The North Wales Coastal Main Line is a railway route in the United Kingdom that runs along the North Wales coast, connecting several towns and cities. It is a vital transportation link in the region, providing both passenger and freight services. The line starts at Crewe in Cheshire, England, and runs westwards, hugging the coastline of North Wales. It passes through towns and cities such as Flint, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction, and Bangor before terminating at Holyhead. Holyhead is an important port town and ferry terminal, providing connections to Dublin, Ireland. The North Wales Coastal Main Line offers scenic views of the North Wales coast, with its beautiful beaches, cliffs, and seafront towns. It is a popular route for both tourists and commuters, serving as a gateway to many attractions in the region, including Snowdonia National Park and the Isle of Anglesey. The route sits at 105 miles from Crewe Historical Context: During the 1990s, the North Wales Coastal line served as an important railway connection between Chester and Holyhead in North Wales. This scenic coastal route has a rich history dating back to the mid-19th century when it was first opened. It played a vital role in connecting North Wales with major cities in England, serving both passenger and freight traffic. Chester: Located in the county of Cheshire, England, Chester is an important historic city with a beautifully preserved medieval town center. The railway station in Chester is an architectural gem, featuring a mix of Victorian and modern elements. Shotton: Situated in Flintshire, Wales, Shotton station served as a key interchange point for passengers traveling between Chester and North Wales. Flint: Flint station, located in the town of Flint, is known for its connection to the ancient Flint Castle. The station serves as a gateway to the Welsh coast, with beautiful views of the Dee Estuary. Prestatyn: Located in Denbighshire, Prestatyn is a popular seaside resort town. The station serves both local commuters and tourists visiting the area. Rhyl: Rhyl station is another important seaside resort station, offering easy access to the sandy beaches and attractions of Rhyl. In the 1990s, it was a bustling hub for holidaymakers. Abergele and Pensarn: Situated in the town of Abergele, this station serves the local community and provides access to the nearby coastal areas. Colwyn Bay: Colwyn Bay station is located in the town of the same name and is known for its picturesque waterfront and sandy beaches. Llandudno Junction: Llandudno Junction is a major interchange station, connecting the North Wales Coastal line with the Conwy Valley Line and the branch line to Llandudno, a popular Victorian seaside resort. Deganwy: Deganwy station is a small station that serves the nearby town and provides access to the picturesque Conwy Castle and the medieval town walls. Conwy: Conwy station is situated within walking distance of the historic Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The station offers stunning views of the castle and the Conwy estuary. Llandudno: Llandudno station is the terminus of the branch line from Llandudno Junction. This iconic Victorian resort town is known for its pier, promenade, and the Great Orme limestone headland. Penmaenmawr: Penmaenmawr station is located in the town of the same name and provides access to the stunning natural beauty of the Snowdonia National Park. Llanfairfechan: Llanfairfechan is a small station serving the community and offering access to the nearby coastal areas and the surrounding countryside. Bangor: Bangor station is a major transport hub, serving as the gateway to the Isle of Anglesey. It provides connections to the Menai Bridge and the Britannia Bridge, which leads to the island. Llanfairpwll: Llanfairpwll station is known for having the longest place name in the United Kingdom. It serves the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch and offers easy access to the attractions on Anglesey. Valley: Valley station is situated on the Isle of Anglesey and serves as an important transport hub for both passengers and freight, with links to the RAF Valley airbase. Holyhead: Holyhead station is the terminus of the North Wales Coastal line and a busy ferry port, providing connections to Dublin and other Irish destinations. It has a rich maritime history and offers stunning views of the Irish Sea. Crewe: A large railway junction station located in Crewe, Cheshire and is the start of this route Rolling Stock in the 1990s: During the 1990s, the North Wales Coastal line was primarily operated by diesel-powered locomotives and multiple units. Some of the rolling stock commonly seen on the line during that era included: Class 37 locomotives: These versatile diesel-electric locomotives were a common sight on the North Wales Coastal line, often hauling passenger and freight services. Class 47 locomotives: Another popular diesel locomotive, the Class 47, was frequently used for both passenger and freight operations during the 1990s. Class 43 HSTs which worked the Intercity West Coast Runs from Euston and were built in the 70s and 80s and went on to be a mainstay of the British railway network Class 158 multiple units: These modern diesel multiple units (DMUs) were introduced in the late 1980s and early 1990s and were commonly seen on the North Wales Coastal line, providing passenger services. Landmarks and Special Facts: The Dee Estuary: The North Wales Coastal line offers scenic views of the Dee Estuary, a large coastal inlet known for its diverse wildlife and protected nature reserves. Conwy Castle: The railway line passes near Conwy Castle, a medieval fortress built by Edward I in the 13th century. Its impressive walls and towers make it a prominent landmark in the area. Great Orme: Llandudno, located at the terminus of the branch line from Llandudno Junction, is famous for the Great Orme, a massive limestone headland offering stunning views of the coast and the town. Snowdonia National Park: The line skirts the edges of the Snowdonia National Park, a vast and picturesque mountainous region known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. Holyhead Port: Holyhead serves as a major ferry port, with regular connections to Dublin and other Irish destinations. The port has played a significant role in connecting North Wales with Ireland for centuries.
yyeessss, I would love this to be the first welsh route, a very nice route too with some beautiful scenery.
Lovely route, though I would prefer it in the early 80s so stock from NTP can be used as I would adore to see the Peaks in another route.
Great suggestion for a great route though would a DVT be included for the class 47 trains. As i know they were used with class 47s on trains to holyhead.
North Wales Coast is one of the few reasons I now keep MSTS and OR lurking on my PC. Combination of route and classic traction era is just superb. The TSC version is… okay but the 175 is a bland train to drive and the Voyager seems a bit off with sound and physics. Most of the traction we need for this route in the early 80’s already exists in game, just add some blue/grey Mark Ones and a buffet car.
47543 with DVT at Llandudno Jct on the 1338 Holyhead to Euston 31405 At Bangor on a Crewe to Bangor service Yes definitely you have my vote hopefully we can get enough people interested to get a Welsh route in the game and it would be great for it to be the North Wales Coast .I ve travelled many miles on this line and it as great potential with all the varied traction.
YES. as long as the 37 gets new sounds and not the recycled cr*p that we have had in the past, then I am all for this suggestion.. TSW3 has got pleanty of english routes and needs to explore more into the other countries that make up the UK. Scotland needs more routes (such as the West Highland Line) and Wales and N Ireland needs to start to be included in the game.
Spot on and for Northern Ireland the Main Belfast to Dublin route has to be built to Dundalk the last AWS TPWS DSD Driver's Remainder Appliance stop since south of there requires CAWS Ireland
And as far as I can remember there were buffet cars on the Loco hauled trans pennine services as well
