Route Wcml Trent Valley: Milton Keynes - Crewe Add-on Feedback Thread

PS5 Pro
I accidentally discovered that the activation and confirmation of speed is done by pressing the left cross up, like a reverser, which is not functional because you also turn the reverser to OFF and the train doesn't move. There's a bug there. It should probably be done by pressing the square button + cross up......

 

This is happening on Xbox too

 

That would be the way to go! Like on the DB BR 193 which is very intuitive and easy to use.

 

Loving the route in the Pendelino. Drove full length and then onwards from MK to Euston. I initially got the Class 805 Evero dlc but it is so broken on Xbox that it cannot even launch. The timetable allowed Class 807 operation on the WCML South but considering the fact the Class 805 could not be driven and also had to be disabled as a layer, one would be paying £14.99 just to drive the Class 807 on WCML South which is something which should be free for those who bought Trent Valley and have the Class 807 asset. Got refunded!

 

Xbox series X, Class 807

Pressing up or down on the directional pad whilst driving slams the emergency brakes on, switches off the master key and removes it.

Also seems impossible to get the speed select screen to display unless you set digital display screen view mode to classic in settings.

Apart from that, enjoyed what I've played of it so far!I

Edit: the switching off and removal of the master key seems to be intermittent.

 

Spotted this outside Milton Keynes station. Looks like an asset left in from development?

 

PC/Steam
I thought this route would be boring.. 108 miles of straight running, but this route turns out to be very well done. Just like Birmingham Crewe.

I'm loving to do fast runs (805/390) runs on Crewe birmingham,but on the Trent valley route i'm more into the slower services (yes i'm weird)
Running sounds in the 350/4 are nice.
The only (and only MINOR) things i notices have been said before this.
Only thiing i noticed is getting double yellow without a train in front (i think, ECML does this too)

Otherwise i really have nothing bad to say for now. Great Quality (PC) and Great Job for All Aboard Studios!!

 

On another note, my escape key has troubles working in game now, only in game

 

I think I saw something somewhere on a recent train sim society post saying you need b2c for it for whatever reason. I uninstalled and reinstalled the voyager and still doesn’t appear.

 

Bug report: Blurry textures on service 1A16, Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston

Platform: PS5
Route/timetable: West Coast Main Line South / current timetable
Service: 1A16, Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston
Train: Class 807 / 800-family stock
Weather: Snow conditions active
Issue: Persistent blurry/low-resolution textures during the run.

Description:
During service 1A16 from Liverpool Lime Street to London Euston, textures repeatedly degraded to low resolution for extended periods. This affected the cab and general visuals, making the service difficult to enjoy and potentially difficult to drive without HUD assistance.

The issue was not constant in one fixed state. Textures would temporarily correct themselves whenever I passed nearby AI trains, then degrade again shortly after moving away from those AI trains. This happened repeatedly during the service.

Observed pattern:

• Blurry textures appeared for long stretches of the run.
• Textures temporarily returned to normal when passing AI trains.
• Textures became blurry again after passing/clearing the AI trains.
• The issue seemed worse after Stafford.
• The problem appears to affect 805/807/800-family services more than other stock.
• Class 350 services on the same general route/timetable do not appear to suffer from the same issue to the same extent.

Expected behaviour:
Cab and nearby train textures should remain readable and high priority throughout the service, especially when driving from the cab. Passing AI trains should not be what causes player cab textures to temporarily recover.

Actual behaviour:
Textures degrade heavily and repeatedly, then recover when AI trains pass, suggesting a possible texture streaming/relevancy/priority issue, possibly worsened by 800-family stock, AI traffic, snow, and timetable memory pressure.

Impact:
This significantly affects immersion and makes HUDless driving difficult or impossible when cab instruments/textures become unreadable.

Suggested area to investigate:
Texture streaming priority/relevancy for Class 805/807/800-family stock on WCML South, especially under dense timetable and snowy weather conditions. Also investigate whether AI train proximity is incorrectly triggering texture recovery or reprioritisation.

