Here is my suggestion for a route which would, in my opinion, be very immersive, while having limited requirements for new rolling stock. The Route Starting at Ely the route heads East through the Anglia countryside passing near to Newmarket so views of the Horse racing tracks can be seen before the line reaches Chippenham Junction where the line from Cambridge converges. [Potential to also model the Cambridge Spur through Newmarket connecting Cambridge and Ely also - more on this in services] Shortly after the stone terminal at Kennet is found before the line passes into Bury st Edmunds and the striking Sugar Beet factory. Next up is Haughley Junction where the route joins the GEML (Great Eastern Mainline). Here the line heads south towards Ipswich passing stowmarket with it's RHTT sidings. Shortly after stowmarket is Barham aggregate sidings, before the route enters Ipswich. The new "Bacon Factory Curve" enables the route here to either diverge onto the Felixstowe line or continue passing the Freightliner VMF into Ipswich Station. The branch from Bacon Factory Curve continues through Westerfield and onto the Felixstowe branch. A single track line the branch has a heavy freight bias with the container terminals at the end and a passing loop at Derby Road. The Trains The class 755 Bi-Mode multiple unit This is the staple of this route and would provide great immersion as the route enables operation on Overhead and Diesel routes providing switch over opportunities at Stowmarket/Ely and Ipswich. These units are both 3 and 4 car variants. The Class 66 As is common in the UK, class 66s dominate freight workings here, Freightliner, GBRf and dB Cargo are daily operators with DRS and Colas on engineers occasionally. The container wagons would be included as these are the most common on the route. Services Passenger workings would be as follows: Ipswich to Felixstowe 1 tph (Player all the way) Ipswich to Lowestoft 1 tph (AI only) Ipswich to Peterborough 1 train every 2 hours (player as far as Ely) Ipswich to Cambridge 1 tph (Player as far as Kennet) [player all the way if Cambridge Spur is included] London to Norwich 2 tph (AI only - 1 tph stops as Stowmarket so could be player between Ipswich and Stowmarket) [these are mainly 745 but 755 do substitute occasionally] Norwich to Stansted Airport 1tph (AI only at Ely [Could be player between Ely and Cambridge if this line is included] Freight workings Lots of freight on this route. Regular container trains (sometimes 2 or 3 tph) between Felixstowe and Ely as well as shorter container trains to Ipswich. Layering onto other routes The 745 can layer onto the ECML at Peterborough with the 1 train every 2 hours arriving from Ipswich. Layers onto this route Class 700 at Ely and Cambridge. The 700 runs regular trains to Cambridge from London/Brighton etc and occasional journies to Ely/Kings Lynn. Class 387 at Ely and Cambridge. The 387 is the mainstay of Thameslink services to Kings Lynn via Cambridge and Ely. Both these units could be used as player between Cambridge and Ely if this part of the line is included, otherwise as AI at Ely/ Cambridge. Class 158 (MML) AI layering at Ely as services reverse at Ely on Norwich - Liverpool services. Class 66 HKA wagons (from GWE) can layer with trains to Kennet and Barham aggregate sidings Class 37 (ROG) can be used on light engine moves between Norwich and London via either Ely/Cambridge or Stowmarket/Norwich. If coupling and physics are compatible, could also operate 755 recovery drags. Can also be used on light engine moves to/from Ely for other stock moves, such as mk3s or other unit types. Class 66 RHTT can be used from Stowmarket. Acceptance of the EWS livery as usual for TSW but services to Ipswich or Ely daily during the season. Flying Scotsman can be used on Steam railtour, perhaps Cambridge - Ely if this is modelled. West Cornwall Steam Railtour / Spirit of Steam adding additional steam charter options Class 801 ely-cambridge diverts during engineering work. I believe this route with the Felixstowe branch and the Ely to Ipswich route would provide a fantastic mix of passenger workings and freight workings, if the Ely-Cambridge and Cambridge - Chippenham Junction lines are included this mix is increased drastically, with only the need to model the 755 unit, which Hornby are currently modelling so potential for dtg to get the Greater Anglia and Stadler licenses. Future DLC There is very little which could be added to this route which would be commercially viable as the 720 would only be AI at Ipswich and the 745 only between Ipswich and Stowmarket however, there is plenty of freight potential with additional container wagon types, and extra 66 variants of future licenses are obtained. Conclusion With services varying from the stopping Ipswich to Felixstowe service at around 30 minutes, semi fast Ipswich to Peterborough (as far as Ely) at 1 hour and stopping Ipswich to Cambridge at 1 hour 25 (assuming full branch to Cambridge modelled) it gives users a great range of services to run with the 755. Freight also varies in time from short runs between Ipswich and Felixstowe to a fuller Ely to Felixstowe run varying between 25 minutes and 2 hours the route has something for nearly everyone and isn't in need of a lot of modelling in terms of new rolling stock. As such it represents a good project for DTG or another producer which would easily command the £29.99 price tag (Photos from Wikipedia or Flickr)
