I would love to have and amtrak long distance routes like the Cali Zephyr or the SW Chief or something like that. Thanks.
A very vague suggestion. We already have a couple of US routes where Amtrak long distance trains could operate but I have a feeling DTG struggle to LAMPOIL making the kit for what amounts to one train a day in each direction on the western routes. Route wise, DTG are not going to build anything longer than about 90 miles, most likely less so at best you are going to get a portion of where Amtrak run. You also still have the ongoing reluctance of the ClassOne freight railroads to work with or grant access to DTG for detailed research, which probably precludes something like the former D&RGW Moffat Road from (say) Denver to Granby.
Best representation we can hope for is a DLC pack for the Amtrak sleeper rolling stock, which layers into several timetables where those trains run as a couple of additinal services per day. Definitely won't happen until at the very least the stars align such that DTG have both a new route like Cascades or similar in progress, while simultaneously remastering an earlier route they would be compatible with, where they're rebaking the timetable and could fit the necessary additional layer so as to have more than one route it could run on (Like Trenton, Boston, and the Acela).
Yeah, rather than a route this would make more sense as a diesel AMTRAK engine (like a P42) and some appropriate baggage/sleeper cars to layer onto other routes. We aren't going to get long routes, but it would fit onto what we have. DTG has the license. The cons are... you have to make the loco and guess how it'd sell. The pros for this are many You can "revitalize" lots of North American routes that haven't been getting much love (basically all of them) Might only add a couple runs to each timetable which could be a hassle, but a couple per route add up, and if you can keep development labor low they could release it for a pretty low price with perhaps slight changes to livery for each route/"train" and thus make it seem like more content. It would definitely layer on: Antelope San Bernadino Cajon Pass Providence Boston Sprinter Oakville Horseshoe Curve Sherman Hill Sand Patch Don't know about: NEC New York (they have AMTRAK, but don't know if it's the same long-distance locos, or just the existing electric ones?) Clinchfield (might get AMTRAK there, but it's 1970s so... wouldn't work with more modern loco) No: Harlem LIRR Cane Creek That's a solid 9 routes AMTRAK could operate on realistically, and a couple more "maybes." Most would be end-to-end but... that's what AMTRAK really is. It's not a commuter line. So, being "realistic" that's what you'd see. Now are 9 or 10 "end to end" runs worth a whole new train? (Okay to be fair like most routes it'd be several "runs" based on the same line at different times of day, so it could be a few dozen actual "runs") Maybe it'd work. The TGV exists for example and it's very limited in use. A few have more than one stop of course. Like Horseshoe Curve where there are multiple AMTRAK stations. It would also be added content for future routes. However, getting back to the original post, I wouldn't make a specific route FOR AMTRAK since you'd only get a couple "runs"
I have a custom Pennsylvanian service between Altoona and Johnstown that I drive sometimes, though it has to rely on an older Amtrak-liveried F40PH since there's no P42DC.
Still hoping for a Pacific NW Seattle or Portland area route with the Empire Builder, Coast Starlight, and Amtrak Cascades. Chicago with Amtrak Midwest and Amtrak Long-Distance trains, along with Metra and freight railroads, would be amazing too. The Pacific Surfliner and SW Chief are must-haves for me as well. I want Siemens Chargers, P42DCs, and/or P32-8BWHs in game.
Technically it could on Cane Creek, as the California Zephyr uses the mainline there and used to stop in Thompson Springs back in the day, but you would most likely never see it during any included service however.
It's like 5 miles and there's no stop in Brendel so.... not really a "service" there. That's why I said no.
I mean, DTG made a layer for San Bernadino that barely gets seen, so they could have SHG easily make a useless AI layer if they want to. (Only difference is it stops at a station)
I think it's the Floridian Route that goes from Cumberland to Rockwood in real life. (Well it goes farther up towards Pittsburgh, but on the map it would stop at Rockwood since the map ends.) I don't think it stops anywhere else, although there are a lot of old stations along the SPG route. But, simply letting the P42 or even an F40 sub in for the GP-38 runs with a few carriages would give a few runs a day for very little work.
