Nah, they won't do anything with BML, sadly. It will probably be an route in the Northern region, as lots of people request routes without London and not WCML.
Nothing modern. Unless it was something like Doncaster through Leeds to Skipton where we get the one handle EMU as standard but they throw in the Class 91 and Mark 4's as the extra. But it needs to be sufficiently different particularly if the route and main train are uninspiring, to part with that £70.
Quite. 91 and Mk4s is probably the only thing left on the table and would enable another piece of ECML (maybe KGX - PBO?) to be done (a relief after so much WCML!), but then DTG will have really run out of road on Deluxe options after that…
Unless they go back to classic diesel, in which case several options available - Sulzer Type 2, Hymek, Warship, Teddy Bear, Clayton, Class 50, Deltic, Class 56, Class 60 etc...
They're not in service yet but Ill definitely be one of the first pax to see what they're like. I'm just glad they're not going with the Stadler FLIRT like NI is planning to.
There's two home made routes out there for tsc (one was made a while ago by someone with good connections in company) The other was half made by same but finished by his son and a few others. You need an annoying assortment of freeware and payware stuff to get all the assets to run but it can look quite flattering if you have em all. There's a few operational scenarios and you can do a good bit with the scenario/route editors. I personally would spout Dublin Heuston - Portlaoise as a good candidate. 50 miles total. On the down, you start off with 4 running lines so the ten footers can get their fix. Drops to 2 lines after 7 miles ISH and most stations are spaced roughly 7 miles apart. Mostly 100mph with a pair of drops to 80. Traincare depot on the Portlaoise end which houses most of the 60+ strong DMU fleet made by Hyundai Rotem. There's some GM* Locos and DVT Setup for cork runs that mostly call at portlaoise. Vibe is a bit like GWE but Irish now that I think about it Inchicore railway works in the throat of Heuston. Option for major branch expansions with a 100mph single line branch and a grueling 40mph ISH branch down south. It mixes us and UK safety systems also in a weird and quite useful way. A boy can dream lol. Anyway no more rant for me lol. I got people talking about it and that was my aim to start with haha.
Think someone also had a crack at the Valentia Harbour branch as freeware, I might even have an early version on DVD disc somewhere. Beautiful, scenic route but sadly far too remote and sparse traffic levels to make it into TSW as payware DLC.
Class 91 will be the premium loco on the ECML Doncaster or York to Newcastle core route if I was to guess.
For the record, I think it's time to bring up in here that, based off of folks who were involved within many of the routes that he was involved in, most of what his work consisted of was providing reference material for the signals, and much less involved with the signal programming. With or without Brandon's input on a route's signals wouldn't change anything since the core framework for the signals is still very much buggy, programming ACSES on routes that had it was mostly out of his control. This discourse that he is literally the savior of the US content base, while debatable in some small instances since he did help with a good portion of scenery objects on a couple of the routes he was involved in, unfortunately got out of hand since there was only one side of the story being told after he had gotten kicked from the TSW beta team (this was discourse that I had regrettably contributed due to me not understanding both sides of the story). We're probably better off without him after his statements regarding the dev team being laid off from the Metro-Rivals project a few months ago: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/dtg-direct-summer-2026.99013/#post-1139489 I think you'll be fine...
After watching the TSS summation YT clip other than Berlin S Bahn, none of the German routes he speculated on would be of interest. He also mentioned Koln to Frankfurt a couple of times, forgetting that Link Rheinstrecke already occupies the centre portion in a slightly historical setting. So, while an extension more likely to Koln is possible, I think we can pretty much scrub that one. I didn’t really share his enthusiasm for the possible LIRR extension and more NEC leaves me cold. It’s either got to be NYC Subway or something completely different. For the UK, not sure where Glasgow to Aberdeen came from, far too long for a TSW route. Glasgow to Perth could be a possibility I suppose, but a kick in the teeth for those of us who want to see it and any extension towards Inverness in the classic diesel era. Otherwise it does look as if Leeds Local Network is favourite given the 333 and the excitement of the OG developer of the 158 that was shown. Could that also mean we are off to Carlisle from Skipton?
