Alan Thompson Simulation Route Discussion/speculation Thread

From the screenshots shown it seems to use WCMLS for the 350 (and 390) and Cardiff for the 150.

 

In an earlier roadmap article, the Scotrail 158 was also mentioned as a layer. TSW wiki mentions the EMT class 158 as a layer.

I suspect WCML south will be the most important one, especially to spawn Pendolinos at Piccadilly.

 

I did see the TfW train on the recent screenshot, which I did wonder if would happen, as obviously TfW trains to Cardiff and the Airport run from/through Piccadilly.

I caught a TfW from Stockport to Shrewsbury in January and wish I'd noted the model number, as it was a lovely train. Certainly not one that's been in the game.

 

Somehow, after a while, my enthusiasm for this route faded - this is too short a route, if only it had reached Crewe... (only 4 (!) stations to finish)

 

Agreed. Not on my radar at all. I’m sure (ATS politics aside) it’s nicely made, but we already have a Manchester bus stop service with Glossop and they are just reusing the 323. I had a run on Glossop yesterday evening and found it quite boring.

 

It’s good if you like long cuttings and embankments only lined with trees!

 

To be fair, as a first route I'm going to cut them some slack. Visually it looks very good, the ending points to me look no different to Midland Mainline.... If ATS have their head screwed on and sales do well, the team might just extend it to Crewe at a later date much like Joannes did with NLL.

So yeah looking good and fairly excited for this one. I'm also glad the 323 is being reused as it is one of the most underrated, well made units in the game that doesn't get enough love!

 

I'm also looking forward to this one, being a Manchester local! It's not the same as Glossop, which is one single route, little AI and no variety of service patterns. If the timetable is right for this we have 2 different routes (via Stockport and via Airport), much more AI and a far bigger variety in services from just "bus stop". On the downside, yes, Crewe ... plus we just don't have enough actual Northern stock, especially the two CAF units that comprise a large percent of the Manchester area trains.

 

I have no doubt this will have been answered already, so apologies for repetition - but will the EMT Liverpool-Norwich (going through Piccadilly and Stockport) service be one of the layers?

 

One thing I am very excited about is the AI in the route. 390s, 350s, 153/150s. 158s too as well? Loads of other services. It will be what Manchester Should be.

 

Yeah and then have to model the entire of Crewe and its surrounding yards. They didn’t cut it short just to spite everyone, it’s a lot of work.

 

Indeed. Hopefully it'll be like how Glasgow Central was transformed from being a ghost station into a much more lively place when they added the new timetable. Not sure if'll ever happen that a TPE route comes to the game and we get those services added in, but would be great if so.

 

If I'm not mistaken, isn't the route Manchester Picadilly to Stockport?
If so there's definitely potential for a 185 to come at some point

 

Don't want to cause a rile up of speculation, but in ATS' new YouTube video he replied to a comment about the tsw route;

Don't know if this is just me being nit-picky and/or him being broad in terms of not saying 'Alderly Edge Manchester' but yk
This could be possible though, because the route has been majorly delayed and we know Crewe station is coming to train sim world.

 

Suspect that's a slip-up (hopefully isn't) but either way shows the importance of proof reading.

 

If true that moves the route out of the “little interest” slot on my radar into the, “Oooh that might be worth a punt” zone.

 

The route is Manchester Piccadilly to Alderley Edge and also Manchester Airport

 

Same here. We will have to wait and see.

 

…and now possibly Crewe?!

Well we know the bearded one lurks on these forums so Alan could you kindly confirm whether this was just a faux pas or that you have listened to the early feedback and decided to crack on to Crewe? Turning many Day 0 purchases into Day 1 purchases…

 

you got me good there and also few of us. By not posting the comment he replied to. It’s one of the Chat Moss Line routes on TSC Classic.

 

Oh well, back to your lives citizens. £30 safe in the Steam Wallet for something else.

 

Had a little excitement there! But back to the normal now :/

 

Oh that's a shame. Nevermind.

 

Hang on, are they making Crewe-Manchester for TSC?

 

I wonder if it's an extension to their WCML route.

Something I am far more likely to spend money on than the TSW route.

 

Huh so TSC gets the full line treatment but TSW get short changed. Yeah I'm happy with my decision to not purchase this route when/if it gets released.

 

Well tsc is easier for them since they've been on it for a while. It's a less complex game engine. You don't need that much details. There's no timetable, etc. tsw is just more complicated and expensive

 

I just can't get excited over anything for TSW now. Even the JT class 86 and the TSG releases will have to wait. I'll probably get them when I have caught up with all the TSC DLC I want.

I haven't played TSW since December. I can't get excited over short routes like the Cardiff route or even this one. Mildmay looks fantastic but is this really as exciting as TSW gets?

