Introduction
I am proposing that the route Midland Mainline North (as I think it should be called) should be built. This route would cover high speed travel and slower regional stopping services. Services on this route would be operated by East Midlands Trains and CrossCountry. The approximate route length is 75 miles and it would cover the section of the line between Leicester and Sheffield/Nottingham.
What would it bring?
This route would cover a new area that has not been covered in any route DLCs (official or 3rd party) which will bring variety to the game if this was built.
This route would also bring the thrill of high speed travel between Leicester and Sheffield/Nottingham whilst combining this with slower travel between Derby and Nottingham and along the Ivanhoe line between Leicester and Nottingham.
You can also drive freight trains around the route and perform shunting manoeuvres around Derby station and Mountsorrel Quarry (between Barrow Upon Soar and Sielby).
This route also covers a portion of CrossCountry's main rail route meaning that class 220s, 221s and HSTs can be operated along this portion between Derby and Sheffield.
Finally, this route could be used as a building block for expansion through other route builders as you can extend the route to Newark and Lincoln along the Castle Line, to Langley Mill and Alfreton along the Erewash Valley Line and Worksop/Mansfield. From Leicester you can extend the route south to Bedford and south - west to Nuneaton / Birmingham New Street. From Derby you can extend the route to Matlock and to Birmingham New Street. Finally, from Sheffield you can extend the route north to Leeds, Lincoln as well as many other destinations throughout Northern England.
Rolling Stock
Rolling stock on the line would be:
Class 222 meridian (East Midlands Trains)
Class 43 HST (East Midlands Trains and Crosscountry)
Class 153/156/158 (East Midlands Trains)
Class 220/221 (Crosscountry)
Class 170 (Crosscountry)
Class 66 (Freight)
Conclusion
As you can see this route will bring a wide variety of traction and scenario opportinuties to an, as yet, untouched area of the United Kingdom, providing excellent oppurtinuties for extra expansion.
Thank you for reading and I welcome your comments below