It’s come to my attention that with this route, will we get the full loop or will we ONLY get the Gravesend branch (excluding Maidstone West)? What is the full loop? Some services from St. Pancras to Faversham go via Ramsgate and then head back to St. Pancras to avoid a reversal. As you can see here, this is what is known as a St. Pancras ‘rounder’ service. It goes from St. Pancras to St. Pancras via Ashford International, Ramsgate and Faversham. This the the second St. Pancras ‘rounder’ service. It goes from St. Pancras to St. Pancras via Gravesend, Faversham and Margate. So the St. Pancras rounder services use the loop in both directions. Map: What happens if we only get the Gravesend branch? This would mean that some Faversham services which usually go via Ramsgate, as well as Margate services, would only be drivable from St. Pancras to Ebbsfleet International. In other words, a distance of 22 miles with a journey time of only 23 minutes. Real life South Eastern High Speed services From St. Pancras International: - 1tph to Faversham via Gravesend - 1tph to St. Pancras via Ramsgate - 1tph to St. Pancras via Faversham - 1tph to Margate What will we get in TSW? I’m hoping we’ll get the whole route, as if we only get that Gravesend branch, that means that we’ll only get one ‘full length’ service (Faversham terminator) as the other three services (St. Pancras rounders and Margate) will be cut short at Ebbsfleet and Faversham.
I suspect we will get exactly what we got with the TS1 version which will be the line to Faversham via Gravesend. I doubt we will get the spur to Maidsone West. I would have liked to see the route down to Ashford International included but we didn't get that in TS1 so can't see it in TSW. I certainly can't see them putting in all the extra route via Ramsgate. The Sheerness Branch was an add-on DLC for TS1 it would be good to see that included. That is still a reasonable length route though for TSW to be fair and does offer some variety with the HS1 section and the "classic" section.
My guess is it'll be the same as the one from Train Simulator , that just goes St Pancras to Faversham the quickest way
Sadly I don't think it will be, but the Sheerness Branch was the best part of the route for me. Personally I'd pay a bit more if it was included, as it adds a lot of game play for a fairly short section...
Theres....actually a place called Sandwich..??? Huh, I guess you learn something new each day... Anyhow, how long is this entire network anyways? One site stated its 109km long, which is roughly about 67 miles long. If I'm not mistaken, this would place it as the longest TSW route to date, no? It would genuinely surprise me if they can pull this off... I suppose we'll just have to wait and see
Isn't a notable part of the route a very long tunnel? I suspect tunnels don't cost a lot of development time per mile. :P
Yeah, you're probably right about that! I'm not super familiar with the route, though, just learning about it as we go
There is indeed, a very historic town. The town came before the item of food, it is supposed to have been invented by one of the Earl's of Sandwich, not sure how true it is, but it sounds reasonable. Faversham which will probably be the end of the route as modelled, is a lovely old town as well, worth visiting if you are in the area. Not sure how much of that will be captured in the sim. I remember passing the station but can't remember where it was in relation to the town.
Yes I agree it would be good to see it included, it is quite an interesting stretch of line. I would be happy to pay a little extra as well.
You forget the Battle of Sandwich in 1217 and the defeat of the French fleet. Hurrah! The fourth Earl Earl of Sandwich created "Britain's biggest gift to gastronomy" so he could eat and play cards at the same time. Multitasking at it's finest. No way will we'll get the loop as it would more than double the routes length. What also will happen to Ebbsfleet International now the Tgv no longer stops there? Back to boring old Ebbsfleet.
It would be great to have the route as described in the OP, but as the route is being developed with the impact of COVID-19, it’ll probably be limited to the route already built in TS 2020. I really do wish we had the ‘full’ routes in TSW 2. I sort of resent the driver taking over my duties at the end of the in game route. Why does he have all the fun?
I would have preferred the route going from Gravesend to Charing Cross rather then the HS1 line to St. Pancras personally. On the 377 and 465 when it comes we will have to give up services at Gravesend I guess.
It'll be STP - Ebbsfleet - Gravesend - Strood - Medway Mainline to Faversham Doubt they'll include the Medway Valley or Sheerness lines With regards to Sandwich, the Earl of Sandwich may be the person it was named after but sandwiches have been around for thousands of years, it's seen several battles and is also where Viagra was invented... I live about an hour from there
Given Matt's statements in the past that they won't make super long routes like they've occasionally done in the past in TS20xx because development time is much longer due to the higher level of detail, I would be shocked if the TSW HS1 route were anything more than London-Faversham via Gravesend only. I cannot see them adding MORE than the original TSxx route.
