Route Midland Mainline Extension Leicester- Sheffield Inc. Erewash Valley Line

The MML could do with an upgrade, I think that having the route extended to Sheffield makes total sense. Sheffield is a EMR terminus for services to and from London St Pancreas. Northern, DMUs such as Class 150s and 158s are a regular sight on this section of line. There is so much potential for this route! This could also include the Class 222 Meridians-the staple DMU of the MML.
The Class 222 Meridian:

Max Speed: 125mph
The Class 222 Meridian is a diesel-electric-multiple unit built by Bombadier and is part of their Voyager Fleet. Very similar to the Class 220 Voyagers and 221 Super Voyagers, they have similar if not the same engines.
They first entered service in 2004 and are still here today. A beautiful train with stunning engines Cummins QSK19 diesel engines and rheostatic breaking(a type of dynamic braking). The whole 27 fleet consist of 4 4-car, 6 7-car and 17-5 car sets.

Routes(including services already in game):
Intercity:

• STP-Nottingham calling at Leicester and East midlands parkway(1tph, Class 43s)
• STP-Nottingham calling at Beeston, Loughborough and Leicester(1tph Class 222s)
• STP to Leeds calling at Leicester, East Midlands Parkway, Nottingham, Langley Mill, Alfreton, Chesterfield and Sheffield(1ph Class 43s)
• STP- Sheffield calling at Leicester, Derby and Chesterfield( 1tph Class 222s)
• STP-Sheffield calling at Leicester, Loughborough, East Midlands Parkway, Long Eaton, Derby and Chesterfield( 1tph Class 222s)

Local Routes(all Class 158s)

• Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich calling at Nottingham, Alfreton, Chesterfield and Sheffield(1tph Class)
• Crewe to Derby( this could be an AI train, 1tph)
• Matlock to Newark Castle calling at Belper, Duffield , Derby, Spondon, Long Eaton, Attenborough, Beeston and Nottingham (1tph)
• Leicester to Lincoln calling at Nottingham, Beeston, East Midlands Parkway, Loughborough, Barrow-Upon-Soar, Sileby, Syston and Leicester.(1tph)

The listed stations are only ones that would apply to this route.
This route would have to include the Erewash Valley line with Alfreton, Langley Mill and Ilkeston.
There are also plenty of freight services, with the Dore South Junction giving a gateway to frequent Freightliner services from Hope.



There could also be some northern services, which have a Leeds to Nottingham service (1tph) this could use a class 158 and just stick a northern livery on it.

 

I suggested this too would be a nice route

 

I also would like to have this extension in the game as I really would love to drive the 222s in game I hope this comes to the game one day. Great suggestion!

 

Looks like you want Just Trains Erewash Valley Line Remade for TSW 4. This should merge with MML

 

Some fantastic ideas there and I love it! Now for me in terms of the MML. I would like to see the Leicester to London SP part of the route from DTG/SHG as this would open up HST/222 operated services from Derby/Nottingham to London services as I remember them back in the days of EMT and MML. Now would the game be able to handle such a long route is another matter. For PC users like me, that would be fine but what about console users? Would consoles be able to handle it or would a route that size make the console flip out?

 

My guess, it probably wouldn't work well, especially on older consoles.

 

I would like to see it extended the other way closer to St Pancras but this is also welcome

 

It's done alright with the ECML. This shouldn't be too much of a hassle.

 

Very nice suggestion! Would love to see a 222/ voyager/voyager like train in the game!

 

I like this idea, it would be great to have a Meridian in the game (which is well-requested at this point) and also an extension to both Sheffield and Matlock, you just need a Class 156 to fully complete this suggestion

 

I know right? They've already mapped out Matlock station, just change a few textures to it then hey presto

 

Yep, I think it would look great if Skyhook would do this project and takes their time with it

 

Nice one, what if we extend a bit further north to Doncaster, so if ECML ever gets extended north there would be way more potential for both passenger and freight routes?

I'd also be looking forward to a London to Leicester DLC sometime soon.

 

This would be great!
But if it gets extended to Sheffield it should get extended to Matlock too as its only 7 miles from Ambergate which is where the mainline splits from the branch line

 

Definitely worth extending to Matlock, I believe there's some sort of other DLC there too right, just in the wrong era? I mean no one would really care if it was different eras as long as you can finally drive to Matlock and just drive trains on Peak rail

 

It would be nice! It would also add a lot of interest to the route in terms of variety of services and traffic