The map below shows East Anglia in the UK. Currently the only part on the map that's in TSW4 is that grey HS1 line that doesn't have any stops in the area. Which segment would you like to see in TSW4? GEML London to Ipswich and Wherry Lines (Norwich to Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft) are frequently mentioned because their TSC counterparts are very popular but there's so much more. C2C Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness in the south seems perfect as some of it is already modelled for HS1, it's short but has a lot of different environments and has the most interesting freight options. It also ticks the box mentioned by Matt of "What haven't we done before" West Anglia Mainline Liverpool Street to Ely likewise, hasn't been released in any Train Sim yet. A trip up the Lea Valley to one of England's finest cities, Cambridge and also Ely which is the northern-most point of Greater Anglia electric services. Mostly Class 720s these days but you have the excellent Stadler Flirt running most services on the Stansted Express. Southend Victoria to Liverpool Street - Again, not touched previously by DTG, like the C2C it's a quick run through varied environments but passenger only and unlike with C2C you don't get to see the sea. Cambridge to Norwich - The Breckland line may not have amazing scenery but it has plenty of charm and is a good length for a drive. Diesel only beyond Ely but with bi-mode Class 755s you get some time in Electric and diesel modes. Back to Great Eastern - With 100mph running north of Chelmsford the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline is a cracking run from the wilds of Norfolk to the hustle and bustle of the city. This is probably too big a project for one release though Ipswich to London is over an hour and long enough. However, a major minus is there is no traction in game at the moment, the 86's and 90s on freights, the 720s and 745s or any of the previous electric rolling stock that served East Anglia aren't in TSW at the moment. Others - The Bittern Line and the East Suffolk route are limited in terms of traffic and operating variation but are still nice journeys. Wherry Lines is superb but already in TSC, though I'm sure it would be popular. Then there's also the Clacton/Walton to London option and while it's my favourite option as it's my local line, I suspect it wouldn't be as interesting as London to Ipswich/Norwich for others. An honourary mention for the Gainsborough and Harwich branches, too short to be standalones but both surprisingly picturesque for Essex. Rolling Stock C2C would need a Class 357 but also had 387s until recently. Class 720s will be introduced later this year. Great Anglia is simple. Class 720s, 745s and 755s. Visiting East Midlands 158s? no problem. AI at Cambridge? 387s and 700s are ready and waiting. I'd doubt DTG would have the appetite to go for an older version of any of the routes, since the 60s there's been an impressively varied roster of electric and diesel stock, only the 101s, 37s and 47's are in the game at the moment. Let's forget the somewhat heavy and slow Class 40s they were quickly sent away by BR Eastern Region to work on shorter, lighter passenger trains up north. What bit of this TSW gap would you like to see and with what traction?
BTW, I'd do one of these for other notable UK TSW holes in Wales, Northern Scotland and the big gap west of Reading and East of St. Ives but I'm sure there are simmers who are more familiar with those areas than I am.
If they ever make a c2c route I hope it includes the whole c2c network (its very small). And not forgetting the freight services you can see on some parts of the line, a class 66 for DRS services to Tilbury container port would be nice.
There's also the Thames Haven branch to the new dock at Coryton. Containers and tanks to be hauled from there.
A BR Blue era Wherry Lines (plus Sheringham) would be my first choice. The Street to Southend next, but no later than the Dusty Bin era. Ditto The Street to Cambridge with 31’s and 37’s on Mark 2 stock with 315’s on the suburban services.
I would like to see the Wherry lines with cravens 105s or if set in a modern setting when they had the top and tailed DRS 37s. The old Eastern region has had some recognition with the upcoming ECML route and so hopefully DTG will venture that bit further East soon.
Could do East Suffolk and Felixstowe lines in the Anglia era. Or Ipswich to Norwich with the Anglia 86s.
Idk whether this is true or not but a while ago I heard the reason tsc hasn't got any Greater Anglia content is because they are reluctant to give out a licence? If that is the case I doubt it would change for tsw.
I'd be surprised if Greater Anglia were reluctant to allow a licence, it might just be that DTG weren't happy with the finances, which would be fair enough. In my dealings with the GA media team with my historic rolling stock project they've been incredibly helpful. They're immensely proud of their new fleet. The big problem facing any East Anglian route though is that whichever bit they choose the only stock currently in TSW that could be used are classes 37,47,66 and 101. The mostly electric lines of East Anglia are a blank canvas stock-wise, at its least varied (1994-1996) you still have to build classes 312,315,321 and 86. I can't see DTG giving us 4 new toys in one pack.
I think if any of the dev groups did something like Ipswich - Lowestoft and Felixstowe it would be really good. Obviously traffic is quite limited on the Westerfield to Lowestoft part but there would be a lot of potential for freight (especially with the bacons factory curve now) but they could also include a branch to Sizewell for Nuclear flask workings. Only way you could do this is likely with 755s but also the freight would be boring unless they managed to get licensing from GBRf and more from Freightliner since all we have from the is the ONE 66 but that doesn't even have much if any Freightliner branding. It is still a lot to ask asa thats going into the 60+ miles but there would be a nice amount of end to end services. Also would add more layers at Peterborough and if they did manage to get licensing from GBRf and Freightliner more layers throughout modern day routes. We really do need any routes in the Anglia region so any would be really good.
