Birmingham To Shrewsbury

I’m so happy we finally get Shrewsbury in the game I feel like it is a great addition to the game. But I’m wondering does this mean we could see this route branch off to new Welsh routes for example the Cambrian line and towards south wales? And since we are getting the tfw 158 DMU we could end up with the Cambrian line or the line to Chester and maybe as a loco we could see the 197 or the MK4 set maybe. So maybe we could see more Welsh routes int the game!!

 

Nice to see a Welsh 158 as well.

Yep I'm looking forward to this one.

 

I’m curious to see more about the TFW 158 because I might be mistaken but I’m pretty sure they don’t use the Traditional Cummins engines as on the EMT 158 and Scotrail and pretty sure they use Perkins from what I’ve seen.
If that’s the case then would be cool since it’s a different engine meaning different sounds and behavior but correct me if I’m wrong

 

More West Midlands...

 

They are local or at least one of the us.

And as someone from the Black Country I'm more than happy.

 

I assume it will use the 170 for the Shrewsbury to Birmingham services unless we get a new 19x DMU.

 

Different engine and different cab (ETCS Screen)

They could rework the Class 166 sounds if they're clever about it.

 

Really looking forward to this and it gives a few options to extend as well such as shrewsbury-crewe or the cambrian coast line

 

It's the West Midlands region, which is a lot more than the West Midlands conurbation. Most of the route goes through rural South Staffordshire and Shropshire.

While TfW Class 158s certainly do run the route they don't prototypically stop at all the stations. My local station, Codsall, is only served by West Midlands Railways Class 196s, which is the majority type on the line.

I think there is currently just one daily freight train. A Class 66 hauling empty log wagons. In the past there were two coal trains a day to Ironbridge power station, but I think that closed before TfW was created.

The line is popular with steam and diesel charters to and from Crewe, but while there is a good mix, they aren't a daily event.

 

I don't see what point you're trying to make. It's still yet another West Midlands route regardless of whether it's the "conurbation" or Staffordshire and Shropshire

 

Would be a day 1 purchase from me
Route - Cambrian Coast Line: Shrewsbury To Aberystwyth And Pwllheli | Dovetail Games Forums

 

I'm looking forward to this. I hope they take the opportunity to implement a Cosford Airshow timetable alongside a standard timetable, as this would provide extra services and different stopping patterns. Here's a PDF for the 2026 airshow timetable: https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/media/48374/download

 

It depends on what you're objecting to. If you don't like urban routes, it mostly isn't one. If you're bored with the WCML, then it mostly isn't the WCML. If you just don't like railways in the central west part of England, well fair enough, you'll be disappointed then.

 

I meant it in the sense that personally I feel there's been a lot of West Midlands (and WCML too, but of course this isn't that)

 

Confirmed on FB that it's a new build 158, not Skyhook.

 

Another cracker!

Potential for the Rivet Class 170 to stretch it's legs too?

 

The 158 Perkins sound way more aggressive than 166’s I feel like in real life, have more of that roar and whine to them but it is an opportunity nevertheless.

if they sourced AP Perkins sounds from the 158 EP then it would be brilliant!

 

I am still a TSW 4 user, simply because the quality of routes at that time disappointed me far to greatly to ever invest again. Now, as we aproach TSW 7 my local route is coming along (something I've suggested since TSW2 days.) However, it's coming with the TFW 158. I like the 158's but it seems silly when they only run 1 TPH on the route, the 196's are 2 TPH stopper / semi-fast. So driving this route you will pass through more stations that see no service, than you actually stop at. It's as ludicrous as it would be to of made Brighton main line with only the GX 387. So I have to ask, is this an incomplete announcement? Is there more to come? As It's very disappointing otherwise. The route would be eerily quiet, especially beyond Wolverhampton towards BHM.

 

Chuffed with this announcement! With Shrewsbury in the game it’s beginning to feel like Shrewsbury-Crewe, complete with 67+Mk4s, would nicely complete the circle

I’m glad AABS are making the most of Birmingham anyhow - if they keep that as their hub then eventually we might get Bescot, Walsall, maybe even out to Leicester, Coventry etc (fingers crossed)

 

Interesting route choice. But needs the variety or it will be very quiet.

 

Had hoped this would have done the full journey, starting at Birmingham International.

 

Would have been better if they had started at Wolverhampton but gone on to Chester. Nice scenery north of Gobowen.

 

Yes, would be nice to do a run in and run out of New st, with potential delays etc.

 

That'll give the Avanti services and Cross Country services more running time 25-30mins depending on dwell at Birmingham New st

 

Looking forward to this, though Bham to Crewe was fantastic ba the current console issues which plagues every route.

Bit baffled by the Wolvs to Brum part though.
It's just not needed as it already exists on their other route. Would surely have been better to add to the 158 to the existing timetable as a layer.
Make the route shorter or extend it past Shrewsbury, as mentioned above.

