Overall I am actually quite enjoying the Bakerloo Line in TSW2, much better than I thought from the original reviews. There are a few items that really need to be reworked or looked at though - apologies if already mentioned. 1. On the Network Rail section of the line I am constantly getting green signals straight on to a red. Should be a cautionary aspect in between, single yellow at least. 2. The power curve of the 1972 stock seems about right but the braking is far to harsh. Even in the most adverse conditions I've not had to go over Step 2 (Rheo 2). 3. The adjacent WCML doesn't really look right with the modern OLE. 4. Honestly needed something to represent AI trains on the WCML. Ideally the route would also have encompassed Euston to Watford Junction and would have included the full DC line operation too. Otherwise nice and atmospheric, especially once in the "tube" itself.
I found it to be atmospheric in the tunnels, but on stations and in the open, IMO it just feels dead. Also there's very poor visibility of some signals in the tunnels. I'm not bitter about the fact I passed a signal at danger when I couldn't see it and when I did, it was about 2 foot in front of me. Apart from that, I broadly agree (also the emergency brake seems worryingly weak to me). WCML traffic isn't included because there's no appropriate traffic already in TSW, and I think the route suffers somewhat from it. IMO, the game's not advanced enough to really do a tube line justice (although it's nice to have one).
I think with hindsight they might have been better doing the Northern Line or even Piccadilly which doesn't run alongside any significant sections of NR route. I agree about the tunnels, things are a little too dark, there is no way you could run this without the HUD (IMHO) as you can't even see most of the speed limit signs. Darkness in TSW (1) was an issue too particularly NTP and the game would benefit from some means of changing the gamma balance. The service levels are a little sparse too. I forsook my train in timetable mode at E&C to look round the station but the next one, if the monitors are to be believed, is not for another 15 minutes - at that point some form of time acceleration would be nice!
In my case I´m unable to see the marker boards in the tunnels. They appear 10 yards ahead of train comming out from a total darkness. This gives you less than 1 second to notice they are there. But I like the route. Subways are interesting. Cheers
I've heard it said (possibly by Matt) that one reason for DTG selecting Bakerloo is the older stock - other lines are almost fully automated, leaving little for the driver to do in normal circumstances.
Well they could have done a retro era version of the Northern line, maybe even gone back to when trains were worked by a driver and guard.
That's why you go through months of route learning so you know where the speed boards are also, you can reasonably slow down to the speed limit within a few seconds. It should be remembered the headlights on tube trains and british trains in general are rubbish. They're designed for someone to see you, not you to see that someone. They are working on a new timetable. The reason it's so sparse is because TSW can't direct trains dynamically, unlike what happens in reality. You can if you edit the game's files, see here for more info: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/a-guide-to-engine-ini-settings.4672/
