West Coast Main Line: Trent Valley From All Aboard Studios

I won't be voting with my wallet for this one, given the reputation and state of the B2C release. If my guy institution is correct, I fear this will only be the same at release.

 

Very much looking forward to this, I do question the timing of it given we’ve had lots of WCML recently and Birmingham to Crewe is still in need of significant improvements. Surely it can’t be long before we get Euston to Crewe as one section, and maybe also the section from Milton Keynes to Birmingham completed in full.

 

yay another new varaint of the IET that is really needed...
I know irl they still run them but jesus christ i am so tired of seeing IETs... they are such bad trains

 

A brief evaluation. It’s absolutely wonderful that soon we’ll have full rolling stock for the modern era of WCML, as with the 80’s (I think). For some, they may wish to simulate something as close to an end-to-end journey from London to the North West.

However, still not happy with how Brum-Crewe is doing, and I must say I find it rather odd that only the 350/4 and 807 will be included with trent valley. There are only 10 units of the former, and only a handful of 807. It also misses out on the huge potential of other rolling stock being included, even the other sub-classes of the Class 350 from AAS would be good enough, although a Pendolino would most ideally have to accompany the route at a minimum, although this isn’t possible except as a layer, as one party cannot include locos made by others to be included. So imagine you don't own B2C or WCMLS, then what?

With regards to the first point, many see this as a limitation, being that, in order to simulate the closest thing to an end to end journey, they have to use the route hopping feature, which really breaks the immersion this case, and remember that even if modern era routes are utilised for this purpose, they do not share the same year WTT, so in one route you'll find a service that isn't quite in time with another, or maybe it simply doesn't exist in one or the other.

 

Predictable state of affairs really.

They’ve already got 50+ miles of WCML that’s in tatters, along with the 805 in dev & now another 100+ miles of route.

Not impressed at all to see a dev studio seemingly aligned with the exact issue DTG have in terms of outpacing quality with production.

Aside from that, I suspect this will be a product that’s extremely overhyped just because it’s modern WCML. I reckon the reality will be people will quickly get bored of another AT300 & 350 on a route that’s pretty bland & doesn’t go to or from anywhere exciting. The only really exciting thing I can see this route offering, is the potential it will have should TSW ever see extensions/connections with other routes.

 

This is why I get the feeling that with how many routes we now have in the same era and time period, we're entering a phase where routes are almost dependent on layers to complete them as opposed to layers being a bonus. The only alternative is another situation like the Dosto cab cars or EWS 66, with multiple new and near identical variants of the exact same thing blocking up the timetable list.

 

A lot less intensive built up areas in this route compared with Crewe to Birmingham, so hopeful it won’t encounter the same issues. Otherwise really excited about this one, being hoping to get Nuneaton for years - one of the busiest freight spots in the UK.

Check out the Nuneaton Railcam and you’ll see what I mean…

 

I wish I could be excited for this, but considering the state of the B2C Route on console I just can’t. Maybe DTG and AABS should focus on fixing what we have first.

 

I think it's great that this huge section is being done, but considering the state Birmingham-Crewe is in. I won't be buying this day one, I'll wait until the Console Guinea Pigs buy it and let us know how it is.

 

This looks great - I wish third parties focus on bringing as much of the ECML as they have the WCML soon though lol

 

Oh Boy...
Sorry, what I’m reading here I find quite absurd… B2C is a really good route with high quality. Yes, maybe on the console the textures don’t work out well, but that’s absolutely not the fault of AABS… I play it on PC and I can say it’s one of the best routes in TSW for the UK.

It’s a pity that people are so negative about something the creators can’t do anything about.

 

Yeah I think I'll watch from the side lines and see how the route is, then make a decision from there.

 

People complaining about the 390 not being included again, but that leads back to dtg in September 2024. By scamming their customers to have it on WCMLS in the first place, it is now illogical for it to be included in any route

 

Well that's great for you, but we pay the same you do and I think it's only fair we get the same standard as PC players.

 

Not sure that logic holds up, the 805 will be a standalone pack, even newer than the 390 & you can just buy this route for 807 instead.

Obviously the 805 has the diesel component to it, but there’s nowhere in TSW that it comes into play & anywhere the 805 will run, the 807 does (for the vast majority of services the 807 will actually be more accurate too).

Between the 805 & 390, the former makes a little more sense as a separate purchase, but not to the point it pushes the 390 to a ‘scam’.

 

Yeah thats a fair point but thats not a fault by AABS?! I see comments direct about this studio but they are not the issue here. When you complain about the texture issue thats absolute a good point but again this is not caused by AABS

 

here before another unplayable blur fest...

(i really hope I end up eating these words)

 

Just a thought but this route presents a great opportunity for a future Lumo class 222 add-on when they start their Euston - Stirling operations next year as that service will be stopping at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton and Crewe.

