Blackpool Lines for Train Sim World In TS1, the North of England was hardly ever featured, something which needs to change for Train Sim World. Whilst there have been many proposals for routes in the northeast of England, there have been few proposals for Northern Rail routes in the North West of England, so here is my proposal: the Blackpool Lines. Blackpool is a major seaside resort and the largest town in the county of Lancashire. It has two rail connections to the city of Preston, also in Lancashire. The two lines follow the same route from Preston station to Kirkham & Wesham. At Kirkham & Wesham, the northern double track route, heads via Poulton-le-Fylde to Blackpool North station, the main station in Blackpool. The southern single track route heads from Kirkham & Wesham via Lytham St Annes and Blackpool Pleasure Beach to Blackpool South station. Services Blackpool North Line The Blackpool North Line was recently re-opened following the electrification of the route, allowing electric trains operated by Virgin Trains to operate to Blackpool North from London. These services stop at Preston, Kirkham & Wesham and Poulton-le-Fylde. Northern Rail also operates services from Blackpool North to Leeds, Liverpool & Manchester. Blackpool South Line There are considerably fewer services on the un-electrified south line, with only an hourly service to and from Colne in Eastern Lancashire via Preston. Locomotives Virgin Trains Class 390 'Pendolino' Virgin Trains operates the Class 390 'Pendolino' on its service from London Euston to Blackpool North. As Dovetail Games now has a license with Virgin Trains, it will be possible to bring this train to Train Sim World to haul express services on this route. Northern Class 158 'Express Sprinter' The Class 158 is used by Northern Rail on its services from Blackpool North to Leeds via the Caldervale Line. They are commonly used throughout the UK, so by adding this train, DTG will be able to reuse it on later routes. Northern Class 142 'Pacer' The 'Pacer' as they are commonly known operates the hourly service between Blackpool South and Colne. These trains will be removed from service next year and need to be added to Train Sim World before they disappear from the network forever. Conclusion As this route is quite short, it will be possible for Dovetail Games to make in the near future and has a good variety of locomotives operating on it, providing the variety which is missing from dlc such as Rapid Transit and NEC: New York. Extension Potential As many of the services on the Blackpool lines operate eastward from Preston, there is potential for a future extension to Colne in East Lancashire via Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley. The service from Blackpool North to Leeds operates along this route from Preston as far as Rose Grove, where the Caldervale Line diverges to Burnley Manchester Road. Services from Blackpool South continue via Burnley Central to the end of the line at Colne.
Some images of the Blackpool lines: A Pendolino at Preston Station. The station at Kirkham & Wesham, where the two lines diverge. Blackpool North station prior to electrification. The Blackpool Tower can be seen in the background. Lytham station on the South line. A class 142 'Pacer' at Blackpool South station.
Images of the East Lancashire Line from Preston to Colne. Blackburn Station, junction with the Ribble Valley Line to Manchester Victoria and Clitheroe. Accrington Station. Rose Grove in 1985, the junction between the lines to Colne and Leeds. Burnley Manchester Road station on the line to Leeds. Burnley Central station on the line to Colne.
I'm all for it. The Pendolino would look particularly nice in TSW and it would be interesting to get the physics behind the tilting working.
Would love to see this route added especially if the route started at or before Hebden bridge as it would pass my house as it passed through cornholme Some stunning scenery on this route!
As someone who lives on this line this is something I would love to see, in TS1 and TSW, going all the way to Colne and Blackpool
Excellent idea but the problem is this posts that are 3 years and 8 months shouldn't be replied again because it's necroposting. Developers can you please lock this post