DTG, I'm posting this to request a remaster of the Brighton Main Line DLC (formerly London Commuter). The reasons I think the route needs a remaster is because there are many bugs, like power not working, and there are many buildings missing in places like East Croydon and London Victoria. I think there is a major missed oppurtunity.
I think a remaster would be great. Plus, we can hopefully get the class 700 included if they ever done a remaster. But it'll only be the 8 car variant but would still be nice.
Cards on the table, I'm on PC so have a Class 700 timetable already so it affects what I'm about to say. Given the lack of big differences between the BML as it was released and how the line looked 20 years ago, I'd much prefer a backdated version that introduces two new types of EMU to TSW. Namely the Class 319 on Thameslink services and a transition timetable based in 2005 with Southern duties shared between the then new Class 377s alongside the aging slam-door Class 423s. Alternatively one that had 319s and 377s with 455s doing the suburban services. And if anyone wants to recreate the 5-BEL/Class 403s for railtours I'll love you forever.
I would second that for 700s, maybe include the London overground trains. Hopefully they could open up the depots, Streatham Hill & Norwood Junction stations like they did for GWE Westbourne Park.
You and me both. This is easily in the top 3 most requested remasters/remakes in the game. Add a couple branch lines, especially from London Blackfriars so the Class 700 has some relevance. We’d have two major terminus’s to start and end our routes with Brighton being the main focus.
Just think DTG are scared LOVEless of this route which is why they never went back in and fixed many of the errors in the first place!
Went back and played this for the first time in a while just now. And my opinion remains the same it has for a while. It really needs a remaster and a timetable revamp. Every time a new route or remastered one appears you get used to a new look, so all older route look even more dated when you go back to them. It could be so much better, not just with a 700 added. Clapham Junction has always been the big let-down with the lack of AI traffic on the SWR/London Overground lines. But now you can add in the 378 as AI and get the 700 faked up as a 707 and 350 to 450. As for the Clapham junction station model, it could have been so much better than it is.
There would be so much potential for a remaster, although I'm not sure how consoles would cope with the vast potential amount of extra playable and AI services it could have which could include: - Southern branded Class 387's (or for 2026 BML, use some of the upcoming C2C inspired 387's and unbranded ex GX 387's in mixed formations, the C2C inspired ones could also double as Thameslink ones from prior to the 700's entering service depending on when a potential timetable could be set). - Thameslink Class 700 services between Three Bridges and East Croydon via Redhill, Brighton to East Croydon, use of the Thameslink depot at Three Bridges (and as static AI) or some static at Brighton and Preston Park. Some services also run to East Grinstead in peak hours Monday to Friday. - Southern Class 171's can replace the 313 Selhurst Depot to Brighton services on the existing London Commuter timetable, as well as AI between Selhurst Depot and South Croydon and at Brighton, should a remaster match the new ECW timetable. - London Overground Class 378 AI at Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and the lines around the junctions at Selhurst. - GWR Class 150 AI at Brighton along with the existing 166 AI, as they occasionally worked the FGW/GWR services along the West Coast Way line (could also appear on ECW). - EMT Class 158 AI at Clapham Junction (to simulate the SWT versions). Should a GWR variant be released, can be AI at Brighton along with the 166 and 150 for GWR services. - Class 37 Europhoenix stock movements (Southern/GX 387's to/from Brighton, 313's for scrapping from Brighton). - Steam Railtours - Steam has several options: Reigate to London for the Surrey Hill circulars, Three Bridges to Preston Park (Locomotive Services Limited and Railway Touring Company operate tours on this section), Victoria to Haywards Heath (or to Wivelsfield and continued from Lewes to Eastbourne on ECW) again via RTC tours, albeit not accessible from it's traditional platform currently due to the regular line to Clapham not being able to be used from Platform 2 at Victoria in game). Also possible LE movements to/from South Croydon to simulate visitors to the Bluebell Railway. Diesel railtours (can sync up with the ECW ones) and potential LE movements to South Croydon (again Bluebell Railway visitors). - South Eastern Class 395 (one once ran a charity railtour across parts of Sussex so parts of it could be simulated here and on ECW). - RHTT's, although would be more suited to a Class 73 if it came to the game. - Measurement Train - again more suited to the Class 73, although Class 153's have been used in more recent years which are in game. Would be based on the one from Riviera Line using Mk2 stock from the Class 86 add on. Not era accurate, but the Class 220 operated Cross Country services until late 2008 to Brighton from Manchester. Not sure if a reskinned Class 350 could be subbed in as AI at Clapham Junction or not due to not being 3rd rail operated unlike the real world Class 450. My biggest issue with the route is the Gatwick to Brighton section, which really needs some more accurate polishing, my local station Haywards Heath is missing it's footbridge, but has the car park it's attached to modelled for example, even though they were completed at the same time in real life several years before the route was released in TSW, as well as all the overbridges having streetlights on them on this section. Keymer Junction could also do with a more accurate interpretation which shouldn't be too difficult with existing assets.
Could run some of the stations rather than Ai, Queentown Road - Clapham Junction Wandsworth Road Streatham Hill Streatham Norwood Junction (Already Mentioned) wouldn't extend further out. All included in the Route Map currently. Unsure what services these would bring. But even for 10 - 15 mins or lees not bad to have in game. We've seen mutiple times done. London Bridge is a bit far from Victoria has Waterloo is inbetween. Blackfrairs. Aren't Class 700s been layered in at Brighton on ECW. I did think the Wivelsfield - Plumpton - Cooksbridge - Lewes (17 min journey time) could have been added but sure it shouldn't. Think we've lost this section in TSW sadly. Plus Northampton Loop on Trent Valley. Great suggestion by the way.
Ignoring the old TOD lighting, even a few trains can make Clapham Junction look a little more realistic that the ghost town it currently is.
Plus you have Hove station / London Road (Brighton) to layer in. Albeit London Rd available on ECW too.
And the 2 stops after purely on the tattenham corner route and Clapham high street would be good for South Eastern and London Overground
I have some 66 layers for freights like ardingly and Newhaven marine on PS5. But the game lowers the speed limits to considerably less than what they are? So if you go past a 60mph board the game expects you to do 40 max (example) and the layers are practically unenjoyable Does need looking at again
I didn't see these on the route current, has I am sure its a case of opening the above stations up 1st in a remaster. Could mistaken. Would it also make sense to join other add ons such has WCML South & ECW. Ie section of route between Harlesden (would need extending to Start / End here) to East Croydon. For Southern Route at Watford. Plus the Wivelsfield section that people mentioned previously. But remember a remaster isn't tend to be extensions. More of scenery, improved stock, bringing it up to current standard like GWE as an example.
It's a good point and to be honest, I'd just be happy with scenery update and Thameslink services. I think that would still be a popular move especially if they can make a timetable that works on consoles. But I also seem to recall lots of talk about how fragile this route is, the Class 700 timetable mod on PC can get quite laggy at the London end.
Like others have said, you can do a lot without doing too much. There’s an abundance of relevant stock now that can layer in, there’s areas that are modelled that could be finally opened up, there’s Southern and TfL branded signage possible, there’s all the new TSW5/6 features like suspension, announcements and rail singing. Throw in a ‘farewell pack’ for a Class 319 and it might just be perfect. Also, I agree that it would be hard to return to with the standard of remasters we’re seeing now. Even more so when the Medway Valley route drops.
