My proposal would be for the southern end of the midland mainline from London St Pancras high level and low level through to Kettering in Northamptonshire. Train operating companies on this route include at present, Thameslink and East Midland Railways. Due to a lack of licensing with EMR, similar to what was done with MML north; East Midlands Trains could be used instead. For this period, we will look at using EMT. Rolling stock during this time included the class 700 operated by Thameslink and EMT operated class 222 and the Class 43 HST. Outside of passenger services, there are ample opportunities for freight services which are primarily carried out by Class 66 locomotives. Why MML South? MML south offers a diverse experience which is only matched by the likes of the Southeastern High Speed route. Coming out of London, you have built up urban areas awash with class 700s operating fast and semi fast commuter services to the North of London and into Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Aside from Thameslink, you have East Midlands operated class 222 and Class 43 travelling North to Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire operating high speed services at 125mph. Scenery wise, you’ll have the cityscape of London slowly change from brick houses to green landscape as you travel north into Bedfordshire. The service variety would be quite vast. Thameslink operate fast and semi fast services to Luton, St Albans and Bedford. EMT operate fast with limited stops at Luton, Bedford, Wellingborough and Kettering. This route would be a good proving ground to really get the HST, Class 222 and Class 700 up to speed which for the latter two, there hasn’t been a chance to do yet. Rolling stock Class 222 - a diesel multiple unit operated by the likes of Hull Trains, East Midlands Trains and East Midlands Railway. These are able to travel up to 125mph and have been the primary high speed locomotive on this line since the withdrawal of the HST. Class 43 - do I really need to say anything for this train? One of the most iconic locomotives ever to grace the British Railways. Class 700 - brought into replace the class 319, Class 377 and 387. These operate all services by Thameslink. The Midland Mainline if brought into the game would be akin to London Commuter - vast amount of commuter and high speed services along with freight services offering a unique experience we haven’t yet got in the game. It would be a good route to properly showcase and get to speed some of the recent(ish) additions such as the class 700, EMT class 43 and the cargo packs released. Various DLC opportunities lie in the class 222 and class 319 and even potentially, the class 810 due to take over on this route in the near future if EMR was done instead. The different services on offer would be diverse - if for example Hull Trains were brought into the game, diversions could be done into St Pancras. When low level is closed, you could have class 700s operate into high level instead. The opportunities on this route would be ample. DTG, I beg that you please consider this route
To Leicester would be 1 hour 13 - so maybe Leicester rather than Kettering to make it a little longer? Unless I'm missing something. Would be a good route - I agree St Pancras Low Level must be included this time. Could also get SEHS AI.
That’s the idea! Be one of the fullest stations in the game, endless layer opportunities. Could also do one set in the transition period between the 319s and the introduction of the 700s and you’d have a really nice variation in game with 377s, 319s and 709s Chose Kettering as it does feel within the range of DTG, anything further north and we’d be pushing it capability wise.
I love the idea especially im from the east midlands and they should really extended the east midlands line by adding class 222 and leicester to st pancras will be a good journey or even from nottingham so a full route which will be way better as to experiance a full journey
+1 for this. I grew up on the Bed-Pan line so childhood memories and all that. I know I won't get a late 80s/early 90s NSE 319s, Intercity HSTs option so I'd take the modern day version. If it was possible then running to Leicester would make sense to then link up with the existing MML route we have. I'd actually love Skyhook to take on the full MML from St Pan to Sheffield, even though I know it'd have to be in 2 or 3 sections. A Class 319 EMU DLC would be day 1 for me as well, that is absolutely the train of my childhood and they followed me 30+ years later to Manchester too!
Same as me, except somewhat younger as I went on them when they were First Capital connect when I was visiting family down south! Now up here with Northern. I’m skeptical that they would do it all the way to Leicester as that would be pushing it quite abit but could do it a second dlc with Kettering to Leicester but with a branch off to Oakham from Kettering to fill out the route. As a push, could have the line from Oakham to Leicester and have some form of a circular line? Hell, if you really wanted to, you could have it go from Kettering to Peterborough. Edit: Leicester to Peterborough would be 52 miles so would be a route in itself. Leicester to Kettering and Kettering to Oakham would be my choice of route as then you’d have filled out the MML near enough.
My last journey in or out of St Pancras was hauled by a Class 45. Personally I would love to see the MML in BR Classic era. Perfect opportunity to drop a Class 25 in game along with the unique Class 127 DMU’s which were fitted with Rolls Royce engines and, unlike other heritage DMU’s, had an automatic gearbox.
In all honesty, I wouldn’t massively be against that. From a personal perspective, would be quite nice as during that period my great grandfather was a station master along that route!
