The WCML is an arterial mainline that connects london with the west midlands and the north west, sitting at 400 miles it is one of the most important lines for freight and passengers as it connects the UK’s biggest 6 cities. Today i will be suggesting a portion of the WCML missing link which is from Stafford - Preston. The line from Stafford to Preston sits at about 75 miles long, making it appropriate for TSW 3, there is a lot of action for high speed and slower services on this line, below are the stations: Stafford Stafford station is a railway station located in Stafford, Staffordshire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line, which is the primary railway route between London and Scotland. The station serves both local and long-distance train services operated by various train operating companies, including Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, and LNWR. Crewe Crewe station is a railway station located in Crewe, Cheshire, England. It is one of the busiest railway stations in the North West of England and is a major interchange station on the West Coast Main Line. The station serves both local and long-distance train services. The station is an important transport hub for the town of Crewe and the wider Cheshire area, providing links to destinations across the UK. Additionally, the station is a significant junction on the rail network, with connections to many other towns and cities across the region. Winsford Winsford station is a railway station located in Winsford, Cheshire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Mainline and is served by trains operated by London North Western Railway. The station has two platforms. Hartford Hartford station is a railway station located in the village of Hartford, Cheshire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line and is served by trains operated by LNWR. The station provides frequent services to destinations such as Manchester, Birmingham, and London. Acton Bridge Acton Bridge station is a railway station located in the village of Acton Bridge, Cheshire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line Warrington Bank Quay Warrington Bank Quay station is a railway station located in Warrington, Cheshire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line and is served by trains operated by Avanti West Coast and Northern. The station provides frequent services to destinations such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Wigan North Western Wigan North Western station is a railway station located in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line and is served by trains operated by Avanti West Coast, Northern, and TransPennine Express Euxton Balshaw Lane Euxton Balshaw Lane station is a railway station located in Euxton, Lancashire, England. It is situated on the Manchester to Preston Line and is served by trains operated by Northern. The station provides regular services to destinations such as Manchester, Preston, and Blackpool. Leyland Leyland station is a railway station located in Leyland, Lancashire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line and is served by trains operated by Northern . The station provides frequent services to destinations such as Blackpool, Manchester and Lancaster Preston Preston station is a railway station located in Preston, Lancashire, England. It is situated on the West Coast Main Line and is served by trains operated by Avanti West Coast, Northern, and TransPennine Express. The station provides frequent services to destinations such as London, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Trains Class 390 Class 350 Class 319 Class 331 Class 158 layer DLC 1(Manchester Lines) The Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly line is a railway line in England that connects the town of Crewe in Cheshire with Manchester Piccadilly station. The line is approximately 35 miles (56 km) long and is operated by various train companies including Avanti West Coast, Northern, and TransPennine Express. The line passes through several towns including Sandbach, Holmes Chapel, Wilmslow, and Stockport before reaching Manchester Piccadilly station, which is located in the heart of Manchester city centre. DLC 2: Blackpool Lines The Preston-Blackpool line is a railway line in England that connects the cities of Preston and Blackpool in the county of Lancashire. The line is approximately 17 miles (27 km) long and is operated by Northern Trains and Avanti West Coast DLC3: Grand Junction and Birmingham Lines The Stafford to Birmingham New Street line is a railway line in England that connects the town of Stafford in Staffordshire with Birmingham New Street station in the city centre of Birmingham. The line is approximately 29!miles (34 km) long and is operated by West Midlands Railway. If included with the base line, it brings route mileage up to 104 miles. Conclusion: This is a good route for TSW and a very popular route in TSC as it gives us access to the Northern Core, in the north west of england as well as regional and Intercity travel with Avanti WC and LNWR running services from birmingham up to Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland, it is 75 miles on the base DLC and can be extended to manchester 30 miles north of Crewe or Birmingham 30 miles south of Stafford, which unlocks the WMR 323 layer for BCC.
If I were you merge this with the new Preston Blackpool route that way you can drive Stafford to Blackpool in a single sitting common origin for both needs to be Preston or London Euston.
both would originate at preston, kind of like a redhill to reigate, you’d be able to drive northern services from euxton balshaw lane - blackpool north
