Hello all, If you've already seen my previous suggestion for the introduction to more South Coast routes including the introduction of the SWML: Weymouth - Southampton you will also know that Southampton is a major hub for other routes including the West Coastway Line (Southampton - Brighton), Portsmouth Branchline (Southampton - Portsmouth) & Wessex Mainline (Southampton - Bristol Temple Meads). In this proposal I'm mainly focusing on the West Coast Mainline and it's importance to Train Sim World. An Introduction to the West Coastway Line? The West Coastway Line between Southampton Central and Brighton is one of southern England’s great shoreline railways, stitching together harbours, seaside towns, and busy regional centres along the English Channel. Running for roughly 87 miles, the route curves east–west across Hampshire and West Sussex, rarely straying far from the sea. Passengers glimpse marinas, tidal inlets, chalk hills, and long promenades, giving the line a constantly shifting coastal backdrop that feels purpose built for a rail simulator. Passenger services are primarily operated by Southern and South Western Railway. Trains range from all-stations coastal stoppers to longer semi-fast services linking Brighton, Portsmouth, and Southampton. The line also sees freight movements to and from the Port of Southampton, adding operational variety. Because the route is fully electrified with the 750V DC third rail system, the dominant rolling stock consists of modern Southern Class 377 Electrostars, alongside South Western Railway Class 444 and 450 Desiro units on the western section. This mix of stopping patterns, junction traffic, and contrasting train types makes the Southampton to Brighton corridor an ideal candidate for a richly layered Train Sim World expansion, combining dense timetables, coastal scenery, and varied operational gameplay in one continuous seaside main line. So why would the West Coastway Line be beneficial for Train Sim World Gameplay? For Train Sim World gameplay, the West Coastway Line would transform Brighton from a coastal terminus into a true network hub, linking west toward Portsmouth and Southampton while London-bound services connect via Arundel rather than directly up the Brighton Main Line. This opens the door for immersive route hopping at shared stations, where players could step between this line and other in-game routes at major hubs like Brighton, Barnham, Havant, and Southampton Central. The result is a more living, interconnected railway with layered AI, varied service patterns, and the feeling of operating within a much wider Southern network rather than an isolated corridor. What are the landmarks on the West Coastway Line? Arundel Castle (As seen from the West Coastway Line): Spinnaker Tower, Portsmouth (Seen from the Quays facing Portsmouth Hbr Station): What are the stations on the route? Southampton - Portsmouth Section (SWR): 16 Total Stops (incl. Southampton Ctl) St Denys, Bitterne, Woolston, Sholing, Netley, Hamble, Bursledon, Swanwick, Fareham, Portchester, Cosham, Hilsea, Fratton, Portsmouth & S'Sea and Portsmouth Hbr. West Coastway (Southern): 37 Total Stops (incl. Southampton Ctl + Southampton - Cosham). Bedhampton, Havant, Warblington, Emsworth, Southbourne, Nutbourne, Bosham, Fishbourne, Chichester, Barnham, Ford, Angmering, Goring-by-Sea, Durrington-on-Sea, West Worthing, Worthing, East Worthing, Lancing, Shoreham-by-Sea, Southwick, Fishersgate, Portslade, Aldrington, Hove & Brighton. Branch Stations: 2 Stops Bognor Regis (via Barnham) Littlehampton (via Ford) What routes will be available? Southampton - Brighton (Stopper) Southampton - Brighton (Semi-Fast) Southampton - Portsmouth (Stopper) Portsmouth - Littlehampton (Stopper) Southampton - London Victoria (AI - Past Ford) What rolling stock will be available? Class 377 Electrostar Class 450 Desiro EMU Class 444 Desiro EMU (Portsmouth - Havant only AI-Onwards) Class 166 DMU (GWR)(Southampton - Portsmouth Section only) Class 158 Sprinter (GWR)(Southampton - Portsmouth Section only) So do we think that the WCL would be a positive addition to the game?
I'd enjoy this! They have most of the rolling stock needed already. I really want this route as I personally live on it
It would be nice to see the South West / South Coast get more love for sure - and the Electrostars are so relaxing to drive on these types of routes - same with the Desiros!
That was my main goal - I used to live on the SWML but frequently travelled the West Coastway / Wessex Main Line for days out and I thought it would make a nice addition to the game!
I would love to have a route like this just from having GWR and southern as licensed operators which we already have in game makes it so much easier for developers to create. Also I really like that you emphasized the full length and just by going off the beat and path to Portsmouth really adds that exploration and "almost feels like a separate route" in one. Like how we did in WCMLS. Not only that it's a perfect opportunity to use this line as a mainline with small little branch lines, which isn't asking way too much for developers. Bognor Regis & Littlehampton are very short distances too just have a different destination on each run would be so fun, I would love love thi route, a GWR sprinter would be nice too see since we've had the license renewed with GWR. SWR may have to be unbranded, however I'm not too sure what that is like now since it's gone back into public ownership with the government. But it'll be great to see another coastal route the potential of railtours - Take my money!
This would be a perfect route to do set in the final years of slam-door operation. You could have a class 421 4-CIG in both Southern, ex-Connex and South West Trains liveries, and there'd be so much more rolling stock you could include as well. South West Trains used to run class 450s and 159s to Brighton in this era, and itd also be a perfect opportunity to release a class 377 with improved sounds. A Wessex Trains class 150 wouldn't go amiss as they used to run to Brighton as well.
haha, Desiros are MOSTLY chill ... until you get to a terminus or stuff like that... thats the unit where I have learned that even a chill system like AWS/TPWS can pull a PZB on you (tho 805 also can be rather itchy when approaching terminus at Euston)
Even having SWR unbranded it would still make a great addition in my honest opinion - with all the existing licensing as previously mentioned it makes the development process a lot less complex with a variation in services instead of only focusing on one aspect (e.g. WCML) where it pans out to multiple operators rather than just the one or two. The full length for the route would be brilliant (and doable in this case) as compared to route lengths such as the WCML etc. it's less overall distance covered in game that we've seen implemented and the branch lines really give it the extra feel with openings to new expansions in the future (which I'll most likely be putting out more route suggestions soon for this) but if we saw a few extra southern routes I wouldn't mind spending a bit more to get it!
I fully agree with you on this one - I mainly used the 2024 model structure initially as a base idea but I keep forgetting that the initial usage of the desiros began in 2003 / 2004 and would open up new rolling stock like you mentioned - along with new routing opportunities!
See I haven't had many issues with Desiros in simulation yet - with the Hitachi IETs I understand fully they're a pain sometimes
it wasnt an issue, just that most of in-game locos/MUs that are for UK content dont have AWS/TPWS as particularly sensitive to speed limits when it comes to red signals or termini... with Desiros I learned to really slow down for those yellows on approach and really really slow down when nearing final station's platform... with 805 I was approaching final like 200 yd or so at around 20 mph, with plenty to spare to brake, but got penalty brakes... so next time I gradually slowed down until 5mph shortly before buffer, which was fine (which is kinda hilarious when I recall a push-pull dosto consist, barrelling kinda fast towards buffer at Wien Franz Josefs Bahnhof, and still braking just fine )
I forgot the class 450's went to Brighton! Also, when SWT had the 2-car class 170. Wasn't the 450's doing Brighton to Basingstoke services or Bournemouth? But I really, really hope they make this route. The have the BML and East Coastway.... I mean, it only makes sense this route gets made
I think it was Brighton to Basingstoke on 450s, and there were also some services to Paignton or Reading that used 159s or 170s.
I just noticed that people on this forum are very fond of coasts and rivers, as if it were a water obsession instead of a rail obsession with trains.
