Entry 37 : Transitways Part 2 : Railways (5E137)
Hello and welcome back to Cathnoquey! Today we're going back to Vesper Bay, in the Kingscote Highlands.
Last we left, a new tram network had just opened. Well, a month later, a new piece of rail infrastructure has just begun operations : the Metro Sprinter, a commuter rail service mostly operating along the West Coast Main Line!
The Highlands are a very forested area of Cathnoquey, and at such there are several loggeries in the area. That's a lot of rail traffic, and freight convoys depart every day towards New Wigmore or Glenvale Harbour. It's going to be tough to weave in a new rail network along this busy stretch of railway.
The new rail line begins miles north of Vesper Bay, on the once disused Poacher Line. It's been reopened to freight two years ago, and now links several deep northern communities to the heart of the Highlands. The Poacher Line ends here, at Kettering station, just in sight of the city.
The uneven ground at Kettering probably deters people from parking here, doesn't it? The station was built in a rush. Kettering is a mostly upper-class village, and there was a fair share of opposition.
The West Coast Main Line is also a busy passenger line. It links the cities of Westchurch and New Wigmore together and forms the rail backbone of the entirety of the West coast. Here's the southbound Kingscote Local from Westchurch terminating at Vesper Bay meeting with an express train to Albany via Westchurch. The Kingscote Local is actually operated by a different company, the Morrowind-based Hlaalu Railway Co.
Once merged, the Sprinter trains continue along the line, which passes through Sign Hill Valley. A station was planned here, but eventually the project was abandonned.
Just a little further, though, and we come to Jonestone station. Local trains used to stop here, but now only Metro Sprinter trains do. Jonestone is still a village, but we've finally entered the suburbs.
Here's a northbound Metro Sprinter in its brand new livery. There are several at-grade crossings between Jonestone and the CBD that have yet to be upgraded.
It takes some time, but eventually we arrive at Vesper Bay Central Station. This is the station foregrounds, just by the Board of Trade tower. Central Station is the hub of the LRT and bus networks, right in the middle of downtown.
The station is in fact made of two half stations, split by the LRT line that runs through the middle. Metro Sprinter uses platforms 1 and 2 along with most through services, while services terminating at Vesper Bay use platforms 3 and 4.
The LRT line stays right in the middle for better interchange between the different modes. Buses also use the LRT tracks, hence the paving. The LRT loops underground, a little further away.
Another view of Central Station in the morning, before the rush hour.
Now we leave Central Station eastbound. The terrain there is very hilly, and there are several such high bridges across town.
Following Akaviri theming, our next stop at Mowbray is a large station and a very popular commuter hub, with several bus lines out of the city. The station itself is also home to the Local Control Post, tasked with oversight over local traffic.
Sprinter train leaves Mowbray onto another high bridge.
The train goes on for two miles as the suburbs give way to untamed wilderness and forestry...
North Oxbridge station is not quite built yet; it was supposed to open on Sprinter's first day of operations, but so much remains to be done. Local residents are looking at a few extra months of waiting, a political nightmare for local councilors.
Sprinter then heads on into the woods! There are several sidings and many loggeries on this side of the bay.
Finally, the end of the line : South Oxbridge station, 12 miles away from Central Station.
A train waits for passengers at South Oxbridge.
That's it for Phase 1 of the Sprinter project. The funding for Phase 2 has been approved, and it would see the line extended as far as Wellesley, 30 miles south, but completion is not expected until 5E145.
Nevertheless, the line is already expected to help alleviate traffic by a fair margin. However, critics point out that most of the potential passengers come from Wigston and Wellesley, which aren't served yet, and that Phase 1 should have been more ambitious and reached Wigston.
A freight train meets a Metro Sprinter on the Poacher Line.
Further ahead on the Poacher Line. The Sprinter brings a fresh wave of modernity despite the increased sales tax. Vesper Bay is a very crowded city, and any efforts to relieve congestions are more than welcome. Already groups are pushing towards a Phase 3 line that would link the South Shore to Vesper Bay proper.
Strip map of the new line. Possibly this will eventually become the general design of the entire train map.
And that's it for today 
Hope you enjoy, and I'll see you around
-
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