Just Trains Preston - Crewe. Tsw5 Or Tsw6 Route?

After the revelation that WCML Birmingham - Crewe was a TSW5 route completed in June 2025, but held-back intentionally by DTG for TSW6.

Is Just Trains WCML Preston - Crewe another TSW5 route that has been intentionally held-back by DTG to increase TSW6 sales?

 

Honestly I would say it wasn’t the route they held back, if I remember correctly the route was first announced in july/august (honestly can’t remember)

I think the class 142 for Cardiff is what was held back since that was in April and probably could have came out at the same time as the 170 pack, that pack taking priority due the xc connections to tsw 6

 

I doubt Preston to Crewe was ever going to be ready in time for the lifespan of TSW5. In fact I have a sneaky feeling we won’t see it until early 2026, if only because DTG don’t want to be publishing two sections of the WCML back to back.

 

If the route was ready in June, why didn't anyone spend time testing it between then and October?

 

A question many of us are asking (about the AAB project!).

 

Given how little we’ve seen of Preston to Crewe so far, I doubt it.

 

Considering Preston - Carisle released in Nov and 86/2 in July, I don't think they have the manpower to do a route this quick.

 

Going by BPO and PC, they have annual releases, which i believe have both been November.
I don't think JT are the type of studio to rush these, so let's hope they keep it to the same hight standard of the first two routes.

The 142 TfW has been .mentioned a few times recently, one thing I think has gone quiet is the talk about upgrading BPO with the 86 and 87.

I suppose, I they are bringing another loco in for the next route, it would make sense to wait for that and have a BPO timetable that covers all three.

I'd expect this will be the last Preston based route.

 

But that’s only because it got massively delayed by DTG, it was supposed be around about e94 time I think

 

Nah, Calder Valley Line Preston to Leeds next, hopefully.

 

Nah, combined Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways. That would get the LAMPOIL burning with a Double Fairlie and a Garratt!

 

Vern, have the hallucinations returned again?

Yeah, I ate those mushrooms to. I close my eyes and see a Rivet release without bugs!

 

What sends me to sleep at night is grinding a 100 car MU freight across the snow- capped Rockies. Then I wake up to the cold, harsh dawn of a little toy train, effortlessly and silently gliding through a dull, repetitive lineside forest.