personally living on this section of the line if we are getting Midland Mainline it doesn't feel right without the meridian because it is the main face of the line I think it was great for Skyhook to do the Midland Mainline but their loco choice was slightly off for this section of the route personally I'd prefer to at least see a meridian or even dare i say it a class 156 super sprinter than a class 158 let me know what you think
Pair this with a class 180 in emr livery and it'd be golden for a new timetable for the route - both 180's and 222's run on emr intercity
If im being honest I would - the HST has been done already and I think the 222 and 180 would be more interesting and give more variety then the hst.
It would be a great addition but I'd prefer to wait for a MML extension up to Sheffield and the Class 222 to come as a loco dlc like the Acela did. That way we get a chance to really stretch the legs of both the HST and Meridian.
Well forget extensions, they're not a thing yet that can be done. Like they did with the Acela won't happen too because it will have TSW3 Skies & Lighting already
Behaviour will be the same, cab is bit different and normally sounds should be too but don't quote me on that! But it will be different than the GWR one deff!
Hate to quote you on that but... The performance is similar however due to different engines there are slight differences in the way they behave when accelerating. Just to confirm your uncertainty, due to different engines the sounds will be different (providing they have been done right). Also as you also said the cab and coach interiors are different. I had a scout on the old youtube to find the two different engines noises as explaining things isn't my best skill! This one shows a HST with an MTU engine departing the same as whats on GWE: And this one shows a HST with a VP185 engine departing which will be included in the MML: This one shows the MTU engine one at speed: And last but not least this one shows the VP185 one at speed: Sorry for being complicated (the wife says it is one of my best skills!) but just thought putting the videos on would do a much better job at comparing the sound than I would writing and it also gave me a chance to remember the old days before the 80xs took over from the HSTs. Hopefully the links will work and if they don't then I have just wasted a load of my time doing it! Anyhow have a nice evening mate and like I said sorry to have quoted you on that!
that is saying they won't just recycle the one from gwe which sounds like something they would do as we only normally get one new loco with a dlc
It would be completely unacceptable to reuse the GWE HST as although they are of the same class of loco it would make this a no buy, no matter the route quality.
Okay I'm going to say something considering I was on a 222 just an hour ago: we NEED this fully done. I'm talking about full on the onboard kitchen, accurate first class and standard class aswell as the custom branded everything on the trains - they are a must have for the mml. Same with the 180 but haven't been on one for a while now.
I last travelled on a Grand Central Class 180 in 2017, so smooth and rapid on a non stop from York to King's Cross. Another must have type.
As a 180 is extremely unlikely, as it appears that MML; Leicester - Derby/Nottingham is set during the era of East Midlands Trains, a 222 is a must for a MML route. They are very frequently seen on it
im not joking when i say they are litterally the face of the entire route and somehow skyhook completely missed them out
