Good afternoon everyone. Today I'll continue my series of suggestions on Scottish soil, proposing you the Scottish East Coast Main Line. After its section appeared on Fife Circle (Edinburgh-Markinch via Kirkcaldy), I thought it made sense to create the Dundee-Aberdeen one. It would be set in the present days. A beautiful route, so characteristic and scenic, that starts from Dundee (just North of the end of the Circle), leads to the city of Aberdeen, in the North-East of Scotland. Following its Eastern Coast: low, with many small beaches up to Arbroath; then characterized by high and rocky cliffs in its Northern stretch. Passing through the iconic Montrose area (with its well known viaducts). The urban areas at the ends contrast with the rural coastal scenery in the middle, offering you a particular experience, that only these territories can offer! Get on board, the journey through the wild Scotland is about to begin! This is the Scottish ECML: Dundee to Aberdeen! GENERAL FEATURES The route in question features: - 71mi (114km) total lenght. - Double track, standard gauge (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in/1435 mm), no electrification on site (Dundee-Ferryden area then Montrose-Aberdeen). - Single track, standard gauge, no electrification on site (Montrose viaducts area). - 1:61/62 (16x1000) maximum gradient. - 65-100mph (105-160km/h) maximum permitted speed. Even if most of the route is around 70-90mph. The path is equipped with 2/3 aspects automatic signaling system: - AB or Absolute Block. - TCB or Track Circuit Block. Some sections using the first, some the other. The line is managed by: - Network Rail (UK national railway infrastructure manager). The passenger service is operated by: - ScotRail Trains Ltd (Scottish Governement public company). - London North Eastern Railway (LNER), Public company (DfTO). - CrossCountry (XC Trains Ltd), Arriva UK's private operator. - Caledonian Sleeper (Scottish Governement public company. Joint venture with GBRf). The freight service is operated by: - Direct Rail Services (DRS), public company. - Colas Rail (private company of the Bouygues Group). ROUTE General view of the route. General route scheme. Both in-service and demolished/planned stations/stops are indicated. STATIONS The route has 13 active stations/stops + one planned (Newtonhill). The calls are, as follows: To Inverness Line (Waterloo freight terminal) - Aberdeen station, large northern terminal of the route. Divided into two areas: terminal platforms and end to end ones). There's also an attached depot. Intermodal sidings and cement (loading/unloading) area. - Portlethen - Stonehaven - Laurencekirk Start of single track area. - Montrose End of single track area. - Arbroath - Carnoustie - Golf Street - Barry Links - Monifieth - Balmossie - Broughty Ferry - Dundee station, southern terminal of the route. Equipped with service sidings. To Edinburgh (Fife Circle) and Glasgow (via Perth) Lines. The reference depot (ScotRail) is: - Aberdeen Clayhills. It serves other operators too. STATIONS PICS Left: Dundee Main station. Right: Broughty Ferry. Left: Carnoustie. Right: Arbroath. Left: Montrose scenic station. Right: Laurencekirk. Please put your LIKE here first, thank you! Continue Below...
