DVTs were to save attaching and detaching locos time, capacity, workload and cost at West Coast destinations. Not for any particular type of loco. The 90s were designed for mixed traffic use which as sectorisation took its hold became less likely for individual locos as a sector would be allocated for each. Hence the first batch being IC, middle batch was Parcels and last the Freight. The locos main aim was to eliminate the 81s/85s and allow some 86s to go East Anglia. Also in 1991 Speedlink freight was abolished so the 90s already had lost some work. If Intercity wanted rid of the 86s and 87s (both still in the heavy maintanence cycles and long term strategies of the time) then many more 90s would have been needed. BR was run on a shoestring and wouldnt have probably ordered the 90s had 81s and 85s been younger and /or East Anglia not been wired....
I still find it strange that such an Intercity outpost like the Anglia mainline become part of Intercity and thus it carried-on using locomotives on such a short mainline. I suppose when planned Norwich and Norfolk were seen as a mostly leisure destination but thanks to high property prices in the South East and "the sparks effect" there was a surge in commuter traffic from Suffolk and Norfolk through the late 80s/90s. I'll have to read Ian Cowley's excellent "Anglia East" book which chronicled the electrification from Colchester to Norwich. Maybe I'll find the reason but you really could make a case for the newly refurbished 309s covering Norwich services, they weren't that much older than the 86s and Mk2s that we had and were perhaps underutilized on the sub-100mph Clacton branch. If East Anglia had been given to Network South East we would surely have seen an AC version of the Class 442 "Flying Pigs" in Norwich. Anyway, sorry, I drifted from Class 90s there.
Don't forget that the Class 93 as part of the Intercity 250 project would have primarily replaced the 87s and some 86s (the ICXC 86 fleet would have been replaced by the 87s or 90s) but John Major's privatisation killed that off.
To be fare all government administrations have never really been pro rail. Apparently the northern powerhouse has been kicked down the road AGAIN!
Looks like the 90 is in the upcoming release section of the new roadmap…although no word from ATS or any new screenshots. Very much looking forward to this, although a real shame it won’t feature on the upcoming Trent Valley section of the WCML (developer ‘politics’ I assume??)
No, apparently nothing sinister. One of the Trent Valley team confirmed that they didn't have access to the 90 when creating and testing the route so the 90 won't appear in the timetable that will come with the route's release. Something will happen in the long term I'm sure, the Class 90 and Trent Valley are meant to be together.
I'm hoping if All Aboard have to update the timetable for their Class 70, they can add the Class 90 then. Subject to the Class 90 being out.
So long as the 90 doesn't break the timetable. I'm sure it'll be fine but computer game development usually throws up some random issues sometimes.
If only the problem were just about adapting. This situation arose due to different matters and different problems. It has no connection to ATS and ANDGames or coding/development topics.
No news is good news. Seems the road map was all about all aboard studios surprise surprise. Let’s see if they are as quick to fix current issues with content already released. Only about a 30 second mention of that. Rather they fixed the issues we currently have on released products than shove out new content for more money and more bugs to be backlogged
An a former organisor of big events, I have experience of problems that usually arise for a multitude of unforeseen reasons and sometimes some forseeable ones too. If the holes in the Swiss Cheese decide it's time to line-up, then disaster is all but certain.
Looking forward to seeing this in action. Hopefully some good runs from MKC to Wembley and then detaching and going into the holding sidings at Wembley Yard.
Should be noted the preview is on Alan's personal Twitch (from the way the post's worded), so not as imminent as normal.
Class 66 says “Please don’t forget about me” . Don’t worry we won’t as you’ll be on another 10 routes in the future. No doubt about that. Anyway I’m really interested in seeing this one. I hope the sounds are really good. And I’m sure they will be. It’s about time we got a new UK freight. Been looong overdue.
Your telling me add to it The Bus releases on console on the 26th $54, WWE 2K26 just came $124 out MLB The Show 26 $90 and Thomas comes out tomorrow. I thought I was in the clear with the Czech route $60, the 145 which I wasn't interested in and Thomas not sure how much in CAD yet. Now 2 more routes and a train may be coming as well. That will probably be at least another $150. This is turning out to be an expensive month.
