Train Simulator: Birmingham Cross City Line

Welcome to the West Midlands! The dense commuter network of Birmingham comes to life in Train Simulator in the form of the Cross City Line.

What is now known today as the Cross City Line, first opened between 1837 and 1885 as various unconnected routes. Even into the British Railways days, each half of the line, to Lichfield, Staffordshire in the north and Redditch, Worcestershire in the south with Birmingham in the middle, was operated independently with drastically differing quality of services.

It wasn’t until the 1970s that a plan was put in place to revitalise the routes, involving a merge of services to form a single through line, re-opening and re-building of stations and building new stations where required. The improvements were a success, however it wouldn’t be until the 1990s where the biggest change occurred.

Until this point, heritage DMUs were still employed along the line, but the 1990s would bring electrification, and with the wires came arguably the most unique EMU in the country, the BR Class 323. Built by Hunslet, which were mainly known for their steam locomotives of days past, the Class 323 is well-known by enthusiasts and often regarded as the “Hyper Networker”, owing to its similarities with the Class 465.

The Class 323 remains in service to this day, having spent recent years in the distinctive London Midland livery, and now also serves Bromsgrove which was added to the line in 2018, offering fast and frequent services through the heart of England’s 2nd city into commuter suburbs and beyond.

Experience the hustle and bustle of modern commuting with the Birmingham Cross City Line in Train Simulator!

Key Features

• 37-mile (60 km) Cross City Line from Lichfield Trent Valley to Bromsgrove & Redditch via Birmingham New Street
• 25 authentically detailed stations
• Dense commuter services, linking important interchange hubs and local communities
• Tackle the famed Lickey Incline, the steepest sustained main-line railway incline in Great Britain; 1:37.7 for two miles between Bromsgrove and Barnt Green
• Includes:
  
  • BR Class 323 EMU in London Midland livery, making its Train Simulator debut
  • BR Class 350/1, 350/2 and 350/3 in London Midland livery
  • EWS Class 66 V2.0 Add-On
    
    • 6 Career and 3 Railfan Mode scenarios
    • Quick Drive compatible