Route Liverpool Cross-city: Hunts Cross To Southport, Ormskirk And Kirkby

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by TrainGeek08, Nov 10, 2023.

  1. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Hello everyone, TrainGeek08 here, and today I am suggesting what I am dubbing 'Liverpool Cross-City', which is the Northern Line of the Merseyrail network :)

    Route Information:
    The Northern line is one of two commuter rail routes operated by Merseyrail and centred on Merseyside, England, the other being the Wirral line. The cross-city route runs from Hunts Cross in south Liverpool then (by way of an underground section through Liverpool's city centre) branches in the north to terminate at Southport, Kirkby (both Merseyside) and Ormskirk (Lancashire).

    Route Map:
    [​IMG]

    Stock included in base route:
    [​IMG]

    The British Rail Class 507 'PEP' in Merseyrail livery

    upload_2023-11-10_19-8-46.jpeg

    The British Rail Class 508 'PEP' in Merseyrail livery

    Training (In Training Center):

    Class 507 Introduction
    Class 508 Introduction

    Scenarios:

    The LancaMersey PEP: (Difficulty - 2)
    Drive this Class 507 from Ormskirk to Liverpool Central on a cloudy day

    Sunset Farewell: (Difficulty - 1)
    The 508s are leaving the Merseyrail network after being replaced by newer trains, drive the farewell tour from Liverpool Central to Southport

    Pick the PEPs Up: (Difficulty - 3)
    A snow storm has closed part of the Northern Line and trains are stuck at various stations along the Southport branch, drive this Class 507 from Kirkdale Depot to pick up all the units and drag them back to the depot

    Last Day Kirkby... (Difficulty - 2)
    Today is the last day of Kirkby being a terminus for the Northern Line as Headbolt Lane is opening next week, drive this double Class 507/508 set to Liverpool Central where another driver will take them back to Kirkdale Depot for overnight stabling

    Timetable:

    Here is the May 2019 Working Timetable for this route:
    (You are interested in Section CF07 for the Northern Line)
    2019-05 WTT CF | Network Rail Corporate Archive

    Potential DLC, Layers, Stations, POI & Mastery Rewards coming up on Pages 2 & 3...
     
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  2. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Page 2:

    Potential DLC:
    [​IMG]

    The British Rail Class 777 'METRO' in Merseyrail livery

    Training (In Training Center):
    Class 777 Introduction

    Scenarios:

    First Day: (Difficulty - 1)
    Drive this Class 777 from Liverpool Central to Kirkby on the first day of service for the new trains which will replace the ancient PEP EMUs

    METRO Across the City: (Difficulty - 3)
    Drive this Class 777 from Southport to Hunts Cross during a torrential rain storm which could affect your stopping pattern...

    The Scouse METRO: (Difficulty - 2)
    Drive this Class 777 from Hunts Cross to Ormskirk after the unit was named 'The Merseyside Scouser' at Hunts Cross

    Timetable:

    Incorporated into base routes' timetable

    Layers:

    (A note of warning... the Merseyrail network is of a self-contained nature and there is not any suitable Northern-liveried DMUs to substitute into this route as AI at either Southport, Kirkby, Ormskirk or between Liverpool South Parkway and Hunts Cross)

    upload_2023-11-10_19-24-21.jpeg

    The British Rail Class 158 'Express Sprinter' (MML) for AI (or playable, depends if Liverpool South Parkway (National Rail) gets modelled) services between Hunts Cross and Liverpool South Parkway


    Stations, POI & Mastery Rewards on Page 3...
     
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  3. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Page 3:

    (Principal) Stations:

    Hunts Cross:
    [​IMG]

    Hunts Cross railway station is a Grade II listed railway station in Hunt's Cross, Liverpool, England. It is situated on the southern branch of the Merseytravel City Line's Liverpool to Manchester route, and is the southern terminus of Merseyrail's Northern Line.

    Liverpool South Parkway:
    [​IMG]

    Liverpool South Parkway station (Formerly Allerton railway station), is a railway station and bus interchange in the Garston district of Liverpool, England. It serves, via a bus link, Liverpool John Lennon Airport in the neighbouring suburb of Speke, as well as providing an interchange between main line services and the Merseyrail rapid transit/commuter rail network. The station is located towards the southern end of Merseyrail's Northern Line and on the junction of two main lines: the Merseytravel City Line from Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington and the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Main Line to London via Crewe.

    Liverpool Central:
    [​IMG]

    Liverpool Central railway station in Liverpool, England, forms a central hub of the Merseyrail network, being on both the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. The station is located underground on two levels, below the site of a former mainline terminus. It is the busiest station in Liverpool, though considerably smaller than Lime Street station, the mainline terminus, and the busiest station to operate solely on the Merseyrail network. The station is the busiest underground station outside London serving 40,000 people daily. The station in passengers per platform is the busiest underground railway station in the United Kingdom at 5,217,547 per platform per annum and laying third in all stations, underground or overground.

    Moorfields:
    [​IMG]

    Moorfields railway station is an underground railway station in the city centre of Liverpool, England. The station is situated on both the Northern and Wirral Lines of the Merseyrail network. It is the third-busiest station on the Merseyrail network, and the largest underground station. It is also the only station on the network having services to all other Merseyrail stations.

    Southport:
    [​IMG]

    Southport railway station serves the town of Southport, Merseyside, England. The station is the terminal of the Southport branch of the Northern Line of the electric Merseyrail network and the diesel-operated Manchester-Southport Line. It is the fourth busiest station on the Merseyrail network. The station and services to Liverpool and Hunts Cross are operated by Merseyrail, with Manchester services operated by Northern Trains.

