TSR’s and signal delays are core features so don’t need to be activated on a per route basis. Additionally, TSR’s in core are all 40mph as far as I’m aware and as the core is off limits we will not be doing anything with them beyond that. Hope that answers the question
Unsure why its Tonbridge but a big network of services have opened up for you. Could have extended south to Tunbridge West not Hastings as that could be another route. Ran by Southeastern. Like the Redhill services by Southern.
To be honest is there really any point? Tonbridge to Tunbridge Wells is like a 10 minute hop, and you can't drive a service from Strood to Tunbridge Wells. If it were me I'd probably include it on a South Eastern Network route. Then you can have proper runs up to London.
It's Tonbridge because Medway Valley Line services go to Tonbridge. We wanted all the MVL services to be fully playable on the route, this way they are.
judging by mileage and travel time (found online), I guess it is a slower route with max like 60 - 75 mph? anyway, looks great
Put it this way, if you’re going 60 you’re on a fast stretch. If you look up PTG Rail on YouTube he will likely have a route learning guide for it, albeit in TSC. I know he definitely has one for a 395 run from Maidstone, not sure about a run from/to Tonbridge.
The Paddock Wood to Tonbridge section of the mainline is 100mph with the top speed on the MVL itself being 70mph.
PTG Rail was a form of ASMR to watch back in the day... Shame the channel went quiet. I always thoroughly enjoyed his videos and how well informed PTG Rail was.
It's highly likely, I can't imagine the third rail system improved just for Eurostar. It's a tried and tested system (and frankly, outdated) for a long time.
I funnily enough got into contact with him a few years ago now on Facebook He worked at the Upper Holloway signal box, I don't know if he's still there now though.
Having grown up in Yalding, then lived in Maidstone and now Ashford, it’s all I’ve ever known in Kent, however when HS1 came along, it was quite strange having a line with overhead cables. I guess removing 3rd rail from the network and replacing with overhead power is probably not worth the cost and aggro.
Yes, and the DC network is quite extensive in Britain (that wasn't the case in France in the 70's btw, only the suburbs of Saint-Lazare and la Maurienne remained DC electrified). But that also requires building specific/compatible stock... £££
Well all of the electrostars already have future-proofed space for pantographs so I'm sure that's not as complex as building new units, the 395 already has OHLE capability. The just need to get rid of the 465s and we should be good. I'm unfamiliar with SWRs stock so i can't speak on that front.
Sorry for the misunderstanding, I meant it's the DC compatibility that require to build specific stock (as it's the exception rather than the rule)
hopefully we hear more about this route in today’s roadmap- it looks to be nearing release and for me it’ll be a day one purchase barring any major issues
450s and 444s have pantograph wells if OHLE conversion is required, same for their 458/4s (I believe their 2 remaining 458/5s are entirely 460 based so no provisions for mounting a pantograph) and the 701s are OHLE ready.
I'm absolutely obsessed with this route! The previews we got in the article looks amazing!! I can't wait to get my hands on it!!
It should be great. The best part of the line IMO is between Wateringbury and Maidstone West where you snake through the valley right beside the river Medway.
I’m sooo hyped for this route, more than I have ever been before with any tsw add on!!! It sounds and looks incredible well done firefly . Will we hear any more news about the route and maybe even the preview stream later this month? . I really hope so, would be fantastic if it released around Easter time .
Also, seeing as we got animated sheep on the route, does that mean there is modelled and accessible toilets on the 375?! .
I imagine not, and that's a shame. Similarly, if we ever get sleeper cars, I hope we'll be able to go inside the cabins (and perhaps even turn on the different lights as we please).
Watched the roadmap and the pictures looked fantastic when they showed the video though i am not gonna lie the lag in the video was a bit off putting don’t have much hope for console players after watching that at present sadly.
On DTG streams TSW doesn't run great though it's never 100% representative unfortunately. May get a better representation by watching the videos directly in the article. Although even on the roadmap article the videos are all WIP. After what Matt said RE optimization and the lengths Firefly have gone too I'm quietly optimistic for console
As a console player myself this route does look very promising on the performance and textures side of things . This route is looking like one that I might pick up soon after release. I would be looking forward to the Trent Valley route but as its by AABS I would imagine its going to be blurry the whole way through sadly so I doubt I'm going to pick that route up.
Too bad this route cannot be merge on to Southeastern High Speed and updated Southeastern High Speed route would be nice and this route making me want more Kent route like say Chatham Main would be great don't know if would be to go all the way to Ramsgate and Dover
So their is but also opens up shorter routes between Paddock Wood & Tonbridge, Ashford International to Charing Cross, Dover Priory, Ramsgate, Gillingham all run between Paddock Wood & Tonbridge some of them like stated run full route. You won't be going to Ashford International on this Route just between Tonbridge / Paddock Wood only on these services. Marden, Staplehurst, Headcorn, Pluckley aren't included. Not expecting Ai route at Barming to Maidstone East either has it crosses the Medway Valley line. Unlike Trent Valley line where Ai CrossCountry at Tamworth Station, Nuneaton stations seperate to Trent Valley line stations. Class 220 / 170 respectfully. But would expect these along with Southern Class 171s as Ai at Ashford International, though we probabley won't get them. HS1 route. Expect Ai Southern too at Tonbridge, non playable due to other direction. From / to Redhill (London Comuter / Brighton Mainline) assume Class 377s route. Besides when stating Tunbridge Wells I temporary thought some run to Tunbridge Wells from London. But not right place to put them. Should have loads of services if by current 2026 timetabled services are the intended. By same headcodes, route, etc
Excited for this route, love to see another route based in the South East after a few years with Southeastern!!
