CGRN Bixbus–Brierly Line

Origins and Early Planning

The origins of the Bixbus–Brierly Line date back to 2018, when Luke Smith, the founder of Bixbus, sought to expand the settlement's economic reach beyond its barren desert landscape. With little arable land and no established trade routes, Bixbus relied heavily on imported goods and limited industrial production. Seeking to establish reliable partnerships and secure transport for essential supplies, Smith and his advisors identified Brierly — a historic settlement founded in 1810, known for its fertile lands, vineyards, and traditional winemaking — as the ideal trading partner.

An exploration team from Bixbus had first discovered Brierly on 13 August 2018, opening a new chapter of contact between the two communities. Brierly, which had lost all of its Guardians by the mid-nineteenth century, had maintained a largely isolated existence for over 150 years. Negotiations between the settlements resulted in early cooperative arrangements, with Brierly agreeing to send some of its young settlers to assist with Bixbus' development in exchange for resources and technological support. These initial exchanges laid the diplomatic groundwork for what would become the most ambitious infrastructure project of the era.

A formal feasibility study was conducted in March 2019, with engineers from both Bixbus and Brierly working to determine the most efficient route between the two settlements whilst minimising disruption to the landscape and existing infrastructure. The study identified several key challenges, including rocky hills and unstable terrain near Bixbus that would require land levelling and reinforcement, the need to avoid Brierly's key agricultural zones and vineyards, and the provision of adequate water supply stations along the route. By August 2019, the final route had been selected — a 60-kilometre track running through natural valleys, avoiding major elevation changes whilst providing direct, uninterrupted passage between the two settlements. Resources were secured by June 2019, clearing the way for construction to begin.

Resistance and Approval

The idea of a railway was not universally welcomed. For over two centuries, Brierly had thrived in relative seclusion, maintaining tight-knit agricultural traditions and a self-sufficient economy. Many of the settlement's leaders and landowners feared that a rail connection to a rapidly growing industrial town like Bixbus would bring unwanted disruption, threatening their way of life and traditional economic systems. Concerns over increased migration, cultural shifts, and outside commercial influences sparked considerable debate within Brierly's governing council.

Despite this opposition, economic incentives ultimately proved persuasive. Brierly's wine production, whilst locally renowned, had long been constrained by the settlement's isolation. A rail link to Bixbus promised access to larger markets, expanded trade routes, and increased wealth. Recognising the long-term economic advantages, Brierly's leadership reluctantly approved the railway proposal in late 2019, paving the way for construction to commence.

Construction

Construction officially began on 1 September 2019, overseen by a joint workforce of engineers, labourers, and logistics planners drawn from both Bixbus and Brierly. The men and women who took on this monumental task became known as the CGRN Bixbus–Brierly Line Construction Crew, a collective of skilled and unskilled workers from diverse backgrounds — residents of Bixbus eager for employment in a rapidly growing settlement, seasoned railway workers brought in from beyond the region, and specialists including track layers, machine operators, and surveyors.

Supervising the operation was Aaron Semple, a seasoned railway foreman whose relentless work ethic and hands-on approach earned him the respect of his crew. Known for leading from the front, Semple was often found working alongside the labourers rather than directing from a distance, enforcing long work shifts and high discipline to keep the project on schedule.

The terrain posed significant challenges. Between Bixbus and Brierly lay rugged hills, dry riverbeds, and stretches of barren land, all of which had to be carefully navigated. The crew worked under extreme conditions, facing sweltering days, freezing nights, and relentless dust storms that delayed progress on multiple occasions. The logistical difficulty of transporting materials was another obstacle — rails, sleepers, and construction equipment had to be hauled across rough landscapes, sometimes requiring teams to lay temporary tracks just to move supplies forward. Several landslides near the hilly sections temporarily halted progress, testing the resolve of even the most experienced workers.

Despite these hardships, the camaraderie amongst the workforce became the backbone of the project. Camps were set up along the route, where the crew would eat, rest, and gather around makeshift fires in the evenings, sharing stories and forging bonds that would last well beyond the project's completion. For many, the railway was more than a job — it was a shared test of endurance and determination that bound the workforce together.

By November 2020, final track inspections and safety tests were conducted. On 1 December 2020, the first official train ran between Bixbus and Brierly, marking the completion of the line and the beginning of a new era of transportation, commerce, and regional integration in Clivilius.

Economic and Social Impact

The completion of the Bixbus–Brierly Line transformed both settlements in profound ways. For Bixbus, the railway provided direct access to Brierly's fertile lands and agricultural products, allowing the settlement to diversify its economy beyond industrial production and resource extraction. The line also saw an increase in migration, as workers and traders took advantage of the new transportation corridor to move between the two communities.

For Brierly, the railway opened lucrative trade opportunities that had been unimaginable during its centuries of isolation. Wine production, the settlement's most celebrated industry, could now reach markets far beyond the local region, with bulk exports transported efficiently by rail. Modern infrastructure improvements followed — rail stations, supply depots, and transport hubs — which boosted employment and stimulated local commerce.

Yet the railway also introduced tensions that echoed the earlier debates within Brierly's governing council. Some traditionalists viewed the influx of Bixbus traders and industrial influence as a direct threat to their centuries-old way of life, fearing that rapid expansion would erode the settlement's agricultural heritage and community bonds. The cultural shifts that accompanied the railway — new faces, new money, new ideas — were embraced by some and resisted by others, creating a complex dynamic that would continue to shape relations between the two settlements for years to come.