Prynhawn da! Good afternoon everyone! Going back to Wales today? Yes, this time moving to its northern coast; particularly, the highly requested North Wales Main Line, also known as the North Wales Coast Line. I'll focus on its central section, from Chester to Bangor via Llandudno Jn + its "town" branch. Chose this one because I wanted to propose a realistically achievable mileage and with most of the route in Welsh territory. Of course, including its most characteristic and scenic stretch! Would be set in 2022. Lively and busy Welsh mainline (despite its location), including intercity (AWC), mid-range/local stopper and Premier (TfW) services. Not to mention some freight activities to/from 2 local terminals! This is my North Wales Coast Line: Chester to Llandudno and Bangor! GENERAL FEATURES This route feature: - 60mi(96km) mainline lenght + 3mi(5km) Llandudno branch lenght. Total of 63mi(101km). - Double track, standard gauge (4 ft 8 1/2 in/1435 mm), unelectrified (most of). Except for: the initial section (up to Roodee Jn), 4 track served; Wirral Line tracks at Chester (electrified 750V DC third rail). - 1:200(0.50/55%) max gradient here. - 75-90mph(121-145km/h) max achievable speed, with some small drops. Route is managed by: - Network Rail (national government public company). Passenger service is operated by: - Transport for Wales Rail Ltd (TfW)(welsh government public TOC). - Avanti West Coast Ltd (AWC)(First/FS Groups private/public TOC). Freight service is operate by: - GB Railfreight Ltd (GBRf)(Infracapital Group private operator). THE ROUTE Top: general route view; all stations/stops are marked. - Red: Mainline. - Pink: Llandudno "town" branch. Bottom left: Llandudno area and surrounds. Bottom right: Chester area detail. Route general diagram. STATIONS This route includes 14 active stations/stops, including the Bangor and Chester terminals. One "bonus" stop (Shotton High Level, on Borderlands Line). The calls are, as follows: - Chester England/Wales border - Shotton (Low Level) - Flint/Y Fflint - Prestatyn - Rhyl/Y Rhyl - Abergele & Pensarn/Abergele a Phensarn - Colwyn Bay/Bae Colwyn - Llandudno Junction/Cyffordd Llandudno ----Llandudno branch----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Deganwy - Llandudno ----Mainline------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Conwy - Penmaenmawr - Llanfairfechan - Bangor Reference depot is: - Chester TMD (Alstom/TfW) STATIONS PICS Chester main station, busy easternmost terminal of this route. Crossroads of TfW, Merseyrail, AWC & NT services. A) Shotton (Low Level) stop B) Flint stop C) Prestatyn station D) Rhyl station Top left: Abergele & Pensarn station Top right: Colwyn Bay station Bottom: Llandudno Junction node station, shared with Conwy Valley Line & Llandudno branch Continue Below...
Page 2 Top: Llandudno terminal station, intermediate terminus for some services Bottom right: Deganwy stop, on Llandudno branch Bottom left: Conwy stop, most iconic and characteristic of this route Top left: Penmaenmawr stop Top right: Llanfairfechan stop Bottom: Bangor station, westernmost terminal of this route. From here, line continue towards Holyhead PASSENGER SERVICE TfW 2 / Birmingham International-Shrewsbury-Chester-Holyhead [stopper]: 1Tph/1Tp2h each direction (alternating with "10"). 7 / Holyhead-Llandudno-Chester-Manchester Piccadilly/Airport [stopper]: 1Tph each direction (including some Llandudno<->Llandudno Jn/Chester shuttles on peaks). 8 / Blaenau Ffestiniog-Llandudno[stopper]: 12Tpd(6+6) to/from Conwy Valley Line (including 1x only up Llandudno Jn). 10 / Holyhead-Cardiff Central/Maesteg [stopper/premier]: 10Tpd(5+5) direct stoppers + 6Tpd(3+3) semi-fast premier. 1Tph/1Tp2h each direction (alternating with "2"). Also present: Chester-Crewe shuttle, 1Tph each direction (AI Only at Chester). AWC Route C / London Euston-Chester-Wrexham General/Holyhead [intercity]: 1Tph up to Chester, including 12Tpd(6+6) extended to/from Holyhead. Plus 1Tpd extended to Wrexham General (via Shrewsbury–Chester Line, AI Only). Plus other traffic at Chester (AI Only). Some railtour opportunities, carried out by West Coast Railways Ltd. FREIGHT SERVICE Turn back on tracks just in 2022, after a decade (except for nuclear flasks until 2019). All services are managed by GBRf (up to 2022), including: - Hardstone(diorite) / Penmaenmawr Quarry Sdgs<->Crewe Bass Hall S.S.M. [weekly]. - Sub-base aggregates (various) / Llandudno Jn Tc<->Bescot Down/Hope(Earles) [weekly]. Without forgetting the RHTT service: Coleham Ss-->Coleham Ss (loop) [seasonal]. ROLLING STOCK PASSENGER - TfW BR Class 175/0-175/1 Coradia 1000 DHMU & BR Class 158/0 Express Sprinter DMU & AWC BR Class 221 Super Voyager High speed tilting DMU [new base stock+future DLC/deluxe]. - TfW BR Class 150/2 Sprinter DHMU & BR Class 153/3-153/9 Super Sprinter Diesel-hydraulic railcar [layers/already ingame]. FREIGHT - GBRf BR Class 66/7 "Shed" Diesel-electric mainline loco + Ermewa/VTG JNA-MMA Ealnos Wagon. Continue Below...
