The Hallam Line is a route that runs from Sheffield to Leeds passing through both South and West Yorkshire regions. Along the line there are a plethora of stations with frequent stopping patterns perfect for players that like stopping services like the Leeds to Sheffield service which calls at the likes of Meadowhall, Chapeltown, Elsecar, Wombwell, Barnsley, Darton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Normanton, Castleford, Woodlesford and Leeds which normally uses Northerns Class 158s or 150s. Fast trains to/from Leeds, Nottingham and Lincoln run along this route stopping at stations along the line like Meadowhall, Barnsley Wakefield Kirkgate and Leeds which typically uses Northerns 195/0s meaning that there is also something on this route for players who may prefer to drive express services rather than stopping services. This route would also bring the opportunity to drive a portion of the Sheffield to Huddersfield services (utilising Northerns 3 car 150/0s) which just after leaving Barnsley, head up the Penistone Line to reach Huddersfield stopping at all stations along the way and what could be done with this is, is that the service would only go as far as Barnsley when driven by player and then AI would take over and continue the service up to Huddersfield. The reason for this, is because it could be quite a long route if the Penistone Line came with the Hallam Line, but the Penistone Line could be done as a route extension if there was enough demand for it. If player owned the SEH RHTT pack then this could layer in for the autumn season which for the past few years has used Colas Rail liveried Class 66s. Route features/landmarks could include places like Park Hill flats overlooking Sheffield Station, Brightside station (dissused), Meadowhall Shopping Centre at Meadowhall Station, There's a bridge to the South of Chapeltown station I think which says "Fast trains to Sheffield and Barnsley" on the side of it, Chapeltown Tunnel, Swaithe Viaduct, Barnsley PSB to the south of Barnsley Station, Market Gate Bridge to the south of Barnsley Station, Barnsley Town Hall clocktower (can't remeber if this is visible at any point of the route in real life), Monk Bretton Church spire which is visible to your right when leaving Barnsley going north (it is quite some distance away but is visible nonetheless), Barnsley College building known as "Big Red" which is a big red building visible from the station I believe, Barnsley Digital Media Centre, Arches in courthouse car park in Barnsley which supported the former Barnsley Courthouse Station, A tunnel a few minutes after Darton station heading north which I believe is called Haigh Tunnel which splits into 2 separate lines before entering, Emley Moor Tower, Horbury Junction Signal Box, Wakefield Viaduct south of Wakefield Kirkgate which carries the Leeds branch of the ECML which goes from Doncaster to Leeds over the Hallam Line, Wakefield Europort Terminal, Leeds FLT, Leeds Balm Road Freightliner Depot, and before entering Leeds, Holbeck Loco Sidings is visible on your left. Additionally a few EMT HSTs have been diverted along the Hallam Line over the years so the MML HST could layer in for that as well as them possibly layering in at Sheffield as AI along with the EMT Class 158 from MML. There would also be the opportunity to layer in the LNER Azuma from the ECML route as AI at Leeds as well as the Class 323 from the Glossop Line standing in for Class 333s and Class 331s at Leeds. Let us know your thoughts!