I'm still on the fence with the UK route, I don't know if the one that has been 'leaked' will be a flagship route or whether a third party is developing it. I also wonder if the US route will be Miami/Florida based as a nod to GTA6s release... Less then a week to go and find out for sure. My enthusiasm is still the lowest it's been since the annual announcements... I'm hoping DTG throw us a bone to get our hopes up and get our enthusiasm pumping. Not a leak of content as such, but rather some reassurance with the optimisation and performance of the upcoming content.
It seems like a weird choice for an "annual release" sort of route, a bit niche as some others have said. I think the fact the class 333 stuff was under "UK Content Pack" or something kinda confirms it's the main route, but indeed very strange. Then again this time last year when all the rumours were about Riviera, I didn't think that would be the actual route, I thought it would be a modern day GWML to Oxford.
Personally I just don’t see how the 333 and 158 route being shown can possibly be a contender for a big shout out flagship route. I’m sure it’s nice and busy and has modern traction blah blah blah, but it doesn’t scream exciting for me personally. Only personally. I’m sure and hope others love it. A massive termini with multi mainline tracks, a mix of fast and stoppers, decent traction some modern others 80s (Mk3 anyone) now that is what I call a flagship pat on the back route that would bring in the cash and keep bums on seats playing for a lot longer. I keep banging on about railways like the South Western mainline out of Waterloo or London to Brighton being remastered because they are routes with massive variety potential, offer a wide mix of stopping and fasts and don’t ever get boring. I play London to Brighton nearly all the time mixed in with some East Coastway SE Highspeed (although find the HS1 route very boring compared to the commuter lines) and Medway Valley (which as good as it is does get kinda dull after a while going back and forth). If I can ever get into the cab of a 444 or 158 for a fast run to Basingstoke back to Woking in a 450 then guard a 455 from Woking to Waterloo, bumping into London Overground, Thameslink, Southern and London Underground on the way, take my money, and I’ll never say a bad word again. I’ll even accept some blurry textures PS and for special added points DTG, if you ever throw in VEP 3417 as a special deluxe with livery designer compatibility, I’ll make a generous donation
3 dreams routes for me GMEL routes from London to Ipswich with a new 315 321 360 and better 90 with a DVT Southwest Mainline line from London Waterloo to Southampton with a new 455 444 a 450 reskin from a 350 and Midland Mainline route London to Bedford or more with a new 319 and a 222
Ok so I've not heard/seen any "leaks" as I've been busy patrolling the friendly skies and spent most of yesterday sleeping... You said 333? FFS I hope not :/ Though here's the thing to bear in mind, be careful what you wish for... While Rivet did a great job with the Riviera route they allegedly did WCMLS the year before and well that was rather disappointing, both routes of course were given fixes by modders but that option isn't available to the console users. The thing is, do you really want Rivet or similar to make your Deltic, Class 91 or Hymek? Or would you prefer another 3rd Party Dev hand crafts one with love almost like a passion project? Not to be a downer but it just came to me while I was sifting through some photos of Bristol in the late 90s and thinking about a revised 37/4 and who'd bork it the least :/ As for the route, well I'd be happy with the ECML from York to Newcastle/Edinburgh in the 80s/90s as that would tie nicely to a refreshed and upgraded NTP (with a cheeky extension from Leeds to York). One could easily have a Deltic as the "premium" loco but again see my point above... If we had to have another London centric route then I'd rather they went for Waterloo in the BR/NSE era but DTG don't do anything that isn't modern one handed drive LOVE.
My guess is that the Leeds local route being talked about is an ATS project rather than a core route, but I think we will see it announced in the dovetail direct, but not sure in what capacity. As regards to BML dovetail have dropped hints about how popular a remaster would be so I still would not be surprised if it is coming
I wonder if the North Yorkshire Moors railway will make an appearance? The author went quiet a good while ago announcing he would be working with DTG, no further screenshots were shown after that. Looked really good. I still think the Wherry Lines is in the mix, or some other East Anglian route maybe.
