What could the mystery US route be? Alex mentioned they are having licensing issues which is why they haven't announced it yet. If that's the case it's obviously a new railway. Wonder if it's a commuter rail and I hope it's CTA with either the Blue or Orange line.
If it's a new licensor for the new route, I'd love to see Brightline/FEC, Conrail, Metra, Coaster, and/or Amtrak Cascades/Seattle Sounder. Here are a few ideas for each of these operators. -Brightline/FEC: -Miami-West Palm Beach (at least); preferably Miami-Orlando -Siemens SCB-40 Charger and Siemens Venture Coaches -FEC ES44C4 w/ LNG Fuel Car -FEC SD40-2 -FEC GP40-2/-3 -FEC GP38-2/-3 -FEC intermodal, manifest, and rock trains -High speeds: 79mph -Conrail: -New locos: SD45-2, SD45, SD40/SD40-2, SD50, SD60, SD70MAC, SD80MAC, C39-8, C40-8/C40-8W, U30C, GP30, GP35, GP40/GP40-2, GP38-2 -Horseshoe Curve Route Conrail DLC -CSX Conrail Heritage ES44AH with CSX Heritage DLC Pack -NS Conrail Heritage ES44AC added to NS Heritage Pack -Patched Penn Central units -GG1s and E44s on NEC DLC Pack (including Conrail Bicentennial GG1) -Metra: -BNSF Racetrack Route: Chicago-Aurora with ET44C4, GP60, and Metra F40PH-3 or F40PHM-3/Metra Cab Car -Coaster: -Siemens SC-44 Charger/Commuter Coaches -San Diego-Oceanside -BNSF locos on route -Pacific Surfliner Trains w/ Siemens Chargers on route -Amtrak Cascades/Seattle Sounder: -BNSF included; ET44C4, GP39-3 (rebuilt GP30s, GP35s, and GP39-2s), and SD75M/I (used in the Pacific NW on manifest and trash trains) -Cascades SC-44 Charger/Talgo cars/Cab Car; new Cascades Venture Coaches coming in 2025-2026; Amtrak Horizon Cars used until then -Amtrak Coast Starlight w/ ALC-42 Charger or P42DC -Cascades F59PHI DLC -Sounder MP40PH-3C and/or F59PHI
I believe it's from New York Penn to Ronkonkoma with the M3, M7, and M9 EMUs, and they're having problems with Kawasaki licensing.
Conrail still exists as CSAO, which acts as a switching provider, they still own their own cabooses. Plus you still have to go thru them for licensing. So they dont exist as a Class 1 railroad, but they still exist as a company.
If we're getting the Long Island RR again, we should get their DE30AC (diesel-electric version) and DM30AC (dual mode, like the P32AC-DM), along with the C3 Bilevel Coaches/Cab Cars. Although, the DE30ACs/DM30ACs are only used on non-electrified sections of the LIRR. LIRR also uses MP15ACs for yard switching and work trains, so those could be added as future DLCs. As for freight services on the route, I'd suggest the New York and Atlantic RR with a NY&A GP38-2, MP15AC, SW1001, and/or their pair of unique, rebuilt, eco-friendly EMD 20B locomotives.
If it really is the case that this is an LIRR reboot, I'm still confused as to why licensing for LIRR is an issue. I'm assuming they had to get licensing from the MTA for the original LIRR, Harlem, and M3 DLC, not to mention the much more flushed out TSC content. Harlem wasn't that long ago, you wouldn't think there'd be an issue this soon.
My guess NEC NYC to Providence RI via New Haven 180 mi 290 km with Kawasaki M8 Avelia Liberty Viewliner II ACS-64 P32-ACDM Shoreliner. Otherwise the LIRR Main Line NY Penn/GCT to Gen McArthur Airport Ronkonkoma with Hempstead Port Jeff Branches. Important dates for that route are October 19th 1970 Hicksville Electrification testing date October 14th 1970 December 28th 1987 completion of the Hicksville to Gen Douglas McArthur Airport Ronkonkoma electrification project. More recent completion dates for the route projects are September 21 2018 LIRR Hicksville to Gen McArthur Airport Ronkonkoma 2nd track October 3 2022 MTA Website LIRR Floral Park Hicksville Third Track completion and lastly Grand Central Madison opening 1/25/2023. LIRR M9 service entry 9/11/2019 source is progressive railroading.
They had it for the M8's in the TSC New Haven Line, so I'm not sure why it'd be such an issue now. Of course that was however many odd years ago, and who knows with the MTA what goes on.
I’m assuming that there isn’t a problem with the licensing but rather it is just taking longer than anticipated to get all the ducks in a row and have agreements on both sides. I’m certainly looking forward to finding out what this new LIRR route is and what part of the network is included.
