I've returned to running LIRR after a few months, and have noticed that the ATC system seems broken now. I still need to verify if there was an update, which may have done this. I have carefully mapped out all the speed limits a couple months ago, and am aware of the fixed speed limits of track and the ATC limits based on traffic and signals. The section from Jamaica to Hicksville has mostly 80 mph track limit, but now I found the ATC never goes above 60 mph, anywhere on any section. In addition, now for some distance before many signals, ATC will jump down to 30 mph, before resetting back to 60 at the All Clear signal. There is no Medium or Approach signal at any point, when going to 30 for just a short period. This has never happened like that before and it is not normal procedure afaik. Basically, the ATC is unusable if you want to meet the schedule, since it limits all sections to 60.
Well, it's been a good while since I last drove on LIRR, as the ATC was always very bad on the route. So I can't confirm it, but if it really got even more broken, then that's just nuts. Maybe I'll do a test run sometimes and check it out.
I can confirm, I had the exact same situation yesterday running the M3 on service [2019] Ronkonkoma - New York Penn (21st December 2021) Top speed on the ATC never went above 60 mph and jumped down to 30 mph on about 3 occasions for very short sections, as soon as you slowed to 30mph it went back up to 60. Needless to say i only got a silver star probobly due to timekeeping.
Ok, thanks for confirming. At least we know it's a real bug then. Not sure which update it could have been as I don't remember when I played last time before recent. All the patches over last few months, barely touched LIRR, so who knows. There was a update today, but I'm not holding out hope. If this persists, I'm basically not going to be playing this anymore, because I'm not going to play a game that goes backwards in functionality of simulation. I want to like TSW2 more, but it's hard with so many noticeable annoyances. Constantly putting out new DLCs for new income, rather than adding content. LIRR is my favorite because I live in NYC, and often ride it, but it was surprisingly annoying to see that their advertised yards and scenario editor is not what it actually is. The fact that there are unusable yet modeled tracks is annoying.. no ability to play with switches and do yard work. They over advertise functionality. And even worse, now ATC is broken. Ugh
It was playable at least, and I didn't notice the problems it may have had to the point of being unplayable. My expectations of TSW2 has been lowered, from what I hoped when first getting into it. For the cost, it provides a low value ratio compared to most other simulators. I think they are under too much pressure to release new content, over fixing problems. I suspect it's the business or investors, rather than developers, who are trying to milk the franchise at the expense of long term loyalty and longevity. Compare Flight Simulator.. I play XPlane but look at current MS Flight Sim. For 50 to 100 dollars, you get world scenery at amazing detail levels, multiple well modeled airplanes, multiplayer, and an open platform for 3rd party development to maximize content.. A game Platform is the way to success these days. Build the best core, and tools for content and you ensure endless engagement, and loyalty. Enough ranting for now.
- FIXED - So apparently, today's update fixed that ATC issue discussed, on LIRR. Patch 1.63. I ran a timetable followed by a scenario, "Suburban Sunset", and the ATC was no longer limited to 60, but correct to 80 on that segment, and there were no more short jumps to 30. There was one section where it jumped down to 60 for a short bit before back to 80, with no apparent signal matches on a clear segment, which gave me a penalty, but I'm not sure if that's an bug or not. So some good news. Random problem, random fix.. None of this noted in the patch release notes, but I'll take it.
Might've been related to the 0 speed limit boards bug? So with that fixes, this issue got solved as well, even though the ddvs themselves didn't even know abkut it.
Didn't know about that one either. Luckily, even after mapping out every section and gathering real world references, haven't discovered anything erroneous that would bug me. Sometimes it's better to know a little less of the details. Also, saw a 30mph yellow speed limit sign on the Atlantic - Jamaica section. Seemed new to me, but could have very well just not remembered it from before. BTW, in case you all didn't see this, here are a couple nice reference maps I found.
At the risk of seeing what can't be unseen, can you elaborate on the problems with the ATC on LIRR? Am curious
Well it was always quite bad and not working 100% as it should. For example, there is a scenario where you can easily rear-end an another train in front of you if you don't pay attention, as the ATC will not give you any signs to slow down. Or when coming out of Garden City station towards Jamaica for example, you will always be restricted to 30MPH for quite a while, even though there is nothing in front of you. Now these issues seem small and the ATC is fine for the most part, with the current timetable. But even the devs themselves has long ago confirmed that the really dead timetable on LIRR is because of the bad ATC that couldn't handle more trains. They tried making a realistic busy timetable, but the trains kept running into each other or something like that. So until the ATC (and the dispatcher in general) don't get fixed/improved, LIRR cannot be a busy route.
Ah ok, that makes sense. Still haven't gotten as deep into other routes as LIRR, so interesting to see if they can handle more traffic. I've run Boston a few times and London Commuter looks promising. To be honest, I'm less enthusiastic about the German routes due to the German cab instrument labels, and having to remember the translations. Also I prefer routes where there is more publicly available documentation about the equipment and routing.
