West Scipian Railway
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| West Scipian Railway Company | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Higher speed rail |
| Status | Operational |
| Locale | Sydalon Ascalzar Yisrael Fakolana |
| Termini | Phillipopolis, Sydalon (start/west) Fakolanum, Fakolana (end/east) |
| Stations | TBD |
| Operation | |
| Opened | Phillipopolis to Fakolanum (Primary Line) Petra to Gallagán Ashkelon to Phillipopolis Yerushalayim to Didapolis Dervaylik to Modiin Petra to Modiin Concordia to Aurelia (Planned; Currently disconnected from the main railway.) |
| Closed | Ostracine to Didapolis (Undergoing repairs due to damage from the 2018 Sydalene Revolution until November 2018) |
| Character | At-grade |
| Technical | |
| Track length | TBD |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
West Scipian Railway is a transnational long-distance private commuter, passenger, and freight transport train service operated by a private consortium of companies from Ascalzar, Fakolana, Sydalon, and Yisrael with government backing that form the joint venture the West Scipian Railway Company.
It operates the largest commuter and long-range passenger railway in West Scipia. It was conceived in the aftermath of the 1973 Yarden Accords as a symbolic way to unite the region after decades of war, conflict, and distrust.
Although it is a normal international rail service, it has garnered a reputation in the public eye for political intrigue and luxury travel. The railway or obvious analogues of it have appeared in such formats such as the 1991 murder mystery novel Murder on the Night Train to Sydalon and its 1993 film version, cameoed in the Asher Frum spy films, and was the main background in the 2013 modern geopolitical thriller and alternate history film The Red Sky about a hypothetical "Fifth" West Scipian War between Sydalon and Yisrael.
History
Conception
Consortium formed
Construction
Becoming operational
Today
Lines
The West Scipian Railway has eight lines in its rail network:
- Phillipopolis-Fakolanum Line: Considered the Primary Line, the Phillipopolis-Fakolanum line is the longest and most contiguous segment of track in the transnational railway. The entire trip from end-city to end-city take approximately 12 hours and 40 minutes at normal speed. Wealthy foreign visitors from across Belisaria, Tarsas, Arthurista, Belfras, and elsewhere who are visiting West Scipia on a "grand tour" will often ride the train for the entirety of the line's length, often stopping at each station to visit the area before catching another train continuing on. Business travelers and diplomats also frequent this line as its the main route to several capitals and major commercial hubs, such as Sydalon, Gallagán, and Fakolanum.
- Petra-Gallagán Line: A secondary line connecting the main city of Petra in the Eastern Sydalene Exclave to Gallagán, the capital city of Ascalzar.
- Ashkelon-Phillipopolis Line: A secondary line connecting the major city of Ashkelon in Yisrael on its west coast to the western terminus of the railway in Phillipopolis, a major Sydalene coastal city.
- Yerushalayim-Didapolis Line: A secondary line in northern Yisrael connecting the Yisraeli capital of Yerushalayim to Didapolis in Sydalon. An important conduit for travel for Yisraeli and Sydalene diplomats, elites, and businessmen.
- Dervaylik-Modiin Line: A short secondary line in northern Yisrael connecting its largest city, Dervaylik, with the Primary Line at Modiin. One of the busiest lines in service, and also the heaviest for daily commuters between both Yisraeli cities.
- Petra-Modiin Line: A short and minor secondary line connecting the Sydalene exclave to the Primary Line at the terminal in Modiin. This route typically has one of the lowest volumes for the railway, although it has a number of daily commuters who have business or high-tech jobs across the Sydalon-Yisrael border.
- Ostracine-Didapolis Line: A secondary line connecting the largest city in Sydalon, Ostracine, to the Primary Line at the major terminal in Didapolis. A heavily-trafficked route for foreign visitors, business travelers, and daily commuters. Currently closed until the end of 2018 due to structural damage to parts of its tracks from some of the fighting in northern Sydalon during the 2018 Sydalene Revolution.
- Concordia-Aurelia Line: A secondary and noncontiguous rail-line entirely within Fakolana, known also as the "Eastern Coastal Line," connecting the Fakolan cities of Concordia in its southeast to the city of Aurelia in its center-north. Planning for a train bridge to connect the line with the Primary Line across the internal waterway to Fakolanum (and thus to the rest of the WSR rail network) has been ongoing since the early 2010s.
Finances
Terminals
Major terminals
The West Scipian Railway has three major railroad terminals: Didapolis (Sydalon), Gallagán (Ascalzar), and Modiin (Yisrael).
Didapolis is the largest rail connection point, with the Primary, Yerushalayim, and Ostracine Lines, all heavily trafficked, running through its terminal. This is followed by the Gallagán terminal, an important stop on the Primary Line, and the only station for Ascalene users to embark or disembark in Ascalzar; it is also a recipient of the Petra Line from the Sydalene Exclave. Lastly, Modiin is the eastmost major terminal, being an important stop on the Primary Line in Yisrael, a recipient of the busy Dervaylik Line, as well as a recipient of the other Petra Line.
Services
Service on the WSR depends on the status of ticket (commuter or traveler), class (daily commuter, regular coach, business, first), and the rail-line utilized.
Passenger
Passengers, whether commuters or travelers, enjoy certain amenities available to all ticketed persons, namely a guaranteed seat, free Wi-Fi internet access, and access to for-purchase food and drink (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) cars.
Commuter
Commuters, who may buy daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly tickets, either one-way or roundtrip, are assigned to regular coach-style seats in the commuter railroad cars.
Traveler
Regular train passengers, who are not commuters (such as visitors and other travelers) are known as 'Travelers' and entitled to certain services, amenities, and privileges according to the class of ticket they purchase.
Classes
First Class
First Class travelers are assigned to the First Class railroad-car(s), which include large, spacious seats as well as well couches, tables, and other leisurely space. They are afforded complimentary food and alcoholic drinks from the dining car, as well as snacks and food that are otherwise for-purchase by other passengers.
They have access to the entertainment car (a railroad car with several playing tables, a fully-stocked bar, a pool table, and other accompaniments). For overnight trips, they have access to the First Class sleeping car. They are afforded access to the business center car as well.
Business Class
Business Class travelers are assigned to the Business Class railroad-car(s), or if already filled, excess seats in the Regular Coach. They have spacious, but slightly less so, seats and other amenities than First Class. They are afforded complimentary food and two alcoholic beverages from the dining car, but other snacks and drinks are for-purchase.
They, too, have access to the entertainment and business center cars. For overnight trips, they have access to the Business Class sleeping car, which is roughly equivalent if slightly smaller than their First Class co-travelers.
Regular Coach
Regular Coach travelers are assigned to the several Regular Coach railroad-car(s). These cars have standard seating but no tables, couches, or other seating arrangements. They have access to for-purchase food and drinks.
For overnight trips, they have the option to purchase meals and alcoholic drinks in the dining car. On overnight trips only, they may pay for access to the business center car. Regular Coach travelers are assigned to Regular Coach sleeping cars, which are slightly smaller than Business Class.
Availability by line
Overnight accommodations (sleeping cars) are only available on the Primary, Yerushalayim, and Ostracine lines.
First Class is available only on the Primary, Yerushalayim, Ostracine, Ashkelon, and Concordia lines.
Business Class and Regular Coach are available on all lines.
Commuter class is available on all lines, but with a time limit of 2 hours (e.g., a commuter passenger could only travel up to 2 hours and would have to disembark at the station closest to the two-hour mark). On certain train schedules (late night departures, etc.), the WSR close its commuter class availability.