Here are my two cents on the core route add-ons. UK I think the Riviera line is a great route. It looks really beautiful, and with the branch to Paignton, it will be a really fun route to drive. The class 220 will make for a fantastic loco add-on. I am a bit disappointed that the 221 was not used instead of or added alongside the 220, as the 221 usually operates most of XC's Riviera line routes. As for the GWR rolling stock, I think it's great. The class 150 and 802 are good choices, and I'm delighted that they will be getting revised sounds. I disagree with many of the complaints about a lack of class 158s or 800s. The 158 can be made as a loco add-on by Skyhook, and GWR rarely, if ever, operate 800s on the Rivera line. The class 800s are the mainstay of the London to Cardiff, Swansea, Oxford, Bristol and Worcester Great Malvern services. DE I am pleased that my favourite German route, Naverkher Dresden, will be extended to Leipzig. I am pleased that the ICE-T will be included with revised sounds. I am, however, slightly disappointed by the lack of new rolling stock on this rout,e and the use of a glorified shunting locomotive as the deluxe loco is a strange choice. USA: I didn't have any strong opinions or knowledge on the Morristown line until I looked it up. It looks like an interesting route and I like the fact that DTG give the route two separate termini at Hoboken and Penn Station. I'm looking forward to the Arrow 3 as well. I, however, feel that DTG missed a trick with the deluxe loco on this one. The route in-game only goes as far as the electrified section in Dover. However the deluxe loco is the ALP 45 DP a bi-mode version of the ALP 46 from New York to Trenton. This feels like a pointless add-on for this route, and I think this loco should have been bundled in with the route, and the Arrow 3 should have been the deluxe loco. I think more people would have been willing to pay more for the Arrow 3 than the ALP 45 DP. I, for one, am more excited for the NEC New York to Stanford route with the M8 as I really want to see Metro-North back in the game!
On the face of it we were just excited last year, I know I was. Then the WCMLS turned into a major disappointment as rivet turned it into a virtual branch line with their timetable. So I’m not going to go and prejudge any of the releases yet. But having said that they do look good as do the screenshots. The US one I will get in time too. But I am a little worried that the Riviera Line is not getting its preview stream until the day before release, why have they got something to hide? I’m afraid the WCMLS release traumatised me so much I no longer trust DTG’s UK routes because rivet may have got their grubby little mitts on it and cut so many corners as to ruin it. The only way I enjoy WCMLS which is local to me is via the 2019 mod which saved it in all honesty. The scenarios on it are an absolute joke. I want to see others feedback before I buy, hence it’s the free upgrade pack for me. I used to be a day 1 purchaser so a message there for DTG.
I can't say anything at all about the US and Germany routes, as I have never really been to either country, unless you count Frankfurt and Chicargo O'hare airports. The thing though for me is I still like to have a look and see how the scenery is. As for the UK route, I have travelled on it quite a number of times and have to say that this is a good line. Although IMO I would of prefered a reworked 166 or 158 over the 150/2s. I can't say anything about the IETs, as the only 80x units I have been on are the Trans Pennine ones on the WCML. As for the Voyagers personally I am not too bothered about the lack of the 221s, I even had a look at Realtime Trains website and noticed that most of the XC runnings past Dawlish were 220s. This has just got me thinking about how full these units will be in conductor mode.
I live near where the Cross Country trains operate, and although some 220s do go along the Rivera line, most are 5-carriage 221s. The class 220s mainly serve the Reading to Newcastle or Bournemouth to Manchester services
I did some quick research looking at RTT of Dawlish and it seems to me that its a mix of both on this part, literally almost 50/50. So I don't know about that.
Cross Country try to run the 221's or 220's in multiple whenever they can on the Scotland to Plymouth routes as this is their busiest route. This service used to be supplemented by longer HST's before their withdrawal. Unfortunately as Cross Country still do not have enough rolling stock, even after receiving Avanti West Coast's voyagers, some lone 220's do end up on the route. However most 220's serve the Reading to Newcastle, Manchester to Bournemouth (with 221's) and shorter services to Scotland emanating from Bristol or Birmingham. As I don't have local knowledge on the Manchester to Paignton trains unlike the Plymouth/Penzance to Scotland trains, I looked them up and found that they are mainly served by five car class 221s.
i wish they would add the alp-44 and the Aem-7 if you think about it the scenery on the nec and M&E hasnt changed much since they ran except for the World trade center being built
The AEM-7 would definitely make a great fantrip run or special excursion trip, from Sunnyside to Trenton and the ALP-44 would be great if there were a few scenarios to depict the URHS excursion off the Boonton trackage.
