What Types Of Uk Routes Do You Like?

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by MrSouthernDriver, May 11, 2026.

?
  1. 1 - BR Diesel Era Routes

    27.5%
  2. 2 - BR Electric Routes

    14.3%
  3. 3 - Modern Diesel Routes

    5.5%
  4. 4 - Modern Electric Routes

    37.4%
  5. Rural Routes in the Countryside

    4.4%
  6. Urban Routes set around Major Cities

    11.0%
  1. MrSouthernDriver

    MrSouthernDriver Well-Known Member

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    Thought I would create this as I’m curious on what people prefer with a UK route
     
  2. MJCKP

    MJCKP Well-Known Member

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    In general I would say BR diesel, although there are various routes I would like to see that aren't that. For example:

    • A South East route in BR era - I would like to see some BR electric third rail trains
    • Chiltern - I would prefer modern era so we can get modern loco hauled trains (class 68)
    • C2C - I would prefer modern era because you would see HS1 (with the Rainham branch)
    • ECML - either BR era with Deltics, or modern era with class 91
    It would also be cool to see some more steam era routes
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2026
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  3. ben#1349

    ben#1349 Well-Known Member

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    I like anything modern but I've chosen Modern Electric as I couldn't choose more than one
     
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  4. historicalduck7

    historicalduck7 Well-Known Member

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    the BR routes are good but my go to is modern, as that’s what i’ve grown up with. i don’t have a set preference of high speed or commuter though, it changes month by month depending on what i feel like driving
     
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  5. star#5823

    star#5823 Well-Known Member

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    Both br, trains were actually interesting back then
     
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  6. eMAyTeeTee

    eMAyTeeTee Well-Known Member

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    Honestly, I just like all UK routes
     
  7. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    No brainer for me - Classic BR Diesel (though classic electric is a close second). Mid to late 70’s ideal, but early to mid eighties at a pinch. Nothing finer than sitting in the front coach of a Waterloo to Exeter train, with a Class 50 (or 33) blasting through Semley then later up Honiton Bank. Or a Class 26 on the 0615 Inverness to Wick/Thurso, Load 8 including 4 BG’s stuffed to the gunwales with mail, newspapers and parcels. The simple pleasure of a Class 207 Thumper heading to or from Uckfield or a Class 120 DMU on the Central Wales line or heading across to Cambridge on the 1528 from New Street.

    Other than the main lines, most routes also still largely laid with jointed track, before the BR then Railtrack/NR obsession with putting CWR on every little branch line!
     
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  8. Crosstie

    Crosstie Well-Known Member

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    Definitely BR loco hauled diesel, with 1st and 2nd generation DMU's a close second. BR era slam door electrics are OK
    You just can't make a modern electric train noisy or dirty enough for me.
    And all those pretty colors? Ugh.
     
    Last edited: May 11, 2026
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  9. jarryd7470

    jarryd7470 Member

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    Absolutely love the BR era. Was before my time but I have spent many hours watching videos from the Diesel & Electrics of the 80's and 90's (thanks to those who had the foresight to capture such an amazing period). Preston/Carlisle is my favourite route in the game and I play it more than any other by some distance.

    Having watched a video recently on Exeter in the late 80's I would love it if they took the current Exeter/Plymouth route and took it back in time to the late 80's. Could have class 47/50s running cross country trains, and HST sets between Penzance and Paddington. Maybe even a little extension to Exeter central to quickly do a Class 50 Waterloo service. Mix of BR Blue, Intercity & NSE.

    But yeah, being set between the 70s and early 90s is my preference. Especially loco hauled passenger trains
     
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  10. ElBriseto

    ElBriseto Well-Known Member

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    It's a shame we can't choose multiple answers because I like modern routes whether it's diesel (you often have to pay attention to a stop, I like that) or electric (for speeeed) :D
     
  11. GWRKingClass

    GWRKingClass Well-Known Member

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    Could have just have easily chosen BR Diesel, but with BR Electric you can have the best of both worlds often with some diesel workings. Plus, it offers an experience which is almost impossible now in real life, given how few BR era EMUs are in running condition now, and only a smattering of AC locos in running order.
     
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  12. MadduckUK

    MadduckUK Active Member

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    WCMLoS comes with three diesels and an electric in the box, is that an electric or a diesel route?
     
  13. Concorde9289

    Concorde9289 Well-Known Member

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    In general I probably much prefer electric, though era is a bit more complicated. I'd love to see some slam-door EMUs but probably in an early privatisation setting (though NSE would be amazing). However I do love the electrostars and desiros which are more on the modern side. But then again, those ultra-modern units like the 710 and 720 I find quite boring.
     
