Background Line 5 is one of 32 lines under TER Hauts-de-France. It runs for 41 miles from Lille Flandres to Dunkerque via Amentieres and Hazebrouck. Line 10 runs from Lille Flandres to Antwerp in real life but the section that will be featured here is Lille Flandres to Kortrijk which is 16 miles The Route Line 5 The Line starts at Lille Flandres, it then turns right out of Lille, following a line that loops round a part of the city called La Madeleine. It then crosses over the LGV Nord and runs along beside it until the LGV Nord curves off to head to Calais. Line 5 then heads under toward the first major station in Armentieres. Next, then line continues straight, passing through the French countryside toward our next stop, Hazebrouck. This station is important as you can change for trains heading to Arras and Calais. We leave Hazebrouck, turning right at a junction which takes us on the line to Dunkerque. We also pass under LGV Nord for the last time just before Cassel station. It is also at this point where TGV trains that have come from Lille Europe can merge onto this line and head to Dunkerque. We then head through more countryside to Dunkerque, the final station, where just north, there is the port which can open up some freight opportunities. Line 10 The line starts at Lille-Flandres, following Line 5 until that line heads round the loop to Dunkerque. Instead, we head straight on through North Lille to Roubaix which, even through it only has 2 Platforms, is served by IC04 as well as TER trains. We then continue to Tourcoing where a yard is located. Then we reach Mouscron, where the line to from Kortrijk toward Tournai splits. We head up the line to our final stop in the Belgian town of Kortrijk, which is an important stop as you could change to get to Gent, Bruges or Antwerp. Stations Line 5 Major Stations are highlighted in Bold Lille Flandres La Madeleine Saint Andre Perenchies Armentieres Nieppe Steenwerck Bailleul Strazeele-Merris Hazebrouck Cassel Arneke Esquelbecq Bergues Coudekerque-Branche Dunkerque Line 10 Lille Flandres Croix-Wasquehai Gare de Croix l'Allumette Roubaix Tourcoing Mouscron Kortrijk Rolling Stock This is where I am going to need help with so if anyone who reads this knows what runs on these lines, please reply to this thread and I will update this section accordingly, thanks! What will be included Line 5: Lille Flandres-Dunkerque Line 4: Lille Flandres-Calais (Lille Flandres-Hazebrouck in our case) Line 3: Dunkerque-Calais (Dunkerque-Coudekerque Branche in our case) Line 9: Lille Flandres-Comines (Lille Flandres to Mouscron in our case) Line 10: Lille Flandres-Antwerp (Lille Flandres to Kortrijk in our case) IC 04: Lille Flandres-Antwerp (Lille Flandres to Kortrijk in our case) Pictures Lille Flandres Armentieres Hazebrouk Dunkerque Tourcoing Kortrijk Conclusion I feel this line would be really interesting as it is a small network of lines which can allow for diverse operations. The operations are diverse as well, ranging from suburban operations on Line 10 or some quaint, quiet countryside journeys toward Dunkirk. All the stations will feel different from each other, from the marvellous Lille Flandres to the moderately sized Hazebrouk, Armentieres and Kortrijk and smaller countryside stops. So there will be something for everyone. Edit: Spelling errors!
I'd love a change of scenery and drive through a new country, especially if it isn't a dedicated high speed line :P Looking forward seeing some rolling stock we might expect on this route.