 

PS5 Pro

So I tried the 350/4 1U20 service for a change in full timetable compared to the same service in reduced timetable in Journey mode

I only had the base map installed + Vehicle Addons: Class 390, Class 805, ROG37/5, Cargo: Aggregates, Cargo: Petroleum, Class 220, Class 170 Birmingham Cross

I only met a freight train 6M13 and probably also ROG37/5 on the way, but we overlooked it, however it was going against me at the time. It was interesting that it happened so that I did not meet a Class 220 or a Class 170 ....... The only positive element in the operation are the other Pendolino connections that in the full timetable also run in the form of an AI train that runs practically the entire map and therefore do not have player service, however, they create a relatively strong impression of heavy traffic, I suspect that in the reduced timetable they are in a very reduced form, if they are there at all.

The result of the ride was quite solid, the only problem we discovered when stopping in Rugby, when approaching the front of the train, the front texture was slightly blurred, it was probably on those black dots from insects, when the view was moved away by about 10m it returned to normal ....... then it behaved normally until Mielton.

But since I didn't have the Euston-Mielton map installed, the 350/1 series wasn't available either, and the operation in Mielton was a bit slow. The question is whether physical contact with a Voyager or Class 170 during the journey would cause any other effects on the textures ........

What was another surprise was that even though I installed the two freight packages, the only available service is the 6M13 aggregate train...I don't know if the others are just AI, and I haven't found anything else anywhere.

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Just a thought below the line about the 350, maybe a full timetable version would be interesting for consoles where all 350/x services would be cumulated the same as in the reduced version only under 350/4, in my opinion it would definitely be a benefit and at the same time it would probably allow some of the other additional layers to be attached to it, without blurring the textures. Yesterday I tried one service where I had all 350 active, but that requires installing both the Euston - Mielton and Birmingham-Crewe maps and that is not exactly diet and it is just 4 different trains.......

 

Same happening with me and most routes have lost announcements this company break more than they fix absolute joke

 

On Ps5
I also don't see any services for Class 220, and I don't have B2C installed. And I think that the display of services for freight trains is also strange, with Cargo Aggregates and Cargo Petroleum I only have one service 6M13 and that is aggregates train. I only have the base map + Vehicles Addons installed. So it's possible that even though the layers are showing as active, there may be some other addon needed to run physically.......or it's mostly just AI, because AI Voyager trains are showing on the map.

 

Just ran service 1R17 with the 390 on the reduced timetable on Series S and it only allowed following of non eps speeds

 

PS5. Class 807. Trent Valley Wayfinding scenario.

Blurred textures in a scenario, which the devs fully control what trains are in it. Not acceptable at all. Thought I'd give AABS one last shot since they have improved B2C, but this will be the last time I buy any of their routes at full price. Shocking QC, non existent, no matter what they claim. There's a reason they used the 390 on the preview on Xbox, the 390 doesn't have the texture issue. Matt and AABS knew this and chose to be deceitful.

 

1H65 Euston to Manchester, loading into a saved game came to a halt at a red signal about 5 miles south of Crewe. All trains stopped ahead and in Crewe station. Deleted a Crewe to Euston in one of the south bays that had the road off but not moving, seems to have freed things up. This is the full timetable in normal play mode, not Journey.

 

South of Stafford the Line Speed indicated on the HUD reaches 115mph whilst driving the Class 807.

The Class 807 is not permitted to exceed 110mph.

 

I would say that there are sections where 125 mph is allowed for the 807

 

On finally arriving at Crewe, quick observation… 29K AP for a run from MKC seems a tad excessive, with one stop at Stafford. Well this route is going to knock Bakerloo Line off the favourites with distorted AP in short order!

 

On further investigation it appears the 807 can run up to 125mph, but it not permitted to run at EPS speeds, so my bad.