 

Come on. Over 60% of the user platform is console players. Do really expect them to be hyped about this when the B2C was released in such a poor state?. It’s a little bit of insult to steamroll into the next product without rectifying all of the issues with their previous one.

 

How was it a scam?

 

I do think Milton Keynes feels an odd place to start a route but it looks like a decent run.

I realise that consoles are having difficulty with the route, but from a PC players perspective there is nothing wrong with the quality of the route.

 

I get the impression that Avanti and LNWR/WMT are the only TOCs left that TSW can work with!

 

Sorry again you do not need to be satisfied but thats not the issue by AABS but a TSW core issue. How difficult is that to understand?! And they can not fixed that.

 

Thank goodness for the forums. It seems everyone on Discord and Reddit have already forgotten Bham-Crewe and the state its in 8 weeks on after release. This all sounds great on paper, but if Bham-Crewe isn't fixable / fixed, this route will contain all the same (if not more) problems. Don't expect them to have tested it on console before release, that's for sure!

 

This is a valid point for nearly every new route in TSW now so i can understand youre frustration

 

Not a scam then unless they told you it was included or a free add-on.

 

I bet they won't bother layering the other 350 subclasses and 807 to this and wcmls in their modern version.

Last section is Rugby-Birmingham everybody hold tight!

 

I hope that could also lead to an East Midlands 222 being made as well afterwards

 

Rather than having an 108 mile long route I would extend wcmls to Birmingham and make the trent valley route Rugby to Stafford

 

Don’t be so sure about that. AAS didn’t create 3 versions of the 350 just for them to not be utilised to their full potential. I expect there’ll be plenty of variety

 

Yea Right "Once bitten, twice shy"

 

There's no one pc standard. My low end PC definitely couldn't keep up with TSW. My new gaming PC on the other hand, works great and is definitely more expensive than your console. (So much for paying the same)

That said, no excuse for blurry textures, but you can't expect the same exact performance profile between different systems.

 

It’s completely AABS responsibility to create a route which runs to an acceptable standard on all platforms. JT have managed it, so have many others. How difficult is that to understand?

 

I don’t particularly think AABS have been particularly lazy with layering. That seems unfair. I would hazard a guess it will include a 2024 TT (presumably for the 807) which is made to link with the 2024 TT they are making from WCMLS and B2C.

 

The reason JT have managed it is not so much based on the length of the route, but the amount of rolling stock. WCMLOS has the 87, pacer, 101 and a bit of freight. On the other hand, Birmingham-Crewe has the 390, 220, 3 variants of the 350 which are all assigned separate schedules, some freight and lots of AI

 

That’s a fair point, but you missed off the Class 47/4. There is also multiple layers including the Class 20, 31, 45 and their Ai services - which even with those does not result in a dramatic loss of performance.

 

That is ideal.
Do you mean 2025?

 

I like the idea of being able to drive from Euston to Crewe. There isn't many ultra-long drives in TSW so that's definitely a positive from me.

However this is the 5th WCML route that's been announced in a space of less than 2 years. It's getting a bit silly given that there's only 1 ECML route, 0 SWML routes, 0 SEML routes, 0 GEML routes, and 0 CML (as in Chiltern) routes. I personally would rather we had one of those and waited a year or two for the next section of WCML.

 

Blurry textures on Blackpool Branches and WCMLoS disagree with you on that. Former PS5 player, moved to PC over the last few months. There is a point where routes end and core begins, and from what I've seen across two different platforms (B2C was the last addon I bought for PS5) AABS have already done their bit.

 

Would make sense for skyhook to do that and include it on the MML route

 

I've just noticed, their not including Northampton.
Why?

 

We never learn do we!!

 

And glasgow to Carlisle

 

Absolutely 100 percent not buying this until Birmingham to Crewe is fixed. Do AABS really think the customer will be running to buy this and they can just leave Birmingham- Crewe in the state it is in and people will throw money at them. It’s great to read others are doing the same and not throwing money at this and voting with a walled enough is enough now and it’s time DTG and developers learn this.

 

Unfortunately yes!!

Just look at this community the minute a new DLC is announced.

Everything else goes out the window and the vast majority [EDIT - Jan - Inappropriate]

 

'AAS' is quite sufficient. 'Aboard' is one word and so does not require the 'B'.

 

So why single my comment kit why not mention the hundreds of others who do the same. Also for the record the abbreviation DTG do is AABS as well so the community know what you are referencing. So do the following

1. get a grip
2. Stop singling my comment out
3. Keep the thread on topic

 

Looks grand. Still haven't played their latest debut but will have to.

 

I think you’re completely over exaggerating here. As a PS5 player I have done so many runs on both BB and WCMLso without experiencing any of these so called blurry texture issues. The only thing I have encountered is stuttering on WCMLso - and even then this was around the known areas such as Watford etc.