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Mainline Map

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Legolash2o

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Hi all,

I thought I would share some maps I've made showing all the main lines. Hopefully it's all correct, and not sure if it would be useful to share a zoomable interactive version of it.
 

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TFN

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It looks great!

However I'm intrigued, does the Brighton Main Line not count?
 

Legolash2o

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It looks great!

However I'm intrigued, does the Brighton Main Line not count?

Oops. It was surprisingly more difficult than I thought it would be to find all the main lines.

I'll add the data and replace the images in the first post once completed.
 

steamybrian

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How do you define a "Main Line".
I would have thought the Paddington to Penzance line was the "main line" to Cornwall...?
 

Legolash2o

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Wikipedia for the most part. For the route you mentioned, Wikipedia says the 'Cornish Mainline' is Exeter to Penzance.

Some sources do say the Great Western goes down to Penzance.
 
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Legolash2o

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I've added the Brighton Mainline but I'll hold off from publishing until I figure out exactly where the GWML goes.

I'm having conflicting sources on Google. Hopefully someone on how knows the definitive route(s) for the GWML and the one to Penzance.

Great resource thanks.
No problem.
 

FGW_DID

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Each individual segment of a route has its own ELR. Where the defined route has a change of mileage counting system (for example, by crossing a junction), either a new ELR is used, or a number is added after the three letter code to define each portion. By way of illustration, consider the Great Western Main Line from London Paddington to Bristol and thence to Taunton, Plymouth and Penzance. This entire route is MLN.

I would say if the route from Paddington to Penzance via Bristol, Taunton & Plymouth is the same ELR then that can be classed as the GWML.
 

The Planner

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I would say if the route from Paddington to Penzance via Bristol, Taunton & Plymouth is the same ELR then that can be classed as the GWML.
ELR and LOR (line of route) are both used, you would be hard pressed to find a planner using ELRs whereas a maintainer would probably look blankly at you if you didn't use one.
What happened to that chap who drew that superb map with frequencies etc on
 

Legolash2o

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I would say if the route from Paddington to Penzance via Bristol, Taunton & Plymouth is the same ELR then that can be classed as the GWML.
Thanks for that, it makes sense. ELR 'MLN' goes all the way through Bristol Temple Meads and right down to Penzance.

That's quite a large route so it may take a bit of time for me to extend the GWML to Penzance.

Brighton Mainline according to Wikipedia splits off into two (London Bridge and Victoria). Is that correct?
 

30907

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Brighton Mainline according to Wikipedia splits off into two (London Bridge and Victoria). Is that correct?
Certainly from a passenger point of view, though Victoria is a latecomer from the 1860s :). And you have to include via Redhill and the avoiding (Quarry) line.

Further North, I wouldn't describe Sheffield to Leeds as the Midland Main Line - though I suppose the first few miles were MR once.
 

swt_passenger

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Thanks for that, it makes sense. ELR 'MLN' goes all the way through Bristol Temple Meads and right down to Penzance.

That's quite a large route so it may take a bit of time for me to extend the GWML to Penzance.

Brighton Mainline according to Wikipedia splits off into two (London Bridge and Victoria). Is that correct?
If you‘re going to go by ELRs then VTB1 is clearly used to describe the Victoria to Brighton Route as far as Windmill Hill Jn. VTB2 as far as Quarry tunnels, VTB3 thereafter. The Redhill route has its own ELRs, “RED1/2”.

The route from London Bridge that joins it at Windmill Hill Jn is described as the London Bridge to Epsom Downs line, LBW...

If anyone’s wondering where BML ever gets used, it’s Waterloo to Weymouth named after Bournemouth...
 

Camden

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The Liverpool branch of the WCML is missing. The others are there, just that one
 

Llanigraham

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Hi all,

I thought I would share some maps I've made showing all the main lines. Hopefully it's all correct, and not sure if it would be useful to share a zoomable interactive version of it.

Why does the dark background one include the Cambrian Coast line, but the light coloured one not?
 

Legolash2o

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Thanks everyone.

