I just feel like in the long term and for how famous it is, ecml south would make more sense in that department. DLCs such as a deltic pack or something like that, flying scotsman (overrated but we all know how well that would sell) and more stuff similar to that, like a 91/225 set pack, all which the ecml has a lot of potential for. Then there’s expansions, like the hertford loop, branch to cambridge, and the northern city line, all of which would could be done and would be welcomed later in the routes life. As for mml, other than the HST in the past, there isn’t much iconic traction or things about it that i could see as a dlc. Maybe a 319 would be pretty cool, but that’s sort of it in terms of extending the routes life. Matt said about making the most of routes and it would make more sense to do ecml in terms of future DLC for it.
If is the MML South I hope the M1 motorway is properly represented. I have been driving the MML south a lot lately and I just hope if it's the route chosen for the 700 AC that they East Midland trains 222 is only included. Below are some screen shots from Bedford sidings. As a recap here are the potential service pattern for MML south from Bedford to London MML Thameslink 700/0 and 700/1 (possibly) 2 trains an hour from Bedford to Three bridges (Stopping service) 2 trains an hour from Bedford to Brighton (semi fast service) 2 trains an hour from Luton to Rainham(all stop from Luton) 4 trains an hour from St Albans city to Sutton (loop service) (all stop service) 2 trains from Blackfriars to Servenoaks ( would only see at black friars as AI) Peak time trains 4 trains a day from Luton to Orpington (slow stopping service) 3 trains a day from west Hampstead to Orpington (slow stopping service) 4 trains a day from Kentish town to Orpington (slow stopping service) 4 trains a day from Bedford to East Grinstead (fast service only stopping at Luton, Harpenden, St Albans, St Pancras, core stations) TL-462 services on MML. TL-210 from ECML that go through the core, St Pancras to BlackFriars. doesn't include any freight that might be added or the railtours. East Midlands HST/222 (possibly) trains (we have in the game and already used in St Pancras 6 trains an hour from St Pancras. With some stopping at Luton , EM-240 Total -912 passenger services
i genuinely wouldn’t mind this route, and tbh i’d rarely drive the emr services anyways tbf, but having a 222 would still be great. It would also be nice to have those overnight services too, which the ecml doesn’t have.
I have the ATS Peterborough/Cambridge route on TSC and is one of my favorites. Is a great route. But the reason why is great is because ATS included the Cambridge to Peterberough, Ely and Kings's Lynn sections. I don't think DTG would include them unless in TSW4 is possible to have modular routes. I think if the main attraction is the 700 and 700/1 Thameslink, then MML south would be a better fit as it would offer more than double the Thameslink passenger services. Once we know for sure the LNER license is acquired then ECML won't be that far behind
well LNER shouldn’t be hard to get, as it’s government owned, like the brand EMT is now. And yes i suppose there may be more 700-specific services but overall ecml is a lot busier and more iconic
I'd take the ECML in a heartbeat. As you say, there's far more variety, both contemporary and historical, with locos and operators. However, looking at it from DTG's perspective, and as I said earlier in this thread, they would require licences for other TOCs. Plus, DTG would have to develop Class 91, 180, 717 (or re-use Class 313), and 80x to make the line feel contemporary, whereas HST and Class 700 can be re-used to make the MML feel almost up-to-date. From a business perspective, the MML makes the best case. From a rail fan's view, the southern ECML is the far more interesting route—well, until Hitchin anyway.
Thameslink 700/0 and 700/1 (possibly) go through the core towards St Pancras 2 trains an hour Cambridge-Bedford terminating at Blackfriars 2 trains an hour Peterborough- Horsham-Bedford terminating at Blackfriars King’s Cross Thameslink 1 train an hour King's Cross to Peterborough 10 services total a day King's Cross to Lentchworth Great Northern 387(possibly) 2 trains an hour King's Cross- Ely/King's Lynn 6 services total a day King's Cross- Peterborough LNER 158 services round trip from King's Cross (91's currently not in the game, 800 not in the game) Lumo 10 services round trip from King's Cross (803 currently not in the game) Grand Central 12 services round trip from King's Cross (class 180 currently not in the game) Hull 12 services a day Moorgate station Great Northern 2 trains an hour Morgate to Welwyn garden 2 trains an hour Morgate to Stevenage would only be playable to Alexandra palace MML to St Pancras has around 702 ECML to King’s Cross is about 628. So looking at the estimate numbers I saw they are much even, Only 50 passenger Thameslink services that would actually stop in King’s Cross. Versus 462 Thameslink that would stop in St Pancras. So you have many services on ECML but a lot go through the core and through Moorgate. I’ve attached the timetable for LNER and only around 158 weekly round trip services. I had be
I genuinely don’t know how the MML can be busier than the ECML, genuinely can’t be right. Also another reason that i don’t think it’ll be mml, is not only do we already have part of the mml, they’ve also just called it ‘Midland mainline’ rather than ‘midland mainline north’ or something, which they probably wouldn’t have done if they knew this was coming.