Page 3 LAMPOIL This route would easily pass through the DTG process, acting as a prime UK core route candidate in a new game iteration! ROUTE PICS A) Chester general view. B) Chester TMD (Alstom Traincare). C) Chester City Walls. D) Chester Racecourse & Golf Club. A) Hawarden Airport & Broughton Airbus Plant. B) Shotton Works, visible beyond River Dee. C) Flintshire Bridge over River Dee. D) Connah's Quay Power Station. A) Flint Castle (1277/84). B) TSS Duke of Lancaster on River Dee Estuary. C) Rhyle Miniature Railway around Marine Lake. D) Foryd Old & New Rail Viaducts over River Clwyd. A) Llanddulas coastal path. B) Llandudno view from "The Great Orme". C) Conwy Road, Suspension & Railway iconic entry bridges. D) Conwy general view & its Castle/Walls (1283/89). A) Gwrych Castle (1300/1800s) near Abergele. B) Llanfairfechan-Penmaenmawr coastal path. C) Penmaenmawr Quarry loading/sidings. D) Bangor general view. ROUTE VIDEOS Chester-Holyhead Cabview. TfW BR Class 175 Coradia 1000 DHMU (summer 2019). Please, consider it only up to Bangor! Trainspotting at Chester (with commentary)(2022). Trainspotting at Llandudno Junction (2022). Trainspotting at Bangor (2022). All RIGHTS and CREDITS to the original authors. Like my suggestion? Don't hesitate to tell yours and correct me, if there were any inaccuracies! Caravatt .
INTEGRATIONS The following layers was present at the time (2022): Primary (driveable): - BR Class 67 "Skip" Diesel-electric mainline loco + BR Mk4/DVT Push-pull formation (TfW Premier services). - BR Class 56 "Grid" "" (Colas Rail RHTT services). - BR Class 60 "Tug" "" (GBRf freight services). Secondary (AI Only): - BR Class 507/508 BREL 1972 EMUs (Merseyrail Wirral Line services at Chester). - BR Class 195 Civity DMU (NT services at Chester). - BR Class 150 Sprinter (various subclasses) DHMU (NT services at Chester). Railtours: Saturday April 30th 2022 will be remembered as the "three railtours day": - "North Wales Coast Express" Tylesey - Llandudno with 2x BR Class 20. - "Northern Belle" York - Holyhead with 2x BR Class 47. - "Llandudno Victorian Statesman" Ely - Llandudno with 2x BR Class 47. All services operated by West Coast Railways Ltd, using refurbished BR Mk1/2s coaches & "pullmans" Brown & Cream racks! Regarding possible Mastery for this route: Tier 1) (choosing between) - Airbus A300-600ST "Beluga" Visible at Hawarden Airport, transporting aircraft wings built at the local Airbus plant. - Knightly's Fun Park Colourful landmark, right next to the tracks at Towyn. Tier 2) - BR Vintage posters Here are some examples (1950s). Hope this was helpful! Have a great week everyone!
This is the most detailed route suggestion I've seen! The NWCL / NWCML is a route I really want to see in TSW as I reguarly go on holiday to North Wales and this is the local route also - this is simply known as Avanti West Coast.. Whilst I am aware (since it's announcment) that AWC is owned by both First and Trenitalia, I have never heard it being refered to as "First Trenitalia West Coast Rail Ltd"
oakleymoss#1362 Thank you! Was there on holyday in Sept 2016 (Arriva Wales back then, what times ). Gov website states it exactly as you say! Seems like that was a temporary solution, back in Dec 2019 (after Virgin closure). I'll correct that immediately! Link: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14445025 EDIT: Fixed now! Wiki calls it that way, thought! Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avanti_West_Coast
Agreed also if they make this I’d be curious as to how DTG could get a working timetable as Conwy, Penmaemawr and Llanfairfechan are request stops. An update for passenger behaviour would be needed, as passengers would raise their arm to signal the driver to stop.
They'll probably just make you stop there regardless on all, or certain services. Then probably half the train alights which makes no sense because if they're request stops they probably don't see much use
With all deference to those who want the route modern, this would be a jewel in the crown for BR Classic, mid to late 70's. Much of the stock already exists but it was a massive bashing stamping ground. Would be an ideal opportunity to bring in a Class 25, blue grey Mark Ones and another first generation DMU.
Oh, Vern... I've been waiting your thoughts (tongue-in-cheek, of course)! Let's say, I'm open to more eras with this route. BR Blue would be great, but think setting it in early 90s would be awesome!
An easy upvote from me - seeing the North Wales Coastal would make my day - especially if there was a link to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Would love this, either 90s or present. Still a sneaky suspicion this may be the All Aboard route but Crewe to Llandudno.
Conwy isn't actually a request stop, I was exploring the north coast for a holiday and they didn't mention anything about Conwy being a request stop.
You’re right I just checked a current TFW timetable stops between Llandudno junction and Bangor are no longer request stops only the ones between Bangor and Holyhead.
I would love for this route, even better if it did do the whole way to Holyhead so we can stop at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
