There are two routes between Liverpool and Manchester - one via Warrington (35mi) and one via Newton Le Willows (31mi). Just as a little extra, it would also include Castlefield Corridor (~5mi). Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Piccadilly via Warrington This journey typically takes an hour and is operated by TPE Class 185, EMR Class 158, and Northern 150. There is a total of 17 stations along this line, with services like: Liverpool to Cleethorpes, served by TPE 185 Liverpool to Norwich, served by EMR 158 Liverpool to Manchester Oxford Road, served by NT Class 150 This section passes through the industrial city of Warrington, calling at the quieter station of Warrington Central rather than Warrington Bank Quay which serves the WCML. Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria via Newton le Willows This journey is mostly served by the TPE Class 802 towards Newcastle, taking around 40 minutes to complete its journey. Unlike the line via Warrington, it is electrified and is the first intercity railway in the world, opening nearly 200 years ago in 1830. As well as 802s, the NT Class 331 can be seen. Where most trains on this line usually go to Victoria, this one would branch off at Ordsall Lane Junction towards Manchester Airport, utilising the Castlefield Corridor, one of the most congested areas in the UK. Northern also operates 331 and 323 trains to Blackpool North, which can be partially playable up to Huyton (about 15 mins). TL;DR Liverpool to Newcastle, served by TPE 802 Liverpool to Blackpool, served by Northern 331/323 Liverpool to Manchester Airport, served by Northern 323/331 Castlefield Corridor I've mentioned this a few times in the article and to those who don't know the area, I'll explain it for you. At Ordsall Lane junction, trains from all over the north meet at one point which is a 2 line track. Trains heading to Victoria come off at the junction just after Ordsall Lane, whilst anything else continues on to Deansgate, Manchester Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly. Just before Deansgate, the other line from Liverpool via Warrington converges with this section, increasing traffic even more. 15 trains run through this section per hour, making it one of the most congested places in the UK. This allows for players to experience delays and red signals that real drivers have to face. There is also the Ordsall Chord, which converges just before Manchester Oxford Road, but only adds 1-2tph. The inclusion of this also allows for small 5-10 minute services between Deansgate and Manchester Piccadilly, and Class 185 services from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Victoria Rolling Stock Rolling stock mentioned: Class 150 NT Class 185 TPE Class 158 EMR Class 802 TPE Class 331 NT Class 323 NT This is obviously too much for a typical route, so here's what you'd get: Class 802 TPE Class 185 TPE Class 150 NT The EMR 158 would layer in if you own Midland Main Line, the NT Class 323 would layer in from either Glossop or Manchester Airport Commuter, and the Class 331 could be sold as an add-on pack for both MAC and this route. The purchase of the Class 331 addon could also allow for a new timetable which adds the Class 802 and 185 to Manchester Airport Commuter. Minor Layers LNWR Class 350 units from Liverpool Lime Street to Liverpool South Parkway AI Class 390 units NT Class 323 services usually bound for Blackpool North heading from Manchester Pic to Deansgate TfW 150/153 services from Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Oxford Road Totalling around 70 miles, this offers many different route patterns, and gives playability of DMUs, EMUs and a Bi-mode MU, as well as adding the opportunity for well requested trains like the class 185 and class 331.
