I posted this as a question for the Birmingham to Crewe live stream, but thought it might be worth talking about a bit more. Adding the Class 730 would be a huge bonus for TSW. This one EMU could bring Birmingham Cross City, WCMLS and Birmingham to Crewe right up to date. Would like to see both the 3 car and 5 car variants. We have the Aventra platform already for Goblin/WCMLS, so the basic model already exists. It would need the corridor adding to the cab and obviously a completely new interior. Nevertheless think of the impact it could have for the core WCML-derived routes!
This would be good with a 2024 timetable for WCML Birmingham Crewe and Cross City. It would also mean the 805 would be in the timetable for Birmingham Crewe too.
Ohhh yes! A 730 DLC at this point is almost a no-brainer for DTG! It'd go into everything! Then again, that would necessitate having to make new timetables for lots of existing routes...
Class 730 will probably come with a new Wolverhampton - Walsall, or Shrewsbury - Walsall route. Oxley depot is in-game now, so you only need Bescot TMD. My best guess for now anyway.
Why does every route have to be “right upto date”? I like modern stuff don’t get me wrong, but I’m getting nauseous with the constant stream of it. It’s got to the point where we can’t even get something 5 years older without someone wanting it even more modern.
Not every UK route is ‘right up to date’ - NTP, WCL, Tees Valley, WCMLoS, WC Preston-Crewe. I only mention the 730 because one DLC would add a lot of immersion to so many modern-era routes.
I would love a cross-over period timetable (assuming there was one) when the 730 and 323 both ran on the Cross City before the latter was fully withdrawn from service. Would add some much needed variety on my favourite route, especially north of Aston.
7 routes in older eras vs like 20+ in modern we need actual stuff like the class 24 to 27s, br blue class 33 and 37, class 42s, class 55s,
I’m all for some classic traction but none of those locos are suitable for the modern-era routes mentioned in this thread. I’m sure JT will continue to cater to this market.
The 710 has different coach lengths to the 730s, and the cabs are completely different. Whoever would make the 730 would need to start from scratch.
I remember when class 323's replaced class 304's and 310's. Now it's time for the 730's to kill them off.
Don’t see how that’s a problem considering people are allowed to suggest what they want to hence why it’s called a suggestion & also most UK routes made now are usually set in 2019 so not even last 5 years.
Only Brum-Crewe was set in 2019, Riviera was set in 2023 so it's not a case of "most routes now are usually set in 2019" lol
I think it's wrong to look at new v old as a binary choice. We can have both. If DTG (or someone else) makes a Class 730 pack it will pretty much finish the work needed to make the WCML/West Midland add-ons modern. It would be a very popular choice even with old duffers like me who scream at their PC monitors every time something modern and (in particular) for the WCML is announced. Beyond that, improvements in sound creation and AI modelling will allow developers to make traction that is set in the past. What interests me is whether TSW traction can be made in the same modular way that the real life Aventra is. As the most obvious example, if DTG made a Class 730 pack, would they be able to swap-out the cab for the one used on the 720s, can a TSW train interior be reconfigured to the specification of another 23m-bodied Aventra? Possibly allowing some of the scripting for the 730s to be used in the 720 model, reducing development time. Less likely I guess, but could that same 23m Aventra body have a different door configuration a la Class 345s or be shortened to provide the basis for a Class 701. Usually when I ask my IT and software development teams what is possible I get an overwhelming list of what isn't possible and I'm expecting the same here. The difference in the creative brains and pragmatic engineering ones usually leads to disappointment for the former and vindication for the latter.
We would also need a Class 196 for the diesel runs to replace the 170 but I think with lots of new stations opening in the Midlands next year (hopefully) it would make a lot of sense. We could have BCC remastered with the Camp Hill line or the Chase line with the branch to Wolverhampton (where Willenhall and Darlaston stations will be). I understand that not everybody likes modern traction, but from a timetable point of view a modern 2026 timetable would bring several new services.
As I tend to cringe at the “whoop, whoop” milk float sound the 323 makes on pullaway this is an instance where I too might welcome the 730 if it has a smoother traction sound.
Very unlikely they will remaster a route from tsw 3, it would also just be a waste when there’s tsw 2 routes that generally need a remaster since old lighting, outdated textures and lack of realistic times depending on the route due to a lack of stuff at the time of the route release
CCN, SEHS, MML, MAC were set in 2019 & Cathcart was set in 2014. Many “modern” routes aren’t set recently.
Fair enough for MAC but the rest of those DLCs were released a few years ago now. You said routes released "now".
Try posting this in the "Suggestions" or "Feedback" areas. You'll get more specific feedback and more likelihood the developers will see your suggeston.
MAC -> 2025 -> 2019 CCN -> 2025 -> 2019 MML -> 2023 -> 2019 SEHS -> 2021 -> 2019 CCL -> 2021 -> 2014 The only reasonable route here is SEHS when it comes to being set in 2019 & is the only route here that isn’t outdated in terms of rolling stock.