King’s cross is busy station but a lot of the services are Long distance. Take a long a the video from west Hamstead station on the MML and you can see the traffic up and down the MML
yes it’s my opinion, but i just don’t feel like the ecml is as good as or as iconic as mml, though as i’ve said before, i wouldn’t mind either one
The 'Flying Scotsman Centenary Edition'* mentioned in the Epic database would suggest to me that it's much more likely that we're about to see ECML in some format, most likely including the 700/1 (hence why the 700/0 was cheaper than a normal loco DLC, particularly if you already had plenty of SEHS content). I personally don't have much of a preference but ECML does have more scope for future DLC in my view. I would like to see the Moorgate line / Hertford loop included but I suspect this might be too many stations / too high mileage to be realistic. *Note that I think it's highly unlikely that this refers to the TSC pack of the same name as TSC isn't on Epic and the forthcoming Vectron is also referred to by name in the same set of files
I would love to see the Ecml with a Flying Scotsman railtour pack in Tsw, fingers crossed this centenary pack is for Tsw.
There are approximately as many Smithfields as there are TSW DLC, which I believe adds credence to the idea that TSW4 is coming this year. Check it out for yourself here if you like: EpicData - Epic Games data tracker (epicdatainfo.vercel.app) Additional note: if you're particularly conspiratorially minded, Smithfield is the name of the sidings on the Thameslink Core (under or very close to Smithfield Market). Read into that as you will...
well there we go, we already know how accurate leaks on the epic database can be as we’ve seen this year so far when all those dlcs were leaked, with all being true. man i’m excited ngl, hope we hear some official stuff soon!
So if the rumors are true then what do the 700/1,Vectron,M8 have in common? Dual power. which would mean in the routes we would probably have to swap from AC to DC...........
possibly at some point, but with the 700 already having its 3rd rail stretches then if it were ecml/mml going as far as st pancras would do personally
yeah that would be nice, but personally i’m not actually too fussed about the thameslink core being in game. If ecml was the route, in reality drivers change over at finsbury park anyways, but we will most likely get atleast st pancras anyways. What would be cool is if we could walk from the thameslink low level platforms to king’s cross main station as they’re right next to each other, how cool would that be!
Unless the 'Flying Scotsman Centenary Edition' also runs on the MML or other routes I think ECML it the winner. It will be a great route. I hope thameslink does go through the core as most services go that way. Maybe we will get something going further south towards east croydon. But at lease we are getting closer. too much evidence out now.lol
Oooh this is interesting. I feel like DTG will want to start teasing the new content soon. It's been VERY quiet since the 700/0 launch, and most of the circumstantial evidence is pointing towards a TSW4...bring it on I say! I personally have enjoyed TSW3, but provided there's actually some core improvements (Dispatcher by far #1, audio, passengers, etc), i'm ok with moving on. If it's terrible then we need to know that too lol- but pretending it's not happening isn't the way to go IMO.
I could see this- or an announcement is VERY imminent- otherwise there's no real headliner unless they pull back the curtains on the JT route, but that's not usually the way roadmap works.
What great news to hear, TOTALLY didn’t make my night …. Finally my favourite TSC route is getting added, will definitely be picking this up day 1
Well congratulations to all who picked and wanted the ECML. All the evidence is there. I think there's a good chance ATS has been very involved in this project so I'm sure it will be a great route. If they can replicate the TSC version this will be an amazing route
WCML Trent and Over Shap are my favourites. Esp Shap. And Western Lines of Scotland. And DOrset and Somerset Bath Templecombe, now that would be amazing. GEML Ipswich is a total muct with Class 90s. We need the IC225s in TSW3/4/5!!! That would be epic!! So maybe it is ECML. Wonder what the German route is, does it go to Prague from Dresden? Do we get a Sydney and Japan commuter route??? EXCITING TIMES!!!!
I predicted Marias Pass or Donner Pass for this mega release. Hope it's not Tehachapi. But I'm sure if it is everyone will be OVER IT (ROFL no pun intended!!) next year and want something else. I don't mind DTG doing stuff like they did with SEHS. I am quite happy actually. Birmingham and Glossop and the German routes... GREAT!! I wonder if a subway is in the mix. Or they will produce it soon as that is what we are all talking about now.
Interesting find though somehow doubt it will be all the way to Peterborough. Hitchin or round the corner to Royston with or without the Hertford Loop seems more likely. And will we get the “missing link” into BML? Probably not. Flying Scotsman as in 4472 will be a bit of an anachronism on modern day lower ECML, personally I would have preferred to see a Deltic Railtour set. It also has very limited reuse on other steam routes as opposed to doing a B1, B12 or V2. Then maybe “Flying Scotsman” is referring to another aspect of the DLC pack and not literally the kettle.
ECML So I'm not sure if the terminal station would be King's Cross, Blackfriars, or Both. Thameslink 700/0 and 700/1 (possibly) 2 trains an hour Cambridge-Bedford terminating at Finsbury park 2 trains an hour Peterborough- Horsham-Bedford terminating at Finsbury park 1 train an hour King's Cross to Peterborough 10 services total a day King's Cross to Lentchworth Great Northern 387(possibly) 2 trains an hour King's Cross- Ely/King's Lynn 2 trains an hour Morgate to Welwyn garden 2 trains an hour Morgate to Stevenage would only be playable to Alexandra palace 6 services total a day King's Cross- Peterborough LNER 158 services round trip from King's Cross (91's currently not in the game, 800 not in the game) Lumo 10 services round trip from King's Cross (803 currently not in the game) Grand Central 12 services round trip from King's Cross (class 180 currently not in the game) Passenger services TL-210 ECML GN-246 LNER-158 playable services-614 doen't include any freight that might be added or the railtours.
