Wcml Preston To Crewe Discussion

It's the large amount of unique assets that make JT's routes feel so real.

 

What is the holdup on release?

 

Not sure, but I’d rather it be of top standard like Preston - Carlisle and Blackpool branches. Lots of products have been released lately in such a poor state, I’m sure JT have completed significant QA on this

 

Presumably it's not ready yet.

 

It just feels like it's been coming soon for ages, hence the question.

 

It's the timetable going off some Discord posts, apparently the most complex timetable they've done (and possibly in the whole game) due to all the shunt moves and freight stuff and has taken them a lot lot longer than expected. Last post I saw was that the timetable was now in testing.

 

What do we think is currently the most complex timetable? WCMLoS? Is this another victory lap?

 

And thus stujoy never wore trousers again

 

WCML South has 5 or 6 different timetables now.

If you want confusion, start there.

 

It needs another one, retro!

 

If somebody wants to complete Crewe - London Euston in 1986, I'd throw money at them.

 

Yeah, but it's 158 miles and very complex in places. I can't see it happening. If the southern end of the WCML is ever built in the BR blue era I think they'll split it somewhere - probably Rugby. It's a bit of a shame because lots of trains don't call at Rugby, and TSW routes can't be merged it seems, so it limits the number of trains which would be drivable, but it's difficult to see a way round it.

Mind you, a lot of Anglo-Scottish expresses didn't call at Crewe either, so I'll be interested to see how that's dealt with on Preston-Crewe.

 

It seems it's now possible.
But performance wise I think it would be better to have portals, for example at Milton Keynes. You run on it, loading screen, and then you spawn "on the other side".
Automatic train route hopping.

 

Maybe they'll factor in a crew(e) change so you have to stop!

I'll get my coat...

 

One feature of MSTS that I do miss was the ability to have a rolling start, where you picked up the activity at the start of the route already doing an appropriate speed, showing Crewe post resignalling with the 80mph through lines and not having anything go through at speed does seem a bit of a waste.

 

I loved that on MSTS and also the fact I could place a marker beyond the station where the activity would end and you only had to reach it, not stop.
It was handy on the route I built as it had so many spur lines and I could make activities for them.

 

Well to be honest, it has. It was in the 0-3 month box in the August 2025 roadmap!

I'm just hoping the delay's are due to polishing and a thorough QA so we don't have to wait several months for DTG to authorise the patches...

I have said elsewhere (not sure which thread now as I'm getting old and confused) but it should be possible to have the non-stop services start/stop on the mainline at the bottom of Basford Hall yard, not exactly a massive stretch but at least you'd get a decent run up to go through the centre roads Likewise you could start getting signal checked and then pegged at south-BH where the run ends. I'd like to think it is much more logical than just having everything starting/stopping at Crewe for crew changes.

 

So a new month is upon us, I presume the May Roadmap will be next week rather than this week, do we reckon they will announce the route's release this month?

My thoughts as to NO would be that TSTV hasn't been doing videos showcasing parts of the route yet like they did with the previous two JT routes (which they were also involved in), unless those previews start coming in a week or so I'd say it's still further down the line.

My thoughts as to YES are that I am on leave in the middle of this month, returning on the 17th so can easily see JT releasing it on 19th for s*#*ts and giggles, well less that and just how whenever they've released something for TSW it's always come the day after I return from leave...

Either way I am sure we will get some more screenshots to look at next week

 

Roadmap is on the 5th

 

Really? That's good, I was expecting it be a week later given the bank holiday weekend

 

Yep

 

I find it interesting JD is back on stream for this one! Does that mean there is some big admin/corporate stuff going on with all of the things over the last few weeks? Fingers crossed for a few leaks!

 

Thinking of buying this route or Midland Main Line, which one should I buy?

 

Personally I'd wait for Preston - Crewe as that floats my boat and seems to have quite a lot packed in, but if you prefer more modern routes MML may be the way forward.

 

Thanks for your advice! Probably going to buy Preston - Crewe but gonna sleep on it.

 

Midland is a good route, but lacks the extra detail JT have provided in their last two routes. Also depends on which era you prefer of course!.

 

How long is this route thanks.

 

MML is showing its age (a bit) and is really quite short plus a few rough edges with the scenery. Preston to Crewe won't be as long as Shap of course but still a fairly substantial run. However, MML does have one bonus in the VP185 engine HST which, while not the grail of a Valenta, sounds a helluva lot nicer than the muffled MTU HST's. Probably worth it in a sale but not full price.

 

Between Preston and Crewe stations - 48-51 miles, about the rest of the lines - I don't know)

 

To be honest I am hoping it's JT who cover the Valenta HST (if it were to ever appear in the game). I'm sure they would source some great audio from AP and rework the physics to be much more realistic like in the new Valenta/MTU/VPEP pack. Would assume all in BR Blue/Intercity as well, one can hope!!!

 

Just sharing here from what I posted in another thread.

I would speculate that we are getting very close to it now seeing as the number of development updates has approached the same as the other two JT routes before they released. For reference Blackpool Branches and WCML Shap both had 7 before release, and Preston - Crewe is currently sitting on 6. If the pattern is to be followed then that would imply one more update coinciding as usual with the next roadmap on Tuesday, followed by release somewhere in the following month.

And since I've got those resources up despite the removal of the BPO development page (thank you Wayback Machine), and since it's late at night and I'm a little bored and looking for something to do, here's a reminder of what each article in those pages was:

Blackpool Branches:
1 - 22/08/23: Initial intro
2 - 04/09/23: Stations
3 - 19/09/23: Timetable
4 - 03/10/23: Landmarks
5 - 17/10/23: Signalboxes & trackside details
6 - 31/10/23: Class 08 + 47 & Coaches + Wagons updates
7 - 07/11/23: Class 142

WCML Over Shap:
1 - 21/08/24: Initial intro
2 - 11/09/24: Stations
3 - 25/09/24: Timetable
4 - 17/10/24: The Morecambe branch
5 - 23/10/24: Carlisle & Surrounding industry
6 - 06/11/24: Class 08 + 47 + 101 & Coaches + Wagons updates
7 - 13/11/24: Class 87 & MK3s

WCML Crewe - Preston:
1 - 28/08/25: Initial intro
2 - 28/10/25: Class 47/3
3 - 10/02/26: Freight & MGR operations
4 - 09/03/26: Class 20
5 - 27/03/26: Crewe
6 - 07/04/26: Warrington
7 - 05/05/26?: I assume it will be the 86/4 & MK2D coaches

Can't help but also notice how it looks as though Crewe - Preston was about to start on the exact same timings as the last two routes, then came to a sudden delay before picking up regular pacing from February onwards. I wonder what happened there? Split development with early work on Cumbrian Coast maybe?

 

Over sharp technically had 8 since the last update was a 5 day delay due to a bug, not sure if they only posted in on the roadmap or if they did both

 

That would be probably one that was only on DTG's pages, I was going on the ones listed on Just Trains' own website.

 

Hope we get the official route map soon, fascinated to know exactly what is included. Really hope the Deepdale branch is included (think it’s been mentioned) or at least Preston docks.

 

One thing missing from those lists is the actual release date after the last reveal!

 

95% certain that the deepdale branch was included from some of the earlier road maps but no preston docks