Left: Stonehaven. Right: Aberdeen Main station. Note the depot. PASSENGER SERVICE There are different types of passenger service on this route: ScotRail A) Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen ScotRail service (Inter7City): - Edinburgh-Aberdeen, with 1Tph (entire route). - Aberdeen-Edinburgh, with 1Tph (same as above). B) Glasgow Queen Street-Aberdeen ScotRail service (Inter7City): - Glasgow-Aberdeen, with 1Tph (entire route). - Aberdeen-Glasgow, with 1Tph (same as above). C) Aberdeen-Inverness ScotRail service (Inter7City): - Aberdeen-Inverness, with 1/2Tph (AI Only at Aberdeen). - Inverness-Aberdeen, with 1/2Tph (same as above). D) Edinburgh Waverley-Dundee/Arbroath ScotRail service (Stopper): - Edinburgh-Dundee/Arbroath, with 1Tph (Dundee-Arbroath). - Arbroath/Dundee-Edinburgh, with 1Tph (same as above). E) Glasgow Queen Street-Dundee ScotRail service (Stopper): - Glasgow-Dundee, with 1Tph (AI Only at Dundee). - Dundee-Glasgow, with 1Tph (same as above). F) Aberdeen-Montrose ScotRail service (Stopper): - Aberdeen-Montrose, with 1Tph (Aberdeen-Montrose). - Montrose-Aberdeen, with 1Tph (same as above). G) Stonehaven/Aberdeen-Inverurie ScotRail service (Stopper): - Stonehaven/Aberdeen-Inverurie, with 1/2Tph (Stonehaven-Aberdeen, then AI Only). - Inverurie-Aberdeen/Stonehaven, with 1/2Tph (same as above). Winter 2024/25 Timetable Link: https://www.scotrail.co.uk/media/43551/download?inline LNER A) London King's Cross/Leeds-Aberdeen LNER service: - London/Leeds-Aberdeen, with 2 Trains/day (entire route). Replaces Inter7City of that time. - Aberdeen-Leeds/London, with 2 Trains/day (same as above). Same as above. CrossCountry A) Penzance-Edimburgh Waverley-Aberdeen XC service: - Edimburgh-Aberdeen, with 1 Train/day (entire route, without intermediate stops). - Aberdeen-Edimburgh, with 1 train/day (same as above). Caledonian Sleeper A) Highland Sleeper / London Euston-Edinburgh Waverley-Aberdeen service (formation 2): One northbound and one southbound service every 24 hours. Runs every day of the week. Stops only at: Dundee, Carnoustie, Arbroath, Montrose, Stonehaven and Aberdeen. FREIGHT SERVICE The freight service on this route is divided as follows: - DRS Intermodal: Inverness/Aberdeen Sidings-Grangemouth. With 2 Trains/Day in each direction (entire route). - Colas Rail Calcium Carbonate tanks: Aberdeen Waterloo-Irvine/Workington. With 1 Train/Day in each direction (entire route). ROLLING STOCK The following rolling stock can be seen on this route: PASSENGER - ScotRail BR Class 43 HST "Inter7City" Diesel-electric high speed train. Iconic Diesel-powered trainset, consisting of two refurbished Class 43 locos (MTU), pulling groups of 4-5 Mk3 coaches. In service with ScotRail since 2018. There are 52 units in the Scottish fleet, 26 complete convoys (9x 4 coaches, 17x 5 coaches). It's widely used on Inverness/Aberdeen-Edinburgh/Glasgow services. Following GWR sets phase out, ScotRail remains the only UK mainline operator to use it. - ScotRail BR Class 170 Turbostar DMU. Already on TSW. Modern class of diesel-hydraulic MUs, consisting of 3 power cars (two with cab). In service with ScotRail since 2000. There are 34 units in the Scottish fleet, all 3 cars. They're used on many local lines, including the Edinburgh-Dundee/Abroath services (and also on all the rest of this route and beyond). - ScotRail BR Class 158 "Saltire Sprinter" DMU. Already on TSW. Part of BR's 2nd gen DMUs family, consisting of 2 power cars (with cabin). In service with ScotRail and previous operators since 1990. The Scottish fleet consists of 40 units (some are RETB fitted). They operate on many routes, including services north of Aberdeen (but also across this route and south of it). POTENTIAL DLC - LNER BR Class 800/1 and 800/2 IET "Azuma" BMU. Modern and powerful BMU, belonging to the AT300 Family by Hitachi. One of the most recent trains in service in the UK (since 2015). It's a bimodal unit, capable of operating on both unelectrified routes, as well as under 25kV AC OHLE. The LNER fleet consists of 23 units (10x 5-car and 13x 9-car). On this route they run some Intercity services to/from Aberdeen. LAYERS - CrossCountry BR Class 220 Voyager and 221 Super Voyager High speed DMUs. - Caledonian Sleeper BR Class 73/9 Diesel-electric loco + Mk5 CAF stock. Continue Below...
