Hello there! Today I’m suggesting the exmouth to Exeter and exter to Paignton lines. I’m going to backdate the route by a few years in order to add the one, the only, THE PACER. It will also include the class 802 for faster services. If the player has GWE installed the class 43 HST will also layer on to the route. This route is a beautiful route and would In my Opinion be a great addition to TSW 2
No Pacers please - awful things are thankfully gone now, I'd go for 150 and 166 as both are the current stock - and you get a bit more variety
I'd say the Scenery would be more important especially the more distant rendering as you have a clear view to the line on the other side of the river. Both routes are famed for their views. Also I used to commute on the Avocet - Would rather not have Pacers, Leaking 153s or a hired in CT 158 that was literally falling apart. The refurbished 150s are decent, if a little tight in some seats, great if you get a Table though.
Riviera Line, yes, in a flash. Advocet Line, no clue, not familiar with it. You don't have the sit in the Pacer, you can sit in your comfy chair or couch while simulating the Pacer. I loved the Pacer in Train Simulator. Makes quite a nice engine sound, and has a pretty good view on the tracks (unlike the tiny front window of the 150). I imagine Pacers weren't very nice trains to be travelling with, but that's not something you'll experience while driving them in TSW. So, Pacers please!
The Avocet Line runs from Exeter to Exmouth along the opposite side of the river from the Riviera Line. - it's a very busy commuter line these days. Is mostly Urban from Exeter to Topsham, the runs along the shore of the estuary from the Riviera line. It's a nice run and has seen a lot of passenger growth with new stations opening at Digby and Sowton (1993) and Newcourt (2013 I think?) Together the Riviera and Avocet form the "Devon Metro" - which is the internal name for the commuter services around Exeter. It's been a real success story in growth, helped a lot by Exeter Central station being very well located for the Shopping and Office areas. The Tarka line to Barnstaple used to interwork but has been spilt off into Barnstaple-Exeter now that Avocet-Rivera services run every 30 mins. The network is due to get another station next year at Marsh Barton serving the main industrial area of Exeter - construction began last month.
I've said this before but if we get a Class 143 for TVL it could be reused on a modern route out of Cardiff or Exeter. By modern I mean within the last 5 years, so we can get a broader range of rolling stock instead of it being strictly focused on one particular date. Slight compromise in realism for more variety and interest. Class 143s may not have worked alongside the Class 166s for long but I wouldn't mind seeing both appear on a route like this, even just as a service substitute from GWE.
