Trans-Benacian Railway
The Trans-Benacian Railway is a strategically important long-distance train service founded in 1672 AN by the Company d'Orient Express. Although the desired connection between 's Koningenwaarde and Shirekeep was successfully provided for some time, the service at present (1685) covered the connections between 's Koningenwaarde and Brandenburg alone.
The end of the Shiro-Benacian War in 1741 AN marked a significant turning point for the Benacian continent, especially in the realm of transport and infrastructure. With the Treaty of Lorsdam, signed between the Imperial Republic of Shireroth and the Benacian Union, territories between the Western Benacia region (comprising Gascony and Batavia) and the eastern lands, centered around Shirekeep, were formally reconnected.
History
The dream for a long-distance train could be dated back to the Stewardship of the Waldemar Zinkgraven but the impetus for its current form came when Frederic Blijmackers travelled as a journalist on the royal train from ‘s Koningenwaarde to Brandenburg. Bent over a map of the entire continent of Benacia, Bijmackers drew different routes for long-distance trains. The focus shifted to the direct connection between 's Koningenwaarde and Shirekeep.
After 13 XI.1674 AN, all train services to and from the Severnaya Gubernya had been cancelled. The result being that there was no train service to Shirekeep. With the outbreak of the Second Amokolian War, the train service to Eliria had also been cancelled. Limited services were resumed after the concurrent Amokolian and Batavian revolutions but again interrupted by the Second Elwynnese Civil War which saw the destruction of Eliria during the Scouring of 1695 AN.
As of 1699 AN two thirds of the railway's entire length is under the control of the Benacian Union. While still in use, especially by the military, it fell into disrepair during the height of the Shiro-Benacian War when large parts of it were destroyed during fights or to be used to melt into artillery pieces.
In the aftermath of the war, the newly re-established Imperial Republic of Shireroth sought to rebuild its shattered economy and society. Steward Shen Suyi, alongside Kaiser Ayreon V, understood the pivotal role infrastructure would play in this recovery. They envisioned a new era of economic prosperity driven by vast public works projects that would provide jobs, stimulate local economies, and reinforce the imperial authority. The reestablishment of the Trans-Benacian Railway became a central piece of this broader vision, and of control by the Imperial Government over emerging local warlords.
Routes
In the aftermath of the Amokolian Revolution and the Second Elwynnese Civil War, as of 1706 AN, the current Batavian controlled route is between 's Koningenwaarde and Koningensbergen, while the section of the Trans-Benacian Railway under the control of the Benacian Union extends from Tel Amok to Ardashirshahr. Owing to the hostile relations between USSO-aligned Batavia, and the Benacian Union, cross-border travel is not permissible.
| Flag | State | Station | km |
|---|---|---|---|
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Kingdom of Batavia | Hoofdstation Noord ‘s Koningenwaarde | 0 |
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Kingdom of Batavia | Batavorum | TBD |
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Kingdom of Batavia | Pentapolis | TBD |
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Kingdom of Batavia | Benacium | TBD |
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Kingdom of Batavia | Koningensbergen | TBD |
| Frontier Closed | |||
|
General Government (Absentien) (Elw/(BU) | Tel-Amok | TBD |
|
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General Government (Absentien) (Elw/(BU) | Pozdam | TBD |
|
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Central Governorate (Elw/(BU) | Mittlere Stadt | TBD |
|
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Central Governorate (Elw/(BU) | Concord | TBD |
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Governorate of Austland (UGB/(BU) | Mishagrad | TBD |
|
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Governorate of Austland (UGB/(BU) | Peroz-Ardashir | TBD |
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Governorate of Austland (UGB/(BU) | Peroz-Aurangzeb | TBD |
|
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Governorate of Austland (UGB/(BU) | Peroz-Liv | TBD |
|
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Central Governorate (Elw/(BU) | Ardashirshahr | TBD |
Former routes
Express experience
A description of the journey with the Orient Express, from the starting point in 's Koningenwaarde to Shirekeep.