FREIGHT - DRS BR Class 66 Diesel-electric mainline locomotive. Already on TSW. Her again!? Yes... Our beloved/hated mainline freight locomotive, in active service since 2002 (DRS). The operator's fleet consists of 19 units (66/0 and 66/4), used on this route to perform some daily intermodal services. There's also one particular unit (66 301), ex DRS (without logos), used as reserve on Caledonian Sleeper services. OTHER LAYERS - Colas Rail BR Class 70 PowerHaul Diesel-electric mainline locomotive. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES STRONG POINTS - The route is long and non-linear. - Good number of stops and their excellent spacing along the path. - Good number of services during day (about 50). - Timetable that provides continuity to Fife Circle services. - Good amount of AI services, which can be represented at the ends of the route with the included stock. - Presence of freight trafic (about 4 services/day). - Beautiful route setting, with urban, Scottish countryside and cliffs/coastal areas. - Excellent quality of details relating to the length of the route. But, at the same time, the Scottish lands "lightens" the performance requirement to run a similar map (excellent for consoles). - 170, 158 and 66 are already on TSW. This would drastically reduce the development time needed. - HST would be easily convertible from the GWR/EMT ones. It could be layered on ED-GL and Fife Circle. - 800 would be a great addition to the roster. It could be layered on ED-GL, Fife Circle and ECML. - Sleeper and XC stock may be brought here from future routes/packs. WEAK POINTS - Lack of valid Route Hopping points with Fife Circle (Glenrothes-Dundee gap). ROUTE PICS Left: general view of Aberdeen. Right: Aberdeen Railway Bridge, over the River Dee. Many other structures along the route follow its mixed style: boxed steel beams and concrete/stone pillars. Left: general view of Newtonhill and its imposing cliffs. Right: Montrose, with the beautiful South Esk Basin. Left: South Esk Viaduct, just south of Montrose. Dating back to 1881, it's entirely steel made (16 spans). It represents one of the major structures of this line. Right: Ferryden Viaduct, front of Rossie Island (south of Montorse). It provides a spectacular passage alongside the South Esk Basin. It's famous for its strong brick colour. Dating back to 1880, it's entirely brick made (15 arches). Left: general view of Dundee. Right: the famous Elephant Cliff, better known as Elephant Rock (near Boddin). I also remember the presence of many ancient coastal structures (fortresses, lighthouses etc...), typical of the Scottish East Coast. Without forgetting the two famous Tay Viaducts (railway and road), front of Dundee. ROUTE VIDEOS Two beautiful Cab Ride Timelapses, first with driver commentary. LNER Edinburgh-Aberdeen services. A bit of trainspotting in Dundee! A bit of trainspotting in Aberdeen! All RIGHTS and CREDITS reserved to the original authors. CONCLUSIONS If you love crossing the landscapes and cliffs of this beautiful part of Scotland, this is the route for you! Drive the fast and powerful HST Inter7City convoys between the two iconic Scottish cities, braving the lands north of Fife! Then, operate the local stopper services, using the iconic Saltire-liveried DMUs... You can also operate any LNER services from the south of the country, alternating them with some dedicated daily freight services! Expect a route similar to the Fife Circle coastal stretch, with lots of ups and downs but slightly faster. This is the Scottish ECML: Dundee to Aberdeen! Caravatt. PS. Integrations and corrections are always welcome! Don't hesitate! Since I live a few thousand km from this route, there may be some small errors!
Rivet missed out the opportunity to have Fife Circle go to Dundee so we could have route hopping between the two (would feel weird going from Markinch to Dundee missing out in between. Can't really blame them though, Fife Circle came before route hopping is a thing. Like the idea. Another ScotRail route using already existing trains, should be easy to make (based on no new trains needed).
Brilliant suggestion. That would be mental to see in TSW. I would also like to see the Fife Circle get an extension to Dundee. I’m not sure if Rivet will do this but it would be amazing if they did. Would love to see the Tay Bridge. It’s a little bit sad because DTG were planning on doing Edinburgh to Dundee themselves. Come on Rivet !!! Make it happen.
Like your enthusiasm! We already have all the necessary stock in game! Small adapt of the HST and maybe a future DLC, modifying the original 801! Oh, and thanks for breaking 1000 likes barrier!!
Sounds good. I really hope we get this in the future. I’m all for Scottish routes as that’s where I’m from. Your welcome. You’re famous now .
You have really wrote a post there man, hats off to you, this is an absolutely fantastic idea, this would be so amazing to see in game,
Great suggestion.. For the last couple of years I have been on holiday to Schotland, so I would love to see another Scottish route and have the Class 43 HST Inter7city liverie in the game..
Agree with you here! I've never said this before, but on my Scottish trip (summer 2019), I also traveled on this route (having been to Kyle of Lochalsh!). So I've experienced the 158, 170 and HSTs first hand! Thank you . Scotland is a fantastic location for TSW! I'm surprised this route hasn't been suggested here before! Only TSW Nathan had proposed the southern section (up to Dundee), some time ago... Let's hope!
Say hello to this... Train Sim World 3 - Scottish East Coast Main Line Aberdeen To Dundee: Remastered | Dovetail Games Forums But I do agree that it would be a great candidate for the next Scottish route in TSW .
