Having watched the Q&A stream a few days ago, I've had some thoughts about the comments Matt made about the issues with making routes in new countries. And I'd be interested in starting a discussion on this topic, I also have some suggestions to give so I felt it fit here. The tl:dr of what was said on the stream is that one important issue with new routes is the fact that they won't in one route be able to build a lot of new assets, and in particular new rolling stock to liven up said route. How for example with LGV there's only the TGV and no other regional stock at Marseille. And this is a pretty valid concern, a common complaint in the earlier routes is that main stations are often quite dead. But this has been rather well addressed in the more recent routes, (DRA and BML in particular) The other point being it obviously takes away a slot for another route, which is a more complicated issue. But then I thought about one aspect, what about routes that are rather self contained, and don't need more then then maybe one or two new rolling stocks and are located on isolated branches. Granted this is a bit of a niche, but it would avoid the issue of needing a lot of new assets just to make the route look alive. While still in the UK, Isle of Wight is kinda an example of this. So what about other routes like this in other countries? For example the famous Yellow train line which would only really need one rolling stock and a few cars. The terminus stations wouldn't have mainline stock but they're quiet anyway. Or the Domodossola - Locarno FART line (yes, that's the Swiss acronym of the operating company). Metric gauge lines seem to generally live quite a few opportunities for this approach. Train jaune Villefranche-de-Conflent Florian Pépellin, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons 14 FART ABe 4-6 52-53 Camedo 150916 NAC, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons I would like to know how much of an interest exists in these more scenic branch lines, in the vein of the Arosa line for example. The other option as well, is to take the approach cross border lines, especially around Germany. It would then be possible to make a new rolling stock from the new country, Switzerland and Austria being obvious first contenders. And make use of the existing stock we already have to make it busier. ICEs, IC stock etc. (I'm not an expert on what runs where so I don't know the ideal combinations) So basically, what do you all think about these approaches? Would you be interested in lines like these to get to experience new routes while dodging some of the difficulties of visiting new countries? Or do you prefer to get more of your favorite countries, or prefer bigger lines with more traffic anyway? Or further still, favor DTGs approach of letting third parties specialize in new countries?
I agree, self contained lines work well to this effect. Rivet managed to show that on the Arosa Linie, and the LGV itself is alright, once you leave Marseille. However, one thing I feel of note: Whilst yes, DRA and BML do this very well, they both lean on older routes for that vibrancy and variety. BML feels busy in most areas with juts the 377 & 387, mind you, however at places like Redhill and Gatwick, GWE really adds to it, and Victoria is something else with SEHS and the 465. DRA - whilst it has 5 or 6 (I can't remember) units included in the base, all of them existed in previous DLC(s), and are mostly just improved versions of the older ones. As for LGV, it had - and has - absoluetly nothing to lean on. However, again, I do agree with all the points you've made in this thread, this would be quite an interesting discussion if this thread picks up some traction.
Self contained concepts, like Arosa line, work really good for this purpose I think. However, as much as I like scenic self contained lines and would like to see more of them, I am way more interested in mainline systems. It has become clear now that DTG is unlikely to spend multiple releases on creating a set of, for example (and because this is my biggest wish ), Dutch routes. For this I'm way more interested in the promise of new 3rd parties than in Arosa style self contained routes. I hope that some jew third parties will choose to specialize in a new country, or set of new countries, focussing their releases on building op a library of content with many layers for these countries. Still wouldn't mind more unique and self contained either though.
How about doing Germany to France like Strasbourg Kehl Appenweier Karlsruhe Mannheim Frankfurt Am Main railway. On TGV Euroduplex Frankfurt Am Main Hbf is written as Francfort Sur Le Main Gare Centrale so are the Simone Herault announcements on LGV Méditerranée and Strasbourg. Open German trains running on KVB TVM-430 and French Trains on PZB LZB
Well you say that, but on the second approach I mentioned, using some existing stock IC coaches, ICE*, would already be a good start for dutch content. And if anything, the netherlands is one of the countries that would have the highest return on investment, given how many IRL objects are used (station signage, trackside equipment, etc) and how there aren't that many models of rolling stock, and many plausible substitutions where it would be okay to only use one EMU at first. But maybe that's also me sharing the hope of eventual dutch routes. *If DTG where open to doing refreshes to rolling stock for international routes, safety systems in particular. I know they say doing upgrades like this takes work but it surely doesn't take as much time as a build from scratch.
That certainly is true, the IC and ICE services that use them are only on very certain lines and infrequent. They're not really the main face of any routes, as thlse are mostly our brihht yellow and blue EMUs. Freight rolling stock has a lot more use though, not only for the Netherlands. The rolling stock in game for Germany at the moment would be at home in pretty much every European country, and certainly the netherlands, meaning only locos have to be developed. If DTG decided to make a multisystem loco like the BR 189 or BR 193 that would be enough for Dutch freight, or that of other countries, while also remaining playable and interesting for German players.
I agree, also, for example Italy is heavily standardised, and there are plenty of (normal standard gauge national heavy rail) routes which are only operated 1 train type. IMO the emptiness of central stations is a necessary evil, Glasgow Central for example, even Dresden feels quite empty at times, as often there is just too much variations at these big termini. For example my local line which connects the central station with the airport only operates this train type There are occasionally other similar units (the older train generation) but it's rare to catch one of them and it's in no way necessary to implement it. Remaining in the topic of Italy, if they decided to set a route a few years back (before the arrival of the new Pop and Rock EMU) you can represent a huge part of the "fast regional" (the RE equivalent) and decent part of the regional rail network with 4 coach models and 4 cab cars and ONE locomotive, and yes, we have more than 700 of those locomotives going around. I don't understand this argument by Matt, by cleverly choosing routes it's possible to avoid the rolling stock problem, but I can understand the other problems, for example having to create new safety systems, new assets and trying to balance new countries without affecting the release of GER-UK-US content too much, which IMO could be solved by only deciding to do a batch of 3 or 4 routes per country, adding 1 train per route a total of 4 trains could be enough to populate a well used line. There is also the option of international routes, which would offer other opportunities to add foreign stock without creating a new country, meaning a country in a new route could have a head start. For example the TGV Euroduplex could be added to HMA, an Austrian route could be released with the Taurus, etc...
Don't forget Brighton with the 313 DLC from East Coastway; without it Brighton on London Commuter does not have any AI traffic - including 377s - from the East or West Coastway routes.
Combine PZB LZB Sifa 15kv 16.7hz 1.95m Pantographs Deutsche Bahn ÖBB Infra with 3kv DC 1.45m pantographs copper contact strip RFI FS Infra division you know have an international route Pustertal Bahn Fortezza Innichen follwed by Karawanken Bahn Villach Tarvis I am actually using German names for some of the Italian towns. For international routes some of them affect RRO HMA Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen Main Spessart Bahn. Austria Italy international routes will affect Hauptstrecke München-Augsburg since you now have Gbf Augsburg München Laim Hall in Tyrol Brenner or Tarvis Salzburg Gnigl via Villach Klagenfurt
