So, I think it's time for a South Western route. In an ideal world, we run a route from Wimbledon to Guildford or the option to Alton, so we can spawn and despawn AI along the way from Waterloo, without having to run into Waterloo and consume memory in an instant. But we could also then add a SWT/SWR layer onto the existing Clapham Junction which is badly needed. Route The route starts at Wimbledon, utilising AI Class 484 LU liveried stock on platforms 1-4, and SWT services on 5-8, Thameslink 700s on 9 and 10 (in place of the Croydon Tramlink, or we have P10 permanently empty). We cover all the stations including the wonderful Raynes Park, Surbiton and Woking stations, these are wonderful pieces of art deco, Surbiton especially with its unique track layout makes for an incredbily interesting and varied timetable scene. After Woking, we have the option to take a service to Brookwood and down to Alton. At Alton the Heritage 33 and Mk1s shuttle back and forth on the Watercress Line. On the Guildford route, we link up with FGW Class 165s as AI adding more variety. Era Ideally we set this in the 1990s, and we work on Class 455/442/159 (reskin of 158), VEP/CEP/CIG/BEP. But in reality, we have plenty of stock already that could be reskinned. So we go for 2006-2017. We need a Class 450, a new Class 455 built from scratch, for the purposes of time we stick to the Class 455/8 and Class 455/9 variants only, a reskin of the Class 158 into SWT, and a new build Class 442 Wessex Electric. To save on costs and to add a new layer to London to Brighton in Scenario Planner, the 442 is in a Gatwick Express refurbished state, but in SWT livery, and folk can then play around in livery designer to bring about all host of other liveries. The route wouldn't be too intensive, a reduced timetable of 1 train per hour to most destinations would bring it into line with the BML London Commuter route in terms of traffic density. It would be a highly popular 3rd rail route, with two new build units, the 442 and 455, being extremely popular. To allow for extra revenue, the base route would come solely with a reskin 450 and 158, and the 455 family and 442 would be seprarate add ons priced accordingly. At a later date, an extension to Portsmouth would be fantastic as a standalone second route from Guildford, that could be joined via route hoppers at Guildford. WIMBLEDON Raynes Park New Malden Berrylands Surbiton Esher Hersham Walton On Thames Weybridge Byfleet & New Haw West Byfleet Woking Worpledon GUILDFORD Woking Brookwood Ash Vale Aldershot Farnham Bentley ALTON Scenarios The Tennis Special Drive a 9 car class 159 or 8 car Class 158 from Wimbledon to Woking where the train will continue to Exeter St Davids, expect Wimbledon to be extremely busy as the tennis is underway The Monday Commute Major delays are occuring due to a signal failure at Clapham Junction, your train will be very slow from Woking to Waterloo, and you'll be terminated early at Wimbledon. 8 car Class 455. The Guildford Stopper Drive your 8 car Class 450 on a stopping Wimbledon to Guildford train calling at all stations including Raynes Park, New Malden and Berrylands. The Alton Summer Special There is an event at the Watercress line, and your train formed of Class 450s will be very busy, take the service out of Wimbledon depot and pick up passengers at Wimbledon, Surbiton then all stations. The Last Train You have the last booked 8 car Class 455 from Guildford, we stop to set down only after Woking, and at Wimbledon you'll then prepare the train for Wimbledon Traincare Depot for overnight storage. Thanks
I think London Waterloo would prove problematic for console memory, and Wimbledon is still busy enough to get a good suburban run in. Plenty of stuff would despawn after Wimbledon in the Waterloo direction. If Waterloo would be done, great but realistically I think capping it at Wimbledon would be better for gameplay stability.
The problem is the stretch between Waterloo and Clapham Junction was always fps killer - whatever the simulator, MSTS, Train Sim Classic. Plus, we all know the issues with optimisation still need sorting. Would love to see Waterloo in TSW but the core of TSW needs fixing first.
In that case Clapham Junction, as at least majority of services could start there. Wimbledon seems an isolated part of the route irl to start it.
I'd like to see SWT layers added to the existing Clapham Junction, but I do honestly think a new CLJ would be a frame rate killer, so I'm going to have to stick with Wimbledon. In fact it could make sense to have crew changes there, as Wimbledon depot could be opened up as a set down post service option. Stopping runs between that and Guildford could maybe be improved by additionally having the option to veer off at Raynes Park to the Chessington or Epsom lines too.
I would love an SWT route, but I agree it would be preferable to come out of Waterloo, but also agree that would be problematic - it’s been an FPS killer everytime in other sims & considering the optimisation level of TSW, I don’t see that being any different (likely would be worse). The other thing I’d have with an SWT route is something other than desiros, or at least have it in a period where they were using over stock alongside them.
Clapham Junction would probably kill the route if you were to layer on LO, SWT and SN. I can imagine many players PCs dying as they run past CLJ lol
I think Waterloo should be the starting point. From memory very few Alton trains (if any at all) stop at Wimbledon or that was the case when I used to travel down that way.
Only Sundays, well they were around 1999-2001 ish, Waterloo, Clapham, Wimbledon, Surbiton then all stations
Thank you, I'm from north of the river. The roads and rail network to the south of the Thames still baffles me, despite being able to read maps long before I could write sentences.
