Old bloke here (67) who has been playing TSW/TSW 2020 on and off for the last 5 years or so. Now I reckon it's time to get a newer version. I'm playing on XBox One series X. Looking at the Microsoft site I can get TSW 5 UK regional edition for £23.99....or TSW 6 pre order early access standard edition for £40.49. I like all things UK to be honest. TSW 5 is calling me.....but should I shell out a bit more dosh and go for TSW 6?
If your a British route guy like me, wait until full release. Go for the new uk route and the voyager separately. Wait for sales on your gaming platform and go for the following: preston-carlisle, midland mainline, great western express (especially as the free upgrade is coming soon), south eastern high-speed, Blackpool branches, Tees Valley or Northern trans pennine. There will be another uk release soon. The routes ive recommended are a mix of BR Blue era as well as modern, so that depends entirely on your preference.
Hmm depends what type of trains you are interested in since tsw 6’s uk route is mostly diesels and tsw 5’s route is electric But honestly I would still go for tsw 6 over tsw 5 since of how badly optimised the west coast mainline modern is
Go for 6, for one simple reason - future proofing. Sure getting 5 will give you access to a big back catalogue, but upcoming new releases will only be released for 6. I'm assuming by your age, and please do forgive and correct me if I'm wrong, that a route like for example the upcoming Crewe - Preston set in 1986 with the Class 86/2 is something you won't want to miss out on, and that will be 6 only. And if you were to get 5 and then wait until that came out, odds are the free starter pack will be gone by then and you'll have to fork out double the cost. And plus, you'll still get access to the same back catalogue that 5 has anyway. Also, if Riviera Line isn't your thing, the other option is to just claim the aformentioned free starter pack which will become available on the 30th. Your TSW2020 collection will port over with just a new download, not a penny spent, and you could just go from there.
Then preston - carlise, Blackpool branches and the upcoming Just Trains route would be up your street if you go for 6. If you decide on 5, you'll still be able to get Blackpool route and the Preston - carlisle route.
Thank you. Yes the Crewe to Preston route appeals to me very much. Looks like TSW 6 is a viable option.
Good taste, how about classic electric such as the old tappers? That has taken a big foothold in the last year. Small list for you, things released since 2020 in that sort of criteria. And note that many of these routes these days utilise layering in stock from other routes you own to expand the timetable with other services: BR Era: West Cornwall Local: Penzance - St Ives & St Austell (1992) Includes Regional Railways Class 150 & Railfreight Class 37, Dutch Turbot & Seacow Wagons Blackpool Branches: Preston - Blackpool North + South & Ormskirk (1986) Includes Provincial, Skipper & GMPTE Class 142, remastered Blue, Large Logo & Intercity Class 47/4, Blue Class 08, remastered Blue MK2A Coaches, remastered TEA tanker cars West Coast Main Line Over Shap: Preston - Carlisle (1986) Includes Blue & Intercity Class 87 + MK3A coaches, even more remastered Blue, Large Logo & Intercity Class 47/4, & Blue Class 08 BR Class 86/2 (1986 Loco Pack) Includes Blue & Intercity Class 86/2 + MK2F Coaches & MK1 buffet Diesel Legends Of The Great Western (Loco Pack) - Strange one as it is a 1970s timetable & stock layered onto a modern day route Includes Blue Class 52 + MK2A Coaches (Upcoming) West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Preston (1986) Includes Blue & Intercity Class 86/4 + MK2D Coaches & MK1 buffet (different variant), Class 47/3, remastered Class 20/0, two coal wagons I can't recall the label of off the top of my head And on the off chance if your tastes expand into this: Steam Era: Spirit Of Steam: Crewe - Liverpool (1958) Includes Green Stanier Jubilee + Vacuum MK1 coaches, & Black Stanier 8f + lots of old 2 axle freight wagons Peak Forest Railway: Ambergate - Chinley & Buxton (1963) Includes all stock from Spirit Of Steam plus Black Stanier 4f & bogie ICI limestone hopper Flying Scotsman (2023 preserved condition) Includes 60103 Flying Scotsman + Crimson MK2A coaches And lastly just in case, not all but some of the more notworthy: Modern Diesel: Great Western Express: London Paddington - Reading (2016) - Soon to recieve major remaster, written for that Includes GWR & FGW Class 43 HST (MTU Engine), GWR & FGW Class 166 & '165', DB + EWS Class 66 West Somerset Railway (2017) Includes Green Class 47, Green Class 09, MK1 Coaches, if you own Peak Forest it gains a very nice steam timetable Midland Main Line: Leicester - Nottingham & Derby (2016) Includes EMT Class 43 HST (VP185 Engine), EMT Class 158 Fife Circle Line (2024) Includes Scotrail Class 170 Cardiff City Network: Radyr & Coryton - Penarth & Cardiff Bay (2019) Includes TFW Class 150 & 153 Riviera Line: Exeter - Paignton & Plymouth (2023) Includes GWR Class 802 & 150 Crosscountry Class 220
The only reason to get TSW5 is if West Coast Main Line South is a route you'd enjoy. Since it's modern electric, probably not top of your wishlist! Get TSW6 standard if you want the Riviera route and would consider the US and German routes as a bargain at the amount you're paying for the package. Get deluxe if you want to drive the Voyager. Get the free starter pack on the 30th and the Riviera line separately if you don't care about having non-UK routes.
Re reading my post and it probably suggests (erroneously) that I hate electrification. Would just like to say that I don't mind the leccie routes.... it's just that I prefer all things diesel....and steam.
I'm only interested in the British routes, so just going to wait and get the Free starter pack and then buy Riviera Line and Voyager separately. Will probably hold off on those purchases though to see if TSW6 is going to be a bug-ridden mess like TSW5 was/is. Already have plenty of UK routes downloaded so enough to keep me going, albeit my time on the game has dwindled massively in the last few months (got F1 25 to thank for that !)
Thanks. I'm also thinking TWS 6 free starter pack is the way to go initially and then take possible purchases from there. Reading other posts it looks like early release (XBox console in particular) users of 6 are encountering initial bug issues.
Yeah I’d go with TSW6 too, since it’s the edition will release all the latest dlc for it. Diesel fella? Hmm, then the Riviera line will be right up your alley, it’s a shame that it’s suffering from major bugs on the Series X currently, but hopefully by the end of the early access period that will be resolved.
Good taste I play a lot of F1 25 too, as well as Gran Turismo 7 and Forza Horizon 5. F1 25 & GT7 are my serious racers and FH7 is for fun though
