appealing as a standalone route at 80 miles flat.
Darlington to Newcastle is weird, more so than Peterborough to Doncaster. Best thing to do is extend the current one to York and then another from York to Newcastle.
By finishing at Doncaster rather than York, DTG have created a conundrum. York to Newcastle nice and doable, if a bit boring to Darlington, but filling in Doncaster to York on the short side and also pretty much a tedious flat run across the Yorkshire plains.
I still don't understand why they did Peterborough to Doncaster, such a weird section to do unless they fully intend to create routes out of either station (and Newark) for route hopping.
I guess the other possibility is they could do Doncaster to York and Leeds. However, sadly, I don’t see this route forming part of any long term DTG plan to do an extended ECML. It was just another fire and forget project, albeit one of the better ones, to provide something a bit iconic for TSW4 release and of course Stoke Bank for the Flying Dustbin.
Doncaster to Darlington makes sense to me. Could it be extended as far as Newcastle? Possibly not. As previously mentioned, this would open up service links with TVL - it would also be amazing to see York represented in TSW. Having said all this, I recently purchased ECML following its significant price reduction and was a little underwhelmed with the route overall. Apart from the populated station locations, the scenery is a rather sparse for much of the journey imo. The Azuma is excellent, however. I spend most of my time driving JT’s WCML - which has set such a high standard in route creation, I find it difficult to even consider anything else.
I’m really unconvinced with DAR as an end point. NCL is a terminus for some LNER services, so works somewhat better.
Problem with Doncaster to Darlington is that it’s just dead flat and other than York station not that interesting.
This is true. We would, however, have York, Thirsk and Northallerton on route. Perhaps we could even see Northallerton to Eaglescliffe added….all of this is wishful thinking of course.