Just downloaded the Shrewsbury extension to the wonderful freeware TSC steam period Tenbury route. I can't see anything like that appearing for TSW.

 

For years Alan Thompson was saying that he could do better than DTG for TSW stuff.

So far he's failed to put his money where his mouth is.

 

This is the problem with TSW at the moment, the editor is quite complex to use which lends itself to potential freeware route devs giving up or not bothering to start anything at all. I really miss the heyday of tsc and uktrainsim where there was so much freeware stuff going on, assets,routes etc.
Those who do start building routes in TSW are likely to go the payware route which is fair enough I suppose.
Strange really, I didn't really foresee this happening in train simming.

 

For me JT is the only company that is guaranteed to get my money. Since Matt confirmed that DTG are now just chasing the money I won't purchase their DLCs, Rivet now is a no no.

 

There is still a lot of freeware happening just not on UKTS of course. It's not as prolific as it was though.

I don't mind if TSW is completely payware if I can see routes releasing which I can get interested in. At the moment that isn't happening (JT/TSG aside) especially with DTGs recent pronouncements.

It would be a shame if freeware was to not exist in TSW.

 

This class would be good as it’s a new train operator and new class for TSW5 and as people are saying it’s a train people want in the game even if it’s on the Manchester line

 

I have no problem paying if it’s good. The current output is too slow though and I feel stuff isn’t being made because there’s a fear of not being able to charge much more than £30 for a route etc. if something is worth making and needs more hands to the pump and is good then people will put their hands in their pocket.

 

Yes, but is he not referring to Manchester Airport Commuter in the reply?
Either way, as clumsy pacer said, could just be a slip-up

 

Forgive my ignorance as to tsc, (I don't have a pc), but the question was referring to chat moss line, is that line in tsc? Plus, this route add on for tsw isn't the chat moss line from what I can tell (with also my ignorance as to the area)

EDIT;
Chat Moss Line Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester is literally on the ATS site for tsc, seems he's referring to that, not this tsw route

 

I dunno maybe it's just me getting confused ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

I'm confused. Was the Crewe mention for TSC?

 

Yes.

 

I‘m not gonna Buy the half Route on TSW
Plus No Rolling Stocks added from ATS

 

Is it because the learning curve for UE is so steep or is it because the TSW editor is hard to work with that the development time for 3rd parties is so glacial? It seems that some of these promised routes have been " coming " since the golden toad was last sighted.

 

I’m going to reserve judgment on this route. Having played ATS’ TSC routes, the level of immersion is mega, so even if it is a short route (it is), this immersion and the provided scenarios MAY prove enough for me.

 

I reckon this route is going to get the same treatment as the north London line, where an extension is in mind before release and will get updated at a later date. Just to raise some extra funds and make it worthwhile

 

Both

 

To be honest this route specifically has had a lot of problems during development that have ended up sprouting out All Aboard Studios.

 

I will be buying the ATS route myself as I am looking forward to the Airport runs that act as a self contained route...

But I get the impression that the Manchester Commuter route might be the first and last route developed for TSW by ATS. Which is a shame, but there are some clear internal issues that have arisen (we know the basics, and it should be left at that and the 'dirty laundry' left between those involved now).

But, it is a shame that two developers could not have a single 'peace treaty' to finish the route in its entirety down to Crewe for the benefit of the game and then go their separate ways. All Aboard Studios then go off and do their own thing separately, and ATS goes their way and does theirs, respectfully. (And in terms of ATS it seems their content will be exclusively TSC after this route is released).

 

I’d be leaving this for a year or so in the future while on sale, not a day one purchase. I think Manchester Airport needs more variety - there’s a big gap of rolling stock that takes immersion away for me. Sadly we don’t have any Northern/TfW CAF stock or TPE stock to layer in.

Not taking anything away from ATS as the teaser pics do look very good.

 

I hear you Chris regarding the stock, perhaps though that they are going to set it a few years ago and thus aside from the 323 could use reskinned 150/2s & 142s for Northern services, 350s for TPE and the 158 for ATW/TFW. I do have a sinking feeling however that they may have already shot that idea down, still if they have at least there is hope someone else will go and do it

 

Full article here

• Release date is July 1st
  
• Price is £24.99/€29.99/$29.99
• If you have Glossop you get 20% for the first two weeks after launch
• Class 323 and DB66 with FKA wagons
• Two timetables: Weekday & Sunday
  
• Layers include 350, 390, EMR158, SR158, 87, RHTT, TfW150 & TfW153
• Preview stream today (19th June) at 19:00BST & another on the day before release

First look video:

 

Pleased you get a discount with Glossop - that's really impressive IMO, and personally (once the core bugs are fixed) would make me comfortable buying it and not feel like I was double paying for the 323.