    Ormskirk:
    [​IMG]

    Ormskirk railway station in Ormskirk, Lancashire, England, is a cross-platform interchange between Merseyrail services from Liverpool Central and Northern Trains services from Preston on the Ormskirk branch line, 12+3⁄4 miles (20.5 km) northeast of Liverpool. The station building and three arch road bridge are both Grade II listed structures.

    Kirkby:
    [​IMG]

    Kirkby railway station is situated in Kirkby, Merseyside, England. It is situated 7.5 miles (12 km) north-east of Liverpool Central and is on the Kirkby branch of Merseyrail's Northern Line.

    Points of Interest (POI):

    River Mersey:
    [​IMG]

    The River Mersey (/ˈmɜːrzi/) is a major river in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it has formed part of the boundary between the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire.

    Kirkdale TMD:
    [​IMG]

    Kirkdale TMD is a traction maintenance depot located beside Kirkdale railway station in north Liverpool, England. The depot is the largest on the Merseyrail network; it is located on the Northern Line and is used primarily for stabling units, heavy maintenance and cleaning units both internally and externally. It is owned by Network Rail and operated by Stadler.

    Another Place:
    [​IMG]

    Another Place
    is a piece of modern sculpture by British artist Antony Gormley located at Crosby Beach in Merseyside, England. It consists of 100 cast iron figures facing towards the sea. The figures are modelled on the artist's own naked body. The work proved controversial due to the naked statues but has increased tourism to the beach. After being exhibited at two other locations, it was put on display at Crosby on 1 July 2005. After some controversy, Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council decided on 7 March 2007 that the sculptures should be permanently installed at the beach.

    Aintree Racecourse:
    [​IMG]

    Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside, England, bordering the city of Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase, which takes place annually in April over three days. Aintree also holds meetings in May and June (both on Friday evenings), October (Sunday), November and December (both Saturdays).

    Mastery Rewards:
    Stage 1:
    A new Merseyrail font for letters and numbers for use in Livery Editor.

    Stage 2: You can now see the Grand National horse race as you pass Aintree Racecourse.
    [​IMG]


    I hope you have enjoyed this suggestion, if you have, put your thoughts below on this one, I've been TG08 as always, enjoy the rest of your day, and goodbye :)
     
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  4. Eee

    Eee Well-Known Member

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    Great suggestion I'd love to see merseyrail in tsw
     
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  5. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I agree with that :)

    Merseyrail would look cool in TSW4 regardless if it is the Northern Line or the Wirral Line :cool:
     
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  6. trainsimplayer

    trainsimplayer Well-Known Member

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    A call that many have made and one that remains crucial.
    Not many routes boast three branches, an underground section and a battery-operated section.

    Personally I'd take the 777 over the 507/508 if it were a choice between them. The PEPs already exist and the 777 is unique, in every sense. If Kirkby's Headbolt Lane station is included, it would also make for a battery-operated section - short, but interesting.

    As you say, it's very self-contained; not much need for AI, apart from LSP/Ormskirk/Kirkby H'bolt/Southport.

    On the section from Sandhills to Liverpool Central you can also clearly see the new Everton Stadium, currently under construction. I believe Anfield is visible further up the line, too.

    It's high time Merseyside makes a modern appearance, I feel.
     
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  7. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Oh yes, I would like Merseyside in a modern setting too :)

    The 777 would work as the included train instead of the PEPs :)

    Well, since I included Headbolt Lane in a description of a scenario, it would make sense right?

    The football fans would be happy with Everton's new stadium and Anfield if they can be seen from the railway like how the Amex Stadium can be seen from the East Coastway route at Falmer ;)
     
  8. sophieclarke1983

    sophieclarke1983 Well-Known Member

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    Very nice be a good one for just trains to make
     
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  9. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    It would be a great route for JT to make, but if they declined the offer, I'd give this one to Skyhook :)
     
  10. Migsithepigsi

    Migsithepigsi Well-Known Member

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    Looks good to me
     
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  11. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I agree and I hope this route comes to the game in the not too distant future :)
     
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  12. AirbourneAlex

    AirbourneAlex Well-Known Member

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    I would slightly favour the Wirral line as the underground section loops around rather than going straight through, meaning you can perform return journeys without needing to switch cabs (which from a gameplay perspective would be something new as far as I'm aware).

    To be fair though, either route would still be good and it's about time we got Merseyrail in-game as there have been so many requests for it over the years.
     
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  13. TSW Nathan

    TSW Nathan Well-Known Member

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    I don't like meryserail that much. But I see why you suggested this, lol. ;)
     
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  14. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks, I see your point about the Wirral, that could be better but I don't mind which Merseyrail route comes into the game :)
     
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  15. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    Fair enough, I mean it gets another route suggested to be fair :cool:
     
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  16. Lil jj

    Lil jj Well-Known Member

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    Yes please :love:
     
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  17. TrainGeek08

    TrainGeek08 Well-Known Member

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    I agree that this or the Wirral Line needs to happen in some way, whether it is an official route or if somebody very talented could create this in the PC Editor :)
     
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  18. Lil jj

    Lil jj Well-Known Member

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    Definitely :)
    Would love to see it come
     
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  19. TSW Nathan

    TSW Nathan Well-Known Member

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    I was just thinking cause of Omskirk ;)
     
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