AI only or the short ride for the player(Antelope). OK there is can be scenarios on SB Line, but not a timetable, because this line used only as a detour. Same as LA(AI only or the shortest ride for the player). There is no Amtrak trains in Wyoming since 1997. Depot movement + AI trains at Penn Station and Sunny Side. Electric, but with sleeper cars. And the problem is - for all those routes we need both sets: Viewliners for the East and Superliners for the West. Also for Sand Patch we need both at once, because Capitol Limited used Superliners, but Floridian uses Viewliners. Overall it's like more then a dozen different cars + new locomotive. It sounds very expensive(for the devs at least). My wish still stands: DTG, give us a regular Amtrak diesel route with subsequent Viewliner and Superliner DLС packs (plus liveries for the locomotive, if it's a P42DC)
If that's the case, then suggest ONE route... a specific route not just "find one for me to make." it's the suggester's role to find the route to suggest, not tell DTG to do the work. Now you did mention two.... so expand on those. How about the Zephyr? How about the Southwest Chief? Again though... you'll only get 50-100 miles max, so be SPECIFIC. What 50-100 miles should be modeled? We already have some of the SW Chief on Cajon Pass. The Zephyr shows up only (sort of) on Cane Creek. If you want other parts, then specify end points for a certain stretch. If you want a truly LONG route then TSW is not the place for that. However, if you want AMTRAK Southwest Chief... you CAN do that for hours on Run 8, and even have the correct rolling stock for it. It "only" runs 12 hours from LA to near Flagstaff, but I think 12 hours is "long enough" for a video game.
Choose one: New Haven - Springfield; Washington - Richmond; Seattle - Lakewood; Seattle - Everett; Chicago - Milwaukee; Chicago - South Bend. Chicago - *insert city name* WHAT? It's their job. I have to make the route myself and then pay for it? Don't be ridiculous. All these (and other) routes and options were suggested many times, DTG either kept silent (okay, they often keep silent about suggestions, nothing wrong with that), or said no. I propose the most realistic version of how Amtrak Long Distance can get into the game, namely, to be divided into several DLCs.
Would require both licensing and stock from CT rail, which we don't know if DTG can license them or not. Only benefactor is the CT uses P40's so research isn't needed on their locos since they are ex-Amtrak units, but it will be needed on their unique Mafersa coaches on the line. The RF&P Sub would be way too long to make commercially for TSW, not to mention DTG would need to model BOTH Superliners and Viewliners for the Auto Train AND Silver Meteor. Again, more work that wouldn't work commercially for DTG. Last of course is more commuter rail licensing, but with the VRE. At least like CT Rail, they use locos already used on other routes (MP36). Their coaches are NS Gallery Cars like Caltrain, but not sure how much different their models are from the Caltrain ones. At least CSX freight appears. Lengthwise you're fine, but again, you have to deal in the unknown licensing with the local commuter line in Sounder. Not to mention Sounder uses mostly F59PHI's and the Newest Bombadier Bi-Level Cab Car design, so they would need to at least research those on top of DTG trying to make Amtrak Cascades equipment, which would again hinder the commercial viability of the route (As DTG usually only introduces 1 "new" loco per route DLC) Metra, that's all I have to say...... Only Chicago route that Metra cant screw up due to the SouthWest Service not having any stops while on Norfolk Southern's Chicago Line, but by the time you get to South Bend, you only have 2 daily trains, the Lake Shore Limited, and newer Floridian, since the Michigan trains all split off around Chesterton. So DTG would most likely have to sell this route as a NS Freight route with Amtrak tacked on..... And given our only NS equipment is all SHG stuff, this would also be a hard sell. I still feel like the Orange County Line/Pacific Surfliner would be the only viable DLC at the moment, since Metrolink's stock and licensing is already done and Pacific Surfliner can be the focus on the route, then DTG can sell the SWC and yard work with Superliners as DLC
Well, once again we are at a dead end for two reasons: licenses and lack of the necessary rolling stock. And if licenses are a serious problem that is difficult to solve. Then it is time to do something about the missing rolling stock. Otherwise, we will continue to sit and wait for a miracle. If one of these routes became the core route, then the problem could be addressed using the deluxe edition method. For example, Sounder as the main rolling stock for the route, and Cascades as a deluxe DLC.
Don't forget transition sleepers for connecting them smoothly to the baggage cars and sometimes the existing ingame amfleets, or you won't hear the last of it from everyone hoping to catch sight of a transdorm service. In theory you could also fit an AI coast starlight layer into a hypothetical remastered Peninsula Corridor, at San Jose, but it'd drive off the map in fairly short order in either direction.
The only way Amtrak is really going to work in TSW is if you did some sort of scaled down ATS style map. So 1000 miles becomes 50 or 60 miles. Not even sure if that is practical with a route editor that relies on real world DEM/LiDAR and associated mapping data. Then you will get those who vehemently oppose any such contraction, though I personally would be quite happy and see it as an excellent compromise.
