Chicago is one of the busiest and most iconic railroad hubs in North America, and I believe a Metra route would be a perfect addition to Train Sim World 7. Metra offers something for everyone: Heavy commuter traffic with frequent stops and busy timetables. A huge variety of locomotives and rolling stock, including the iconic Metra MP36PH-3S, F40PH locomotives, and bi-level gallery cars. Complex operations around downtown Chicago and major terminals such as Chicago Union Station. Challenging signaling, dense traffic, and realistic dispatching opportunities. Urban, suburban, and industrial scenery all on the same route. A route such as the BNSF Line between Chicago and Aurora, the Milwaukee District lines, or the Rock Island District would provide a unique commuter rail experience unlike anything currently available in TSW.
Think there’s still licensing issues. And to be honest… 1. This should have been placed in Suggestions and, 2. Ask the thousands of TSW customers what routes they think should be in TSW7 and everyone will offer up their own choice with reasons why it should be in the game. I want to see Inverness to Wick in 1978, but accept it’s never going to happen!
Chicago would be really nice but don’t expect DTG to be the team to make it. More chance of a third party doing it. And as mentioned above there’s also licensing too…
All useless prospects, since it's practically already July, and everything that is included in the next possible TSW (or whatever it will be) , has already been decided when we were still wearing heavy sweaters...
Agreed on almost all of that (not fussed about Wick!). And if I see one more AI-written suggestion promising "a unique [whatever] rail experience unlike anything currently available in TSW" I may scream.
I previously suggested the Chicago L, as it does offer quite a mix of journey with there being the elevated section as well as ground level and even underground level. I do believe however that for some reason the CTA will not allow licensing, it doesn't mean the route can't be made but it'd have to be done with both fudged branding and also no inside access/assistance to route/train building. This would evidently be an issue for the METRA too :/
I do believe the "El" featured in one of those Japanese style video clip based sims some years ago so there is precedent for getting permission (possibly).
They released the game, but no idea whether they got a license. IIRC, that was roughly the southern half of the Brown Line, starting at Fullerton and going to and around the Loop, then returning to Fullerton. Downside is, the north half not represented gives a nice variety of scenery as it goes through more residential neighborhoods and over parks and the Chicago River, even descending to street level for the last mile or so before the terminal at Kimball. If I were entertaining a guest who wanted to go on a "sample" CTA el ride, I'd recommend that route as offering a nice showcase of the city. (I'd also suggest it as DTG's starter CTA route if they got the license. )
I'd recommend the CTA Connections YouTube channel, it has end to end cab rides of all of the lines and branches https://www.youtube.com/@CTAConnections
Thank you, but as a native, I can do that myself anytime I like. Though granted, like every big city, there are neighborhoods that are safer traveled through virtually than in person.
Haha I hear you, I went to Chicago last year for my 40th and loved it, got my first US train ride in I guess having taken the Green Line down to the museum and back It was alright on there given it was daytime but there was a brief moment of worry when some guy kept walking between the cars and another guy shouted at him.
If we get Chicago, we should get the BNSF Line (aka: The Racetrack) because we'd get a mix of freight, commuter, regional, and long-distance passenger trains. We could get a BN or CB&Q version of the Racetrack too, if DTG doesn't get licensing rights. Another couple of Chicago area routes we need would be the Milwaukee Road (preferably) or Metra/CP/CPKC Chicago-Milwaukee line.
Slightly OT but I recall a few years back on a Fly Drive holiday from the UK, coming back into LA to drop the car off before flying home. Rather than use the freeway, figured we would just stay on the normal road as that passed close to the turn off for Alamo. That got pretty gnarly, like something from CJ’s neighbourhood in GTA SA. Mind I did read the Alamo car hire location for LAX is only a short step from “gangland”. Another time we decided to go for a walk in Visalia of all places. By the motel and restaurant row it was fine but we walked over a railroad grade crossing and it really was, the other side of the tracks. Then again, there are parts of Swindon here in the UK I wouldn’t want to walk around after dark. Of course it does raise an interesting tangential point about the safety of DTG staff or delegated representatives if they go out on site to research the prototype, particularly carrying expensive cameras and recording equipment. I suspect this is one of the factors behind the reluctance to do a NYC Subway route, not just MTA - in that the operator cannot guarantee their personal safety presumably unless accompanied by an (expensive) security detail.