That would be nice, but would need a steam traction update and new loco - or a Class 24 or 25. Sign me up Day One if that were the case! But I fear not. Anyhow last thoughts from me on the potential German or European route? I wonder if this year DTG have realised we are just a tad fed up with the constant sea of DB Red. So knowing there is a craving for something Swiss, they do a repeat exercise of the Seebergbahn in TSC which was a thinly disguised BLS out of Spiez across to Interlaken and 20 or 30 km of the line towards Brig but with fictional German names and using DB stock. Alternatively maybe we are back in Austria with something like the Brenner Pass or Linz to Graz, a solid scenic and Day One route choice.
If we have another ECML route with a new 91 will the bit you want most would it be London to Peterborough, Doncaster to Newcastle or Leeds and Newcastle to Edinburgh
North of Newcastle would be my choice but I suspect it would only go to Berwick, not all the way to Edinburgh.
I’m assuming the Esk Valley /NYMR route is no more, it’s been so long since any kind of update. Unless it’s just such a mammoth project that it’s taking a long time. Still hoping we’ll get new British steam some day as well. And locos that actually behave and don’t bug out!
Something tells me we might be getting the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch with the long awaited DE/DM30AC's and C3 bilevels for TSW as the new US route
I must be the only person who finds the idea of ECML incredibly dull haha. Happy to die on that hill but always surprised how popular it is
Not bad in principle, but better the state that has never appeared in the game (like Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Georgia) and trains that have not been to TSW - The States is a very diverse country and it is extremely disappointing that it is not presented properlyand it is extremely disappointing that it is not properly presented
I like NYC content but that’s true also. We do need to start seeing more states being focused on. There’s so many. How about something Chicago or Florida. What about Texas ????. A different part of California like San Francisco. Endless amounts of potential content that could be made. Also more freight.
Unless DTG does unbranded or gets the Caltrain license back, that wont happen. Cause I doubt they would do something as ambitious as the Sacramento Northern. (Maybe HIS but not DTG)
I really hope the flagship UK route gives us a selection of challenges, scenery, rolling stock and service pattern choices and that it's not a disappointing middle slice of a main line where there's no option to perform a realistic driving turn.
Keen on what ever it is but will be disappointed if it’s another year that the eastern routes, so often requested, don’t appear. The Great Eastern must be an ideal flagship route in a way I understand, the LTS could not be.
Indeed, if it is the Leeds Local as being predicted it will be a largely clockface pattern of two trains an hour or whatever it is from Leeds to Skipton and Ilkley vv and the same from Bradford. So they can sell the timetable on look at how many train movements there are, but essentially just the same pattern every hour, with the odd S&C or Little North Western Lancaster service occasionally trundling through.
I'm not against the Airedale & Wharfdale route if it is the flagship route for this year. It could be something really good and be everything that Cardiff Valley wasn't... An end to end network which is what I'd imagine a majority of players would be after. I can only speak for myself here, but I can't in one breath say "DTG need to make the game run smoothly and optimise the game" and then expect a large route that we all know will have performance issues... I'd much rather a smaller network route that works out of the box, and let the longer term plan to be a move back to a mainline route as the yearly flagship. As a player who has criticised the game slot recently, I've got to practice what I preach, and if I want a route that works out of the box then I would much rather that in the short term... But I will say if this is this years route, it isn't super short, it will have a bit of variety and real potential to be a proper network style route if it is the DTG flagship for this year. I try and be level headed with these things, and we all know performance probably isn't the games strongest point at the moment. But, with saying that, as I've mentioned I want a route that does work out of the box and it's no good selling me something that doesn't work as intended. I'd have to see a preview of any flagship route being played on Gen9 before I order anything this year. I'm not firmly set on anything, but I won't be pre ordering or throwing money away. Alot is riding on this years release so let's just hope it works out of the box performance wise. Also the route would have a nice variety of traction (let's remember the Class 333 is quite a unique EMU now the 332s have gone, and makes a huge change away from Electrostars and Desiros). If it is the flagship it has all the ingredients of being successful... But we'll have to see how it is implemented and performs.