 

I admit that I don't know much about it, I'm not local, I just responded as much as yesterday's service from Mielton to Crewe allowed me to.....

 

hi, after a bit of driving I'm finding this route very fun! I love how busy this route is and that there is often another train overtaking you/you overtaking another train/another train the other way and the stations feel good quality! very decent framerates as well for me on PC. Would love to see more quality routes like this!

 

What I'm quite curious about is the future addition of Class 70, which will also be part of the Reduced Timetable in the form of two layers. This will then require the installation of the EMK and SEH maps ...... I really don't understand, when the optimization solutions are currently up to date, why it is necessary to install two more maps for two freight wagons ......

 

Ok I'll try out thank you

 

It seems that selling PC's would be a decent businessmodel for DTG

 

I would like to be able to transfer all my routes and games to PS5 because it's unplayable on Xbox due to crashes and blurring. But I don't have the money to buy all the add-ons again.

 

Have a look at Back Market. I’ve not found it too bad on series x

 

Don't have this route but some evidence blurring textures are caused by LOD issue and AI trains. Not good with YouTube hyperlinks so please see the British Ace WCML Trent Valley on Xbox video

At 20.45 you see an AI train on bridge ahead.
21.14 blurry textures hit

25.10 textures come back
Few seconds later AI train comes into view
25.34 textures gone

26.43 textures back
Few seconds later - AI train
27.09 textures gone

29.07 textures back
Few seconds - AI train (does struggle to keep textures)
29.34 textures gone

31.41 textures back
AI train in view (struggles again)
32.34 gone

34.29 textures back
AI train
34.52 gone

35.32 textures back
AI train
35.57 gone

36.15 textures back
AI train (struggles again)
36.57 gone

39.40 textures back
AI train (but struggles)
40.24 gone

41.50 textures back
AI train
42.12 gone

After this it becomes hit and miss to the point its pretty much gone for good

I have noticed something similar on Riviera Line where the textures failed half way through the journey. Went into freeroam at Paignton, walked up to Torquay and after a while a 150 pulled in with textures all back. Train set off for Paignton and the textures went with it.

Sorry but for life of me I cannot see this as an optimisation issue. It has to be a bug

 

Have been enjoying this route however just ran 1A64 from Crewe to Milton Keynes and the last signal before MKC stuck at red even tho nothing in front of me.. what a waste of an hour doing that run

 

In the 807 on PC using Xbox One Controller the Speed Limiter is set using the D-Pad up key, but that puts the train into off mode. It should be like the vectron where you need to hold down X and press up to set the speed surely?

 

Has anything been said about adding route hopping from WCML South at MK? I may have missed it, but I just tried to do a full Pendo run from Euston to Manchester and had to exit to main menu at MK. Seems it's added to hop from Trent Valley, but not to it.

 

PS5 Service 1F16

Overspeed emergency brakes applied while driving under the speed limit. Just before passing through Litchfield Trent Valley. Happens near the HS2 works every time I play it.

 

An over speed would usually be indicative of going too fast before an upcoming speed restriction. Is there a line speed change near there?

 

No there isn’t - no speed drop. I even tried it at 30mph below the limit and still got an overspeed. it doesn’t happen on other services either, just this scenario

 

Yesterday Ik drove a freight train from Crew to Daventry, at 3 places there where wrong speed reduction, Stratford, Lichfield and Rugby. The switches on my route where straight but the the speed limit for the diverging switch was active so I had to slow down with a heavy freight train unnecessary. There was no warning because the main signal didn't mention a diverging switch.

 

If it’s the Down Fast, I had a spurious AWS caution passing through or just to the north of Lichfield TV. No speed restriction or TSR and the next signal when it appeared was green with the associated ramp giving the correct bell.

 

That adds up then, as I had exactly the same thing in the Lichfield area as well! Glad it wasn’t just me!