Further North, I wouldn't describe Sheffield to Leeds as the Midland Main Line - though I suppose the first few miles were MR once.
Some sites had Sheffield to Leeds included in the Midland Main Line. Do people think I should remove it?
 

30907

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Thanks everyone.


Some sites had Sheffield to Leeds included in the Midland Main Line. Do people think I should remove it?
Perhaps Sheffield to Moorthorpe, but Doncaster to Leeds is ECML, and Swinton to Doncaster was Great Central.
Forget to say the map on black works well.
 

YorksLad12

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Thanks everyone.


Some sites had Sheffield to Leeds included in the Midland Main Line. Do people think I should remove it?

I'd be tempted to keep it; the question is do NR think it part of the MML? Go with them, if in doubt.

Your maps are really excellent, and put my meagre efforts to shame :lol:
 

ABB125

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Good work. I couldn't see any issues with the bits I'm familiar with.
What happened to that chap who drew that superb map with frequencies etc on
No action in that thread since August
 

Legolash2o

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The image at the bottom and others suggest MML ends at Sheffield so I will do the same.

Perhaps Sheffield to Moorthorpe, but Doncaster to Leeds is ECML, and Swinton to Doncaster was Great Central.

Other sources do say the ECML goes up to Leeds and then to Skipton. If everyone agrees with that, then i'll draw it like that. I won't map the Great Central.


I'd be tempted to keep it; the question is do NR think it part of the MML? Go with them, if in doubt.

The problem is that I can't seem to find an official source! :D:D

EDIT: Page 8 on the link below seems like a good one. But it suggests the route to Nottingham is part of the ECML?!?!
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/East-Coast-Main-Line-Route-Study.pdf


Midland%20Mainline.gif
 
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zwk500

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The image at the bottom and others suggest MML ends at Sheffield so I will do the same.

The problem is that I can't seem to find an official source! :D:D

Is no official Source better than 2 official sources that disagree? FWIW I'd say the MML ends at Sheffield as that's where the majority of trains to/from London terminate/Originate. The question of there being another Mainline continuing north of Sheffield (from Birmingham) to the ECML I would say yes, but couldn't tell you if it was via Doncaster, Leeds or neither.

Other sources do say the ECML goes up to Leeds and then to Skipton. If everyone agrees with that, then i'll draw it like that. I won't map the Great Central.

Personally I'd say the line to York & Newcastle is the 'Main' Line and the route to Leeds a very important Branch that is part of the ECML. It depends what you are trying to capture as part of your map. Leeds to Skipton is, to my mind, definitely not part of the ECML. ECML services are extended over that line to serve more destinations, but that does not make it part of the ECML.

EDIT: Page 8 on the link below seems like a good one. But it suggests the route to Nottingham is part of the ECML?!?!
https://www.networkrail.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/East-Coast-Main-Line-Route-Study.pdf

Not quite - the ECML study considers the Nottingham to Lincoln line due to the significant interaction of that line with the ECML at Newark. It is not suggesting that both those portions are part of the ECML (It's debatable if the line to Lincoln counts in the same way as the line to Leeds)
 

Legolash2o

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It depends what you are trying to capture as part of your map.

Right now, I am focusing the core lines and trying to find out exactly what are the core lines.

Later, can add an option to map the secondary lines such as Doncaster to Leeds, and the WCML branches but that requires finding all those routes and sourcing all the information, which I'm sure will be more of a pain.
 

zwk500

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Right now, I am focusing the core lines and trying to find out exactly what are the core lines.

Later, can add an option to map the secondary lines such as Doncaster to Leeds, and the WCML branches but that requires finding all those routes and sourcing all the information, which I'm sure will be more of a pain.

I highly recommend then that you explore NR's long term planning website, in particular the various 'Network Specifications' which include maps that clearly define what NR thinks are 'Primary'.


There are Network Specs for all the NR Routes, and a separate look at core freight routes. There is no difference between black and grey routes - that's for easier breakdown of the route in detail.

It includes Maps such as this one:
1603277066634.png
 

Legolash2o

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Thanks for that, I'll look at those.

P.S. I've been looking for those links for ages as I've seen the network specification before and lost where it was located.
 
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