Hi, I hope you’re well, I’d like to print up a proposal for a route that I think has something for everyone, the Sheffield - Leeds line via Rotherham. It has somewhat high speed, commuter and freight. Also who doesn’t love a dirty diesel? Context As the name states, the route begins at Sheffield station and ends in Leeds (or vice-versa). It reaches roughly 40 miles in length and its a bit of a busy route. The current operators using the track between those two stations are Northern for local stopping services, Cross-country for express services and DB Cargo freight services. There is a total of 13 stations (including Sheffield and Leeds) and has a top speed of 100mph. I’d recommend the route being set in today’s time to take advantage of the higher speeds, rolling stock and infrastructure. DB Cargo Services I thought I’d start with the freight as it plays an interesting part within this line, as within the route a major steelworks factory at Rotherham is still in operation. DB run a class 66, typically, or a 60 on a rare occasion, but because the 66 is already in game, and has a DB livery, I see it being used. These freight trains run from the factory in all directions, from what I’m aware, so having steel freight (similar to those in TVL) from Aldwarke to Leeds, or even Wakefield would be good. Apart from that, normal container freight run between the two cities and so do cement trains bound for/originate from Hope. Northern Like mentioned above, Northern operate hourly stopper services between Sheffield and Leeds. They call at all 13 stations, however there is the three daily trains that run from Sheffield to York that stop at a couple of station where a service would stop at Moorthorpe and it would carry onto York. Rolling stock consists of mostly the class 150 and the 158 with the 153 used during peak times to increase capacity (and on a very very rare occasion a 195 is used) It’s worth to note that there is also an half-hourly service that goes to Doncaster, on this route it could go as far as Swinton to which the line diverts to the right. CrossCountry Cross country operate hourly services that go from Bristol/Plymouth towards Edinburgh. The only calling points for these trains on this proposed route are Sheffield, Wakefield Westgate and Leeds. They use class 220 and 221 voyagers and 7-car Intercity 125 with sliding doors rather than slam doors. On the rare occasion, these voyagers are coupled up to form 8/9 coach trains for increased capacity. Also there is another hourly service towards Newcastle that diverts through to Doncaster which then joins the line near Moorthorpe to follow to Leeds. Stations Like mentioned there are 13 routes on this line. Here’s a map of the line: Within the line you can expect track changing and even some shunting to add a little ‘pizazz’ Thanks for taking time to read my post. Hope my suggestion isn’t too extreme. Please let me know your opinions/suggestions below
I’d see how it’d work with maybe a reskin available for GWE and NTP, but for this line the 150 is usually more popular!
It would be nice to feature part of the ECML into Leeds. Maybe possibly extend the route slightly to include Doncaster too.
Making the route a “triangle” between Leeds, Doncaster and Sheffield would open up so much more opportunities for dlc, scenery and services especially, but it would be an extra 10 miles worth of track roughly, also more stations etc. I’d love to see it though!
I doubt that adding an extra 10 miles would cause any problems. It's well within the mileage they can do. Just look at Clinchfield which is released on Thursday. It's over 60 miles with the branch lines added.
Well I’ll keep my fingers crossed, it ain’t the most popular idea in the community but you never know what dovetail might do!
Really excellent idea and for the Cross Country HST Dovetail Games will make it by Reskinning the GWR HST into a Cross Country HST. Speaking of Cross country does anyone here know who owns it? For me if I have to guess it's going to be first group just like Great Western Railway and Southern is owned by Govia like Thameslink.
Thank you for telling me parent company for Arriva Trains is actually Deutsche Bahn while Abellio East Anglia is owned by NS Dutch Railways. Which means DTG has to ask Deutsche Bahn Arriva Trains parent company for Cross Country License for HST & Class 222 221
Well it had been said that DTG do have a good relationship with DB so more contributing factors to why this route is perfect for TSW!
I’d like to make a quick update, I’ve found a recently posted video on YouTube from the channel Don Coffey. In his, at the moment of writing this post, most recent video, a class 66 hauling tanker carriages over to Drax Power station from hope sidings. From the time stamps of 30:00 until roughly 1:02:00 you can see the line from Sheffield up to Doncaster! I’d recommend you give it a watch if you haven’t already, just to put this route into reality for those who haven’t seen it yet. I forgot to mention that the video takes a divergence to the right before Swinton station, this line is rarely used but I think it’s just to clear the mainline to prevent from any delays on services, correct me if I’m wrong.
Correct but Abellio requires an Agreement between Dovetail Games with Dutch Railways NS due to the NS arrow logo. Arriva Trains and Cross Country is part of Deutsche Bahn.
There is no Abellio on this route? So that wouldn’t be needed? It’s primarily DB and UK Government licenses that are needed.
Would buy it For XC services DTG could reuse the 43, but make new mk3’s DTG already have a relationship with DB (arrivas parent company) so I would assume XC lisencing would be easy to get If they did a voyager instead, it could add a layer on to GWE
Hello all, after the recent announcement of the Rivet Games Cornwall route having a class 150/2 developed for it, I’d like to bring this idea back from the dead to get some more attention onto it as now more than ever it could be a possibility! Again, any other ideas to add onto the existing comments are still very much welcome !!
Like the idea of the route, but CrossCountry is a very tricky one since Arriva are no longer issuing licences to use their brand
But Arriva is just a subsidiary of DB and they already has such a major presence in TSW so surely it wouldn’t be that difficult? I mean if they share recruitment websites and everything surely the licensing team would be the same? Correct me if I’m wrong.
Driverwoods (who judging by this you are replying to here) has a very annoying habit of throwing needless information at you. However I really like the suggestion, it seems like a wonderful route! And the Arriva 'issue' is mostly caused by the uncertainty relating to the potential sale of Arriva by DB.
Thank you so much for letting me know and glad to hear that you along with many others like the idea !!
Ok I love everything about this suggestion, the XC train, the 150/2, the Class 60 most definitely (I love the 66 but it would be nice to see a new freight loco). Great suggestion and I hope it gets added to the game