 

PS5 Pro

Yesterday I worked on 350/4 and today I tried the Dispatcher Rugby scenario

In general I must say that 350/4, like 350 in B2C map, is prone to blurring much more ...... despite different combinations of layers in full timetable I did not achieve a satisfactory result, on the way from Mielton towards Crewe it started in Rugby and in Nuneanton or whatever it is called, it started to blur in the cockpit as well.
But what surprised me much more was the Dispatcher Rugby scenario, where it started to blur when approaching the set and it didn't even need zooming. I'm saying this from B2C, that with 350 in general there is a problem in relation to texture blurring

I will still look at 350/4 in the reduced timetable

 

Loving this new route on PS5. Like others - tempted in. The high speed runs up from Milton Keynes or down are great - with lots of changes and other traffic, unlike East Coast Main Line (still like that route though). Speed Set on 807 is interesting. After testing can confirm that if you use the current key binding to turn on the Speed Set - it removes the master key and this puts the emergency brake.
Have used a keyboard to turn on the speed set and if you use the square and r1 and r2 to increase or decrease speed. It would be great if the clash for key binding for speed set and remove master key were removed.
You sometimes need to come off and then back on the new power to confirm a higher speed. If slowing brake down to new speed and then reduce speed set speed and then lock it in.
Have not seen any blurry textures yet, but have seen random problems with the Pantograph. It occasionally reports being down. Cleared by actually lowering the panto and the putting up.
Great compliments to the team. Lots of atmosphere - great immersion and looks like it will keeps us all occupied for a fair while.

 

I did write these as two separate messages on another thread, but they are relevant so I thought I'd copy and paste them in a single message for feedback here:

I'm on a base model PS5...

I was absolutely blown away at how excellent this route was. Naturally I started in a Class 390 on a fast Manchester run only stopping at Stafford on the way to Crewe.

For the first time in a modern route (this is with the exception of JTs Preston to Carlisle which is in a different era), in the games history I really felt like I was on a engaging InterCity run. To have 108 miles to play with at 125mph in a Pendolino A) Makes you feel like you're packing a genuine shift in on a high speed service. B) Really hits that sweet spot for the perfect gameplay timing without feeling in anyway short changed. In WCMLS just as you're getting into the route, you feel like you have been short changed on Class 390 runs (MKC to EUS, and Tring to Euston in the 350 are the only services that give me a sense of satisfaction on WCMLS).

The run I had upto Crewe was absolutely phenomenal, and I'm not exaggerating on that either. The high speed running over such long distance really was engaging, and I also felt it was the first time the Pendolino could be truly enjoyed for what it is designed for, with high speed running, sharp curves and a decent length. A real highlight on my drive was coming up to Rugby up and around the sharp curve on the approach to the station at full speed which felt absolutely awesome!

For such a long route the detail is also meticulously done whilst being highly optimised. One thing that generally goes unnoticed is that incredibly pleasant and natural lighting system that AAS have implemented across the route.

I really would recommend this route to anyone who likes a large network style route and one capable of running intercity services or long distance regional services between 2 logical start and end points. I never doubted AAS work at any point and knew this would impress me. I even think impress is a understatement, as playing the route in person is phenomenal.

Now, I do have 2 pieces of feedback, none the less. The first is (although I could be wrong), the Class 390 cab desk feels as if it has been tinkered with slightly for optimisation purposes. If I zoomed in on the desk, the cab panels look slightly less detailed than I remember them. This is not the buttons, or text in the cab that remained unchanged and consistent. But when zooming in on the speed set in the 390, I noticed the cab panelling had lost some of its original sharpness. Am I seeing things? Do I have false memories, of something that was already there? I don't know. But it didn't feel as sharp as it originally did.

The second piece of feedback is to be expected and is just me being transparent to feedback where blurring did occur... For the entire run upto Crewe I had absolutely no blurring issues what so ever. It was only when I reached Crewe itself that that blurring occured. I've only done one run so far, so I'm wondering if this was more to do with my PS5 console building a cache of memory because it was my first run. I'll give it another go down to Milton Keynes later and see if it has fixed itself. But overall blurring was practically non existent so whatever optimisations had been carried out have been fairly successful.

