Not currently in the game. Significant railway history. Well overdue. Perhaps someone from DTG can explain why it's not yet been included? Potential Routes: Newcastle to Edinburgh, York, Carlisle or Leeds. Newcastle's railway history began with pioneering lines like the Newcastle & Carlisle Railway (1830s), the world's first cross-country route, and the Newcastle & North Shields Railway (1839), one of the first commuter lines, leading to iconic structures like the High Level Bridge (1849) connecting to London, the grand Newcastle Central Station (1850), and early electrification (Tyneside Electrics). Th ese lines evolved into the powerful North Eastern Railway (NER), shaping the city as a major northern hub, with later modernization including electrification and the eventual rise of the Tyne & Wear Metro for local services. Early Pioneer Lines (1830s-1840s) Newcastle & Carlisle Railway (N&CR): Opened 1834-1838, connecting the North Sea to the Irish Sea, introducing innovations like Thomas Edmondson's pre-printed tickets, and running right-hand traffic until absorbed by the NER in 1862. Newcastle & North Shields Railway: Opened 1839, serving as an early commuter line from Carliol Square to North Shields, featuring impressive structures like the Ouseburn Viaduct and Willington Dene Viaduct. Key Structures & Mergers High Level Bridge (1849): Designed by Robert Stephenson, this revolutionary combined road-and-rail bridge linked Newcastle and Gateshead, crucial for the East Coast Main Line to London. Newcastle Central Station (1850): A grand "cathedral station" designed by John Dobson, built as a hub for merging companies and later expanded, remaining a major gateway. North Eastern Railway (NER): Formed from mergers (including N&CR and Newcastle & Berwick), the NER became the dominant force, expanding services and electrifying suburban lines (Tyneside Electrics) from 1904. Modern Developments Electrification & Decline: The Tyneside Electrics served suburban routes from 1904 but were replaced by diesel in the 1960s, with the Tyne & Wear Metro taking over many local services from the 1980s. Current Lines: The Tyne Valley Line follows much of the N&CR route to Carlisle, while the High Level Bridge remains vital for mainline services. Source: Google
Sure, much so as we'll now get a really decent portion of the WCML. It's time to consider more of the ECML.
Definitely agree the great northern city of Newcastle should be in the game! Personally I would go for a pre Metro 1970’s suburban when both the Tynemouth Loop and South Tyneside (South Shields and Sunderland) lines were DMU operated mainly Class 101’s.
