With a route length just over 60 miles, this line expands on the current theme of routes around Crewe with another modern day variant, as well as introducing more of the Transport for Wales fleet into the game. This route would be set in mid 2024. The line features varying gradients due to the many valleys it crosses, with the majority of the line from Shrewsbury to Chester being on a gradient of 1in200 in both directions. Proposed Rolling Stock Class 56 'Grid' in Colas Railfreight livery A freight flow that stopped during 2025 was the Baglan Bay to Chirk log trains, which were popular with enthusiasts as these workings were almost guaranteed to be Class 56s for the last 10 years or so. These workings were generally formed of a single class 56 hauling 10 KSA wagons used for transporting the logs, with these wagons also being included with this DLC. The Colas 56 and wagons would also appear on the Carlisle - Chirk log services which still run today, with all of these services put together providing 7 services to the timetable. Class 197 'Civity' in Transport for Wales livery The Class 197 is effectively a Welsh version of the Class 196, and so an unbranded reskin of the latter unit could also potentially be created for AI traffic at Shrewsbury. 77 of these units have been built by CAF, with 51 2car 197/0s and 26 3car 197/1s forming the fleet. These units find themselves working services from Cardiff Central to every non-Valley Lines destination (apart from Ebbw Vale). They would contribute around 120 player drivable services, with countless more AI appearances at Chester, Crewe and Shrewsbury. Class 221 'Super Voyager' in Avanti West Coast livery These units were withdrawn from service at the December timetable change in 2024 after being replaced by Class 805s on the North Wales services that are featured in this proposal. As well as the core Holyhead - London Euston services ran by 221s, there were also services that originated at Blackpool North, Birmingham New Street, Chester, Wrexham and Shrewsbury which were 221 operated before the 805s arrival. In total, they would add 27 services to the timetable as well as around 10 AI services at Crewe and Shrewsbury. On release of the Class 805 DLC, these units will substitute for the 221s on all services apart from the Shrewsbury ones, as these were withdrawn in the May 2024 timetable change where 805s were first put into service.
Good Suggestion! A clean Colas 56 looks odd to me! They've always seen them in their working colours!