  14. ben#1349

    ben#1349 Well-Known Member

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    I'd say Electric as the primary traction is the 87 and 86. and the route is electrified
     
  15. spikeyorks

    spikeyorks Well-Known Member

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    Ones where the developers have given thought to Scenario Creation and have provided plenty of route markers, portals and paths.
    That way it is really easy to open up extra platforms and sidings and to use many items of rolling stock on each line.
    Unfortunately most choose not to do this. :(

    However once a route is 'improved / modded' then it is possible to have a lot of fun with all of them.
    So currently am enjoying Mildmay. (Which is, of course, an urban route) :)
    Scenarios - Proof Of Concept - Mildmay
     
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  16. gwrpat#3475

    gwrpat#3475 Active Member

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    As an older kid (12-15) I lived close to the Waterloo line in the early 70s so it was Warships, Westerns, Hymeks, Brush 4 and emus. Not the bird type.

    As a new TSW player the GWR routes are good.. but I really like the modern trains I ride on now ..
     
  17. Wivenswold

    Wivenswold Well-Known Member

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    It's a shame the era and traction type are in the same poll as the scenery aspect.
    If that was a separate vote it would be for "mixture of urban and countryside" because there's nothing more liberating than opening up the throttle as you leave the busy urban part of the route behind. Likewise the thrill of driving on yellows as you approach the busier urban areas.
     
  18. MadduckUK

    MadduckUK Active Member

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    You can get to all passenger terminus in the timetable in the 101, but not with the 87, and while the 87 can go from Preston to Carlisle all the fun interesting off-piste freight stuff is with the 47, as well as going Preston to Carlisle.
     
  19. Double Yellow

    Double Yellow Well-Known Member

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    Easily modern EMU and DMU for me, It’s what I’m familiar with, can relate to and enjoy the most. Routes relating to those.
    My go to for fast intercity services is using the Pendolino or the 805. For commuter, slower journey times I do love a desiro (Class 700 or 380) the sounds are great. For a louder thudding, deafening experience I use the 158, 165/166, 170 or the Voyager.
    There’s so many great locos to pick from in the game you can really be spoilt for choice most of the time.
     
  20. ben#1349

    ben#1349 Well-Known Member

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    I get that, but in reference to whether it's a BR Diesal or BR Electric route I'd call it electric. As its primary focus in the Electrified line and new Loco(s). Its also the only one that exists as far as I Know (until Preston Crewe)
     
  21. Wivenswold

    Wivenswold Well-Known Member

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    As a general rule we tend to have a preference for the trains we grew-up with. Though I'd say I'm more of an area-specific rather than era-specific type of rail enthusiast.
     
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  22. mortal1234

    mortal1234 Well-Known Member

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    For me it’s Rural Countryside routes. Scenery is huge for me. I also love diesels over modern electric trains that are too easy to drive. There’s no learning curve like old fashioned Diesels tend to have. I think this puts many younger people off. They just want to drive something easy and not have to sit and learn… To each their own though.
     
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  23. foggy#2817

    foggy#2817 Well-Known Member

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    Modern electric, with a slight preference for the rural stuff (recently East Coastway and Medway Valley)
     
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  24. Gianluca

    Gianluca Well-Known Member

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    Modern era both diesel and electric
     
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  25. Hunslet

    Hunslet Member

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    BR Blue era diesel and electric, loco hauled or units... teenager in the 1970's ;)
     
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  26. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

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    I'm gonna second.. or third.. or fourth? Whatever you call it. I agree that older diesels on rural routes are the best combo to me. Unfortunately, there was only rural OR diesel in the poll. I think they tend to go hand in hand (many rural routes would be diesel only in that era) so really you have an interesting 40/40 split between modern electric urban and diesel BR rural fans.
    I just find that interesting.
    We kind of see that in the game with the Shap/TVL/etc and the ECML/WCMLS, etc.
    Then of course there's the 20% overlap for say ECW.
    Sort of rural, sort of modern, sort of electric, sort of diesel.
     
  27. samuelpower2001

    samuelpower2001 Well-Known Member

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    Rural mostly mixed with urban
     
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  28. opark

    opark Well-Known Member

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    Modern Diesel; love CCN, the upcoming TVB, MML etc.
     
  29. locobilly

    locobilly Well-Known Member

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    We are way overdue a BR era third rail electric route with some nice old slam doors. Hard to say otherwise when the actual number of these routes in game is a big fat 0.
     
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  30. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

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    I dunno about third rail, but anything with Mk 1 or Mk 2 stock is "slam door" isn't it?
    I think you could include a lot of the DMU "slam doors" on existing routes.
    Weren't some even seen around until the late 2010s? So They'd even fit a couple of the modern routes too.
    Isn't the 101 a slam-door?
    The third-rail thing though.... that combo I don't see in game.
    Could you open a thread to get suggestions on what the first one in game should be?
     
  31. warpshell

    warpshell Well-Known Member

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    I would say, sometimes it depends on what I feel in the mood to drive. Although I am working to complete UK timetables in release order, I can sometimes get to pick either diesel or electric, passenger or freight, nice to get a variety.
     

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