's Koningenwaarde
The Hoofdstation Noord in 's Koningenwaarde is the starting point for the Orient Express. The shielded platform is specially equipped to receive the often richer travelers, such as taxis and private drivers can drop their passengers directly on the platform and a red carpet to the entrances to the train. Travelers are personally welcomed by the staff, including the chief conductor and the chef. A ticket does not contain a number, but is in the name of the traveler.
The Orient Express is not a train service, like a commuter train. But is a train service in which travel, leisure and experience come together. Hence the term: "Orient Experience". In the days before the departure of the train, travelers arrive in 's Koningenwaarde. Often travelers stay in one of the hotels in the city. Some hotels are specially rented by the Company the Orient Express for travelers. But both in 's Koningenwaarde and in other cities, the Company has its own Orient Express hotels, often with the name: Oriental Hotel.
The train consists of at least 15 carriages, such as a saloon carriage, dinner carriage, luggage carriages and sleeping carriages. During the trip to Shirekeep, the locomotives will be changed every time the train crosses a national border.
When the train departs from 's Koningenwaarde, all passengers are invited in the salon carriage for coffee and chocolates. The train passes the buildings of 's Koningenwaarde faster and faster, while the other traffic moves slowly under and above the train tracks. The centre of the city is surrounded by a green belt and the A14 highway. This is followed by the northern suburb and the Paleys Raiselle can be seen for a short moment. Subsequently, meadows can be seen on the left and on the right there is a view of the river Zwette.
This canalized river connects the Rhijne with the Linge, which for centuries has provided a thriving economy in the region with in particular the city 's Koningenwaarde. The meadows are interrupted by parts of the Waarder Woud. Today, the Waarder Woud is only a fraction of its original size, but in the spring the forest turns purple and that compels writers to tales. Tales from the Waarder Woud
Soon afterwards the meadows start again and one of the side branches of the Zwette is crossed. The places Berg and Kolmar come into view, respectively left and right of the railway line and river. The places are connected by a bridge over the railway and river, while the wheels rattle over the railroad switches. Both places have a common train station, with a main rail available for continuous trains, such as the Orient Express. The train whips past the station, after which the passengers get a view of the Abbey of Kolmar. This is located on the hills north of the place of the same name. The abbey remains visible for some time, as the railway line and the river circle around the hill of the abbey. While the adjacent road bends north to Justusbergh. Along the track is a stone boundary post, which marks the border of the Archduchy 's Koningenwaarde, formerly the Capital Region 's Koningenwaarde.
On the other side of the river you can see the western foothills of the Hoog Falwawoud as the train approaches Zwettewaerde. That place was created around an important lock in the Zwette, to make the difference in height in the river accessible for shipping. Because in the past the King of 's Koningenwaarde was the main financier of the lock, this place became "Zwettewaerde", which is the combination of "Zwette", the name of the river, and "waarde" (value). Later a new lock was built east of the original lock, for which a new channel was dug.
The railway line makes a turn to the north, following a shorter route. This means that the train has to go through a tunnel under the hill on which the Zwetterbosch is located. After the tunnel, the road, the river and the railway line come together again. The road winds north to Dasburgh, while the railway follows a more direct line to the same place.
The town of Dasburgh has traditionally been an important fortress on the route from Batavorum to 's Koningenwaarde. Many wars between different gentlemen have been fought for control over this place. The counts of Vinandy have had control of the site most of the times and for the longest time. Nowadays the king of Batavia, besides prince of Vinandy, is also count of Dasburgh. Dasburgh Castle is nowadays only a ruin, but still owned by the House of Vinandy. In the past, tolls were levied both on the road and on the river, but the town is also known for its Dasburger brewery. Completely separate from the railway line over which the Oriënt Express train runs, there is a railway line to Vinandy. This railway is nowadays largely a museum railroad, on which nostalgic steam trains transport tourists to and from Dasburgh.
The railway to Batavorum cuts off a few bends of the river before arriving in Batavorum. Here the train of the Orient Express makes its first stopover.
