The North Wales Mainline! At 105.5 Miles end to end this beautiful journey takes you across the stunning North Wales Coastline starting from Crewe (already in-game) and going all the way to Holyhead. The route features 19 stations and has a top speed of 90mph. Traction on the route BR Class 805 (Already in-game) The Class 805 is the primary inter-city traction along this route from AWC. TfW Class 150 & 153 (Already in-game) TfW Class 158 (The unit is already in-game, without TfW branding and interiors.) If AAB feels brave enough to create a new train, there is the Class 197 on the route taking over the duties of the Class 15x units. Plus AI Traffic at Crewe AWC: Class 390 & 807 (When it releases) LNWR: Class 350 subclasses EMT: Class 158 Northern: Various Check out this Driver's View along the line! Why this route? The North Wales Main Line takes you on a stunning trip across the coastline of North Wales, there are many sites to see including Castles, the Menai Bridge, where the line becomes single track and the road is on a bridge directly above you. You pass by the site of RAF Valley home to RAF planes. As well as plenty of crossings and whistle boards. You also pass right by Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (Europe's Longest Name for a Town) station. And Conwy Tubular Bridge which goes under Conwy Castle. Plenty of highlights along this spectacular route, it maybe long, but the journey is certainly worth it. If Trent Valley is a success, they should definitely consider this route next. Which would become the second longest route in TSW, just three miles shorter than Trent Valley. Let me know you're thoughts
I could see Aabs doing this route, though I think there's a chance they could do the route in 2019, like their BHM to CRE and include a Virgin Class 221 instead of the 805. Given that Aabs made the 805 as a stand alone add-on, I think it would be a little weird for them to include it with it's own route as well, but this is a very good suggestion.
I just thought if the 805 was to be included with this route, the original 805 add-on would be rendered kinda pointless
They might make the 805 add-on not part of the route, and you have to buy the 805 separately to access the services?
They haven't even released Trent Valley yet... Having said that, I could see them doing this maybe if they want to continue building off from Crewe, probably with just the Caf Civity unit included (obviously stuff would layer) (Also are tfw's any less crowded than Northern's? I always seem to end up having to stand in the vestibule on the 2 car version. Also the one time I went on the 3 car version I had to stand for a bit, and also the air con in the middle carriage broke). Obviously they won't include an 805 as it's it's own dlc, and I can't see a 221 happening as I'm not sure Avanti would want to show their old stock, especially as I seem to remember it being said they only wanted the 390 depicted in a post refurb state. The 150 and 153 are already dovetail(/rivet) trains, and it would be upto Skyhook to make a 158 most likely.
Hopefully they'll spread their wings a little and try something completely different. I'd like the North Wales Coastal route at some point but I'm really looking forward to a new route that doesn't go to Crewe, Preston, Carlisle or all three.
As regards NWC, being the old git I am I would much rather JT did it set in the early to mid 80’s with classic BR traction. I mean, I’d take modern but I always found the TSC version a bit bland certainly compared to the magnificent rendition of the route done for MSTS. Of course we’re not entirely sure what AABS philosophy is as regards choice of routes. We can probably deduce they don’t have a train builder on staff (as in building something entirely from new, rather than tweaking or converting an existing item) so it’s probably going to be something where they can utilise existing trains. If they are Midlands or North West based then that may be their comfort zone as regards going out and doing research or contacts with local Network Rail and operators. So while it would be nice if they could look at doing something in East Anglia or the North East as frequently requested, it may simply not be possible for them to tackle. Personally I would hope they consider one of the longer scenic routes, such as the Cambrian Line, West Highland or Perth to Inverness though with some reluctance as it would be modern day.
That’s not a route. And as I noted above we don’t know what AABS in house train building capacity is, as a Class 221 is not a simple conversion from the 220.
From what I've seen so far, I'd be delighted if they could do a modern take on one of my favoured routes; Kings Cross to Peterborough, Liverpool Street to Cambridge or Ipswich, C2C, Waterloo to either Portsmouth or Southampton, Newcastle to Edinburgh and at the "highly unlikely" end of the scale, The full District Line or Liverpool Street all the way to Norwich. Alluding to what OldVern said, it would be brilliant if AABS are hoping to expand their talents into building rolling stock. It sometimes feels like a bit of a slog getting new and older UK rolling stock in the game. Which I'm certain is why we've had a lot of similar routes using existing traction that's in TSW. The problem there is that you end up with a "chicken and egg" situation in areas where there is no coverage. That is; we can't do X route because it needs 3 or 4 new types of traction but we can't do traction for routes that don't exist. A problem that seems to have cursed C2C into not appearing in TSC.
They hinted at not doing anything as long as Trent Valley for a while, (in the livestream) so I doubt we’d see the whole route.
It's a good racetrack section of the ECML but apart from the bit over the Tyne, Durham and some impressive stations, the scenery isn't particularly interesting. I got bored of it quite quickly in TSC.
Of course I had forgotten AABS are doing the Class 70 so fulsome apologies to the team c/o Kezz for stating they have no train modellers on staff. That does open up a few interesting possibilities not least being the Cherwell Valley corridor for intermodal traffic (Freightliner permitting), perm any two locations between Coventry and Basingstoke!