Woohooo! Didn’t expect the preview stream of MVL to be so soon- on Wednesday next week! (18th march). I’m incredibly hyped for this route more than I have ever been for a tsw add on before! Bring it on firefly!
Guessing a March 26th release, maybe? NY/Stamford is also previewing next week, but i could see that releasing on the 19th since we already have the "coming soon article". Rough month on my wallet that's for sure lol. In any case hope none of these have been rushed too much to meet the quarter-end deadline. Liberec-Stara Paka is excellent, so i'm trying to keep positive vibes! Any chance the widespread PIS bug will be fixed when this releases?
MVL hasn't been rushed, can confirm that much. Core PIS bug is unfortunately not within our power to do anything about. Depends when DTG pushes the update for it. I look forward to showing off the route to everyone, it's been a labour of love.
I wonder if the route will be £29.99 or £32.99 like the more expensive routes have been. I know it’s weird to say, but I kinda hope that it’s the more expensive price (£32.99) due to the insane amount of work fire fly have put in, from scenery to new features and sounds it’s amazing and they definitely deserve the praise especially considering it’s their debut route!
Heck, we’ve got Vern excited about a modern EMU route The pressure is really on to deliver now Laughs nervously
The announcement of this route has woken up my interest in TSW6, even though I’d actually given up on it, fed up with the bugs and sloppiness of the developers. First and foremost, I absolutely love the Medway Valley line from TSC, enhanced by the excellent Class 375/377 Enhancement Pack from AP. It is without a doubt my all-time favourite British route. I’ve been playing it for years, updating the timetable myself based on real-world data found online, so I’ve always had a real-time representation of the route (pandemic included!). A big plea to Firefly Simulations to include the most up-to-date timetable possible in their add-on, perhaps even the one from 2026. Instead of a timetable from ten or twenty years ago. And if it were possible to include two timetables – one for weekdays (more trains) and another for weekends and public holidays (fewer trains) – I'd be absolutely delighted. It would be the very first TSW route that reflects the difference in traffic between weekdays and the weekend. I know it’s impossible and not cost-effective for DtG, but perhaps for well-known moders from the gaming community... I'm absolutely delighted that the Gillingham depot will also be included, which, as I've learnt, operates trains on the Medway Valley line. I hope the timetable will also have the last train of the day on the extended route from Tonbridge to Gillingham. The promise of a working GSM-R radio, just like the one I had in the Class 375 model made by Armstrong Powerhouse, has raised my hopes for a level of realism that is usually lacking in DtG products. I don’t think there’s anything that can be done about the hopeless passenger simulation in TSW6 (which is far worse than in TSC), as it’s part of the main game rather than the route. But perhaps Firefly Simulations will manage to implement Train Guard AI somehow? I was delighted to hear that CCTV is being introduced, even though there’s actually a train guard on this line (Kent residents, please correct me if I’m wrong). The sound effects, voice announcements and previews showing the work-in-progress are already taking my breath away! This is the first DLC for TSW that I’m really looking forward to I’ll put it plainly: if Firefly Simulations prioritises realism and an authentic train-driving experience (rather than focusing on hiding stuffed dinosaurs under the platforms), then the price of their DLC won’t matter to me – I’ll buy it without hesitation This add-on has the chance to be the first one to fully utilise the potential of the TSW engine and prove that what is impossible for DtG is achievable for passionate and talented developers. Unfortunately, carried away by the excitement, I made a terrible mistake and invested in the remastered version of East Coastway, foolishly purchasing the Southern BR Class 171 & BR Class 377/3 Add-On. I promise I won’t rush into things again and will patiently wait for the release of the Medway Valley DLC. Good luck, lads! You’ve really fired up my optimism!
If you can't beat 'em... Hoping with the sound improvements the Electrostars will be much more pleasant to drive. Obviously not the 4 CEP/BEP or VEP unit (EPB!) some of us would like to see but who knows in time. And while it's a "bus stop" style service as I tend to call them, it's rural not a mile apart in an urban area with enough longer sections to stretch the train's legs a bit. Will complement the Czech route nicely.
I’m happy they stuck to the modern era as it reflects nicely on its counterpart (SEHS). If it was set in an earlier time period it wouldn’t have been a day one purchase for me.
As a staunch electostar enthusiast this route seems right up my street (even though it doesn't go to Charing Cross). The sounds from the snippets we've been shown sound basically exactly like the real thing. (I might be the only person that likes this livery) However, if one of these makes it into the game I'd find little reason to drive any other train. Words cannot describe how much I'd love to drive a 4-VEP or any other slam-door EMU. Ideally in the transition between them and Electrostars so you'd have the best of both worlds.
Doesn't the ATS MAC also have a weekend timetable or am I misremembering? Haven't bought the route so IDK.
Still waiting to see a preview stream to how this performs as that video on the roadmap made me think twice with the performance. It’s all well and good having all these bells and whistles but at what cost. Still a day one buy for me IF this isn’t a performance hitter.