I think your exactly right alas. If it is just London to Faversham via Gravesend then I’d like to see the sheerness branch. if we had the whole circular route we’d have to expect lower detail and no branches.
Definitely. IMO the Sheerness branch extension is the best part of the entire route in TS20xx. That said, personally I am not anticipating it.
I'd have preferred the north kent lines, but for some reason people seem to want to drive everywhere at over a 100 miles an hour on all greens... (judging by the calls for the entire WCML or the entire ECML so they can drive 8 hour IC runs in 43s, 91s or IETs)
Seeing as the London-Faversham route is a port from Train Simulator 2021, I don't see dtg making the full route. They could include the Sheaneress Branch for the 375s and 465s asn it was a dlc for ts2021. London To Faversham is acutally my favorite route in ts2021. Also England has some weird names for towns. A place called sandwhich is so funny.
"For some reason". Yes, I'm sure you have absolutely no idea why people like to go fast and drive on famous main routes that they grew up riding or often still do. Total mystery I tell you. Is that you James May?
Was more a case of I don't know why people want to drive at 125 for 8 hours with very little interruption... I know slow TV is a thing... Anyway, I grew up with HSTs, Class 37s and 47s etc so am not exactly un-nostalgic about traction, more a case of high speed green fests make me yawn
And I don't know anyone would enjoy shunting freight all over a yard. And the rest of the world has no idea why any of us would actually sit in front of a computer and pretend to drive a boring-ass train in the first place haha. Different strokes, man.
If the speed limit is the usual 5mph (usual for TSx anyway), then I agree with you! I know different strokes and people are indeed entitled to their own entertainment...
Exactly. And that's the point. Let's be positive. Advocate FOR your interests and routes, not AGAINST others'.
St Pancras to Faversham is 51 miles which is just over an hours journey so it's a decent route length and shouldn't feel too short. It'll be interesting to have to have to change from overhead AC to third rail DC partway through a journey as well. The full loop would be around 140 miles which would be the longest route so far by a country mile so might be a bit optimistic.
Do you REALLY need to ask the question? Which is the shortest and worst option? That’s what you’ll get.
For the class 375s and 465 (when the 465 comes out that is), playtime on those trains on that route won't be very long though because they don't go to st pancreas which is a shame but ill enjoy the 395s
Well it is what we had in TS1 so I don't think it is that bad an option! Bare in mind in TS1 (or RS) we had Paddington to Oxford, in TSW we had Paddington to Reading so I would say it shows an improvement in what has gone before. There is no way we are going to get all that extra track, it would possibly take them till next Spring to make it!
Yeah, I think they'll only be drivable for the 30 minutes between Faversham and Rochester and on some short services between Gravesend and Strood. There would be a potential for Thameslink services in the future between Gravesend and Rainham though.
I would love to see Thameslink. But with how the route for the 375s are, I'm not going to buy the 465s unless the route is extended because that's not alot of time to use the 465s
I think we get TSxx route with the sheerness branch maybe as a surprise because class 465 is in planning. Would had been nice to see this loop but I think DTG want to build TSW2 with more content so who's to say they can't come back and do an extension. Would like to see an 80 mile or so route for UK. TGV Marseille Avignon is 100 plus km.
Hopefully it sells well and if so bring more French routes in over time. They did extension to Lyon for TSxx and that is one of the longest routes dtg have produced if not the longest route
Frankly it's a no brainer they chose this route. High speed, on their doorstep and they have the route already researched. An extension to Margate or Ramsgate would be an easy option in the future.
Speaking of that, the roadmap shows no mention of the 66 or any wagons included, so does that mean Hoo will be yet another deserted yard in TSW? I would’ve liked AI traffic to/from the yard, even if it isn’t drivable.
I don't know. None of the routes say what they come with unless it's a new loco or train. It would be nice if they did run 66s through, but would be very limited
Maybe it will be a layer if you have ECW. I would assume it would have some freight options somehow whether it comes with the loco and stock itself or uses layers.
It's very true, this is my home town area. The odd thing is very close to Sandwich is a little village called Ham