Timetable Crew

A suggestion for a team similar to the preservation crew (as was).

It's clear, I think, that the service mode is the heart of the game, and busy and varied timetables make for the most immersive and enjoyable runs. The timetable updates that have come out have been some of the best improvements to the game, and I'd like to see this made into a regular process.

The steps would be:

a) put the routes in order of when their timetable was last looked at (longest ago to most recent)
b) work through the list, and for each item:
c) think of what rolling stock has since been released that could fit the route
d) think of what other improvements increased performance can allow (more AI at terminal stations etc)
e) if there's nothing to be done, move down to the next item
f) if there are improvements to be made, work on them and release, then
g) move the reviewed route to the bottom of the list
h) move onto the next item
i) keep reviewing routes as they come around

 

Good idea. I hope DTG looks at this

 

That certainly sounds like a good idea.

With what is now coming out from the community, and with some of the community modders now becoming 3rd parties, why not reach out to the rest, and see if they want to work on new timetables and route updates with some form of payment for their time and effort - then hopefully even the console players can enjoy the benefits.

Also, it could be time to bring back the "Preservation" crew, and bring all routes up to a modern standard.

 

Fully support this. As a minimum times should be rounded up to the minute or half minute so you don’t get arrival and departure times with computer generated odd seconds of the minute.

 

great idea, this is the only bit i disagree with- i think timetables should be prioritised based on demand instead. the timetable for, say, ruhr sieg nord was looked at longer ago than brighton main line, but the demand for the bml timetable to be looked at is significantly higher

 

Then the same routes would just end up getting updates and the others wouldn’t like, basically nothing changes

 

This brings subjectivity into the issue though - if routes need less timetable work, which admittedly RSN does (mainly AI at Hagen), it means it can be done more quickly, so shouldn't delay the bigger updates too much.

Also, in parallel to this process, any route could get a new loco DLC pack, similar to what we've seen lately, which would allow it to leapfrog the queue

 

I would say the "Oldest first" is the best direction of travel. From a UK point of view we'd be looking at WCML AI traffic on the Bakerloo plus hopefully more depot runs. Pacers on Tees Valley & Trans-Pennine, HSTs on Cornwall Coast and Class 700s on the BML

It would also increase the value of the older releases which would provide an increase revenue stream for DTG.

 

Class 56 for TVL or Class 25 for NTP… Sign me up!

 

Could Class 25s manage with the gradients getting over the Pennines? I can't remember seeing them on this side of "The Hill".

 

Maybe on Load 6 or otherwise double headed.

 

What we need is a remaster crew; it could look at each route in turn, upgrading the lighting to TOD 4, new timetables and scenery tweaks when needed, as well as train and station announcements

 

Basically, the return of the preservation crew.

Realistically and sadly, if DTG are in a bit of a hole for money following the collapse of Metro Rivals and the extensive layoffs, there’s not going to be much or any funding for that sort of operation even outsourced to a third party.