Hats off to AAS, this is one phenomenal piece of work and one to be proud of! I finally felt I was getting a full game and full route with this... More often then not some DLC can feel like small dioramas that end with illogical points, but this is the complete opposite and gives you a highly satisfying feeling of a bloody good run, on a bloody good route!

I never doubted AAS talent for a second and have been rooting for them since B2C, and this just shows me that my enthusiasm for them and their talented team was well founded. Now, I've seen the rail replacement bus, are we on the way to Shrewsbury next?

Well done fellas. Complete respect from me.

*Further feedback*

Some further feedback from my earlier post.

I've now down 3 runs in total. 1x Run in a 390, 1x Run in a 807, & 1x Run in a 350... Now this is quite interesting.

The 390 & 807 runs were pretty silk smooth without anything of significance to report back. But on my final run on the 350/4, major blurring on and off happened throughout the entire run. I made sure I done the whole run regardless of the blurring to see where and when it occured. It began after departing Stafford and then didn't shift, and most annoyingly the TSW stopped working and crashed as I pulled into Milton Keynes! So there is something to do with the 350/4 that was the issue. And just to note, each run I have done, has been done completely separate to each other (turning the console off and then turning it back on later and starting a new session) and not back to back runs.

The 807 & 390 runs were pretty silk smooth with no issues at all... Hopefully this is something that can be investigated further, as it would appear it's something with the 350, as the route performs absolutely fine on the 807 and 390 for me on PS5.

What I will say from my 350/4 as negative as it was with blurring, the new running sounds in the cab are tremendous! So until a patch is out for the 350 I'll be sticking to the InterCity stock which suits me as the Pendolino just feels at home on this route.

I always aim to be as honest and transparent as I can. As I say, outside of that, the route itself is absolutely superb and the issue with the 350s doesn't take that away for me. Now it can be pin pointed I hope something can be done to iron the 350 issue out.

(standard PS5 here).

 

Going into external cam on the 807 causes the speed set to turn off

 

Just ran 1U23 and it seems that it was set to run at EPS speeds rather than MU speeds.

 

To further add to this, it seems to only be an issue between Milton Keynes and Stafford. The speeds were non-EPS between Stafford and Crewe as they should be.

 

PS5 Pro
Reduced Timetable ( Addons 390,805,807 a 350/4)
Train 1U23 Mielton - Crewe

So even in the reduced timetable, there is no 350/4 without blurring.
In the Nuneanton - Stafford section, there was a slight blurring of the external texture with breaks, especially noticeable in the front area, the insect marks always enhance the effect beautifully

Between Stafford and Crewe it returned to a permanent calm and remained that way until Crewe.

I did not notice any noticeable sign of blurring in the cockpit during the entire journey.

However, one thing is worrying about the 350/4, apart from the problems with the textures, and that is the problematic AWS. I have already complained that I am getting a penalty break and I think I know why. I found that the acoustic signaling sometimes fails when you are in front of a yellow signal and you don't always realize it and you don't have time to press the circular button on the PS5 to confirm and the penalty break starts immediately. This is very unpleasant and spoils the impression of the drive, because then you don't have time to watch the blurring of textures, watch for yellow signals and generally focus fully on driving

 

Class 350/4 has the incorrect interior. There are 3 toilets on board (2 compact and 1 Universal). They have a few more luggage racks too.

 

- There are areas where there are no overhead wires on the high-voltage transmission towers, or they appear as shown in bold.
- I'm also concerned that there are no route maps at the stations.

 

Missing route maps are usually a collectible you need to activate by getting up close on foot.

 

Constantly getting double yellows on plain lined areas (Lichfield to Crewe), assumed at first I was following something but later checked and there is nothing ahead of me. Seems like signals aren't clearing early enough (when doing 110mph), possibly related to signal delays being set to high?

 

On the slow or the fast?