I would live for the GEML London to Southend if they are not planning on doing the Underground and would rather do National rail or the C2C to Shoeburyness as I like the Commuter style routes.
Abellio as a group generally haven't been up for licencing, that said their UK operations were recently sold to management, so it's possible the new owners may be more receptive.
I hope so, Greater Anglia is a railway reborn, topping the punctuality tables. It would be good to celebrate the new era in Simulator form.
I would love the C2C or greater anglia the most out of the possible National rail routes. I would prefer the Underground but I understand why these routes are incredibly popular
I think as far as c2c is concerned it would be a great route, but i reckon they’d go for the essex side of the route and leave the kent side a layer on sehs which isn’t a terrible idea.
I have a sneaky gut feeling that the LTS (or C2C as it's called now) is on the "to do list" for TSW. The only version that's ever been in a train simulator was a steam-era freeware version in MSTS. As for my theory, it's based on a recent Facebook post on ATS from Matt P in which I found out; 1. He loves the old AC Slamdoors as he grew up with them. 2. GEML seems to be off the table at the moment due to licensing issues. 3. AP made a trip to record a Class 508 "because they have the same compressors as Class 312s" 4. There's a temporary pause on 3rd rail routes as there are a few in the game already. 5. They're looking for things they've not done before. 6. GOBLIN feels like an interim release while they work on a larger UK project. So I admit I'm adding 2+2 and arriving at "banana" but I trust my gut feelings and think LTS Rail either NSE or early 2000s era is on the way.
Still technically not Kent, West Ham is Newham BC and Fenchurch is the CoL. Either way, the C2C never crosses the Thames.
I didn’t know about the 312 compressor comment. Could be nothing I guess but that would make me so happy if a 312 appeared in NSE era for so many personal reason relating to where I grew up. Seeing a lot of traction behind LTS/c2c so I’m ever hopeful.
I'd be really torn, I'd love the 720 in either sim but a C2C with a choice of 312 and 357 to drive would make it a route I'd drive most days.
I'd love to have the c2c line, as I've said in various threads, but anything other than modern day would be anachronistic with a layered GOBLIN (as Barking Riverside is fairly recent). Best of all worlds would be modern day route and trains (357 & 720), with later heritage DLC.
That's a good idea. Maybe make the release the 2023 version of the route and a backdated 2003 timetable layer later, I think most would excuse the modern era platforms and trackside for a step back to in the last days of slamdoor operation on the LTS.
C2C would be a fantastic dlc as a self contained route as with goblin coming layering would be almost perfect. Could even layer on bakerloo line stock as a fill for underground at Barking. Docklands units passing would also be cool.
Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness would be the best route of the C2C routes. They also operate with Class 720's.
312 pretty close to the 310 which I probably rocked up 1000's of miles travelling on back in the day. Only downside is that the motor car is in the middle of the formation so unless some artistic licence is taken, traction "thrash" in the cab area is going to be pretty much non existent.
Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness IS the c2c line, there's no other! That'd just be wrong on a number of levels - literally, as the lines at Barking use larger sub-surface stock, whereas the Bakerloo is one of the deep-level lines with smaller stock. Better to model the S7 stock or nothing at all (pretend the Tube is on strike!).
Yes. the guard's van is in the motor coach on all of the Mk1 and Mk2-derived AC suburban EMUs. (302/4/5/7/8/10/12) If the route was based before 2012 then Rivet could attempt what they did with the original IoW units and create D stock for the Underground out of the Class 484. Totally agree that tube stock would just look wrong. If it's based before 1980 then the beautiful R and/or CO/CP stock would compliment the route, they were possibly my favourite of all the trains I've traveled on. I'd be happy with a portion of the LUL lines from Bow Road to Upminster though just putting it there for AI would also be fine at release.
How about setting this in the late 1980s when the line was electrified up to Norwich you have the class 90
Late 80's was a fascinating time you have a choice of; Suburban/Slow Southend services - Classes 302/305/307/308/315/321* Semi-fasts- GEML beyond Shenfield Classes 309/310/312/321* Outer branches - 302/308/310/312/321* and either 101 or 105 on the Sudbury branch Intercity - Class 86 and a few 309's subbing for them. *Class 321s arrived on the West Anglia Line late 1988 and on Southend/Braintree/Southminster services from early 1989. Class 90's only arrived towards the end of the Anglia Railway era in the mid 00s.
Imagine if we just got a small section like Barking to Pitsea via Basildon. I don't think DTG would do that to us.
It's 112 miles 180 km basically making it the second longest route in the game after Schnellfahrstrecke Hannover Würzburg Würzburg Hbf Kassel Wilhelmshöhe section at 115 mi 185km.