 

On another note, I hope AABS pick up Birminham Moor Street to Worcester next with the spur from Droitwich to Bromsgrove added in.

The opportunity to go:
Moor Street to Worcester, Worcester to Bromsgrove, Route hope to Bromsgrove and into New Street, Route hop to New Street to run to Crewe, return back to Wolverhampton where you can route hop out to Shrewsbury. Would be fantastic.

Also gives the option of platform change to the upper at Smethwick Galton Bridge and getting one end of the SVR in at Kiddy.

 

I haven’t seen anyone talk about this but could it be set in like 2022 with 170s and 221s?

 

I'll be able to relive the soaking wet night in 1991 when us Arsenal fans were marched off a set of Mk1s (always Mk1s for football specials) down the platform by the Police at Shrewsbury, then along the track, down a muddy embankment over a stream via a single plank of wood and into the car park at the old football ground Gay Meadow just in time to miss the first 15 minutes of the match.

I'm not sure that was the "safest route". I think the guys with the clipboards would have something to say about it in 2026.

 

Ruins the immersion driving to Wolverhampton then route hopping for a tiny bit. I feel this route will extend to international as a natural terminating point for the TFW services

 

It would make sense if it went to International.
You can layer in local stoppers, Voyagers and Pendonlinos.

 

i think it needs that Wolverhampton to Birmingham bit. I assume they've worked out how to use the existing route assets and take out the Crewe to Wolverhampton section and tack on the Shrewsbury bit.

The route is certainly more appealing if there's no need to route hop at Wolverhampton. Developers shouldn't be afraid to reuse sections of existing routes to make another. It makes for a more immersive driving experience and I personally don't care that I'm potentially paying for a section of route I already have.

I had the St.Pancras to Ebbsfleet high speed line but bought the extended version. Likewise Rochester to Gillingham on the Medway Valley route. Not a problem.

 

I hope that the wonderful Shrewbury signal box will be accessible.

 

Great to have this coming to the game i would like to see Worcester to Stratford upon Avon at some point

 

I wonder what will and won't be modelled?

Will the DB logistics sidings and MOD spur at Donnington be included? I would expect so. Will the now unused branch to the former Ironbridge power station be included? Maybe. This was last used in 2015, and elsewhere the route hasn't changed much since then, so including it would allow backdating.

How much of RAF Cosford and the RAF Museum will be modelled? I hope at least the very distinctive blue all weather sports pitch with a massive RAF roundel in the middle would be, as it's very near the track. Will any of the museum outdoor aircraft be modelled? It would be nice to see the gate guardian. How far down the Welsh Marches line will they go at Shrewsbury? So many questions!

I'm very excited.

 

Will this go all the way to birmingham international or be cut off at new street?

 

Turns out I was right! Roadmap mentioned that the TFW 158 has new recorded sounds from the Perkins engine on their 158’s, lovely!

That’s something for players to look forward to! New sounds for the 158, new physics and behavior.

gotta love the growl of a Perkins engine!

 

It wouldn't be used on this section but will the ERTMS on the 158 be functional or just a dummy?

 

looks like they are - great call

 

Man this is 3rd Birmingham route now what we really need is Birmingham to Milton Keynes Central via Northampton to full in the missing bit

 

Stand to be corrected here but won't this give the WMT Class 170 a full run upto Shrewsbury in the 2019 timetable? Would be great to use this in an end to end service... And with the FOV editor I can finally edit the cab view!

 

Indeed it will!

 

Route looks very authentic but by the look of it we're not getting a modern 2025 timetable like all the other ABS routes.

 

I wonder if they decided to make it "2019" due to the effort of developing a 196/197 where the 158 is readily available and the 170 is an easy add.. would be nice at some point if AABS do like the B2C DLC when they added created the 805 and made it a more modern TT, and we get a 196/7 in the future! Still holding out hope for a 730 but thats another story

 

Well the 158 is brand new. I suspect creating two new trains would have been a bit much. It will be nice to have a full run in the 170.

I do wonder if a 196/197 pack and a modern timetable will come, complete with passengers nursing sore backsides after sitting on one of those for an hour, something I don't want to endure again.

Whilst this was the second most exciting new announcement for me on the roadmap, I do agree with those who have suggested that it could go to Birmingham International to complete the TFW services.

 

They modelled a new 158, which, although is very nice, seems a bit odd.

 

TFW 158 will be great, most TFW layers we see are their long distance services but filled in by ‘metro’ stock. Definitely needed the 158 or something similar - I really hope that substitution is sorted out on MAC for this.

As for the 196/7, I have no doubt these will get to TSW & when they do we’ll see nothing but every route that uses them for a couple of years, just like we’ve had with the 350 & AT300’s.

I do think missing out on BhamINTL is a shame, but in any case hopefully this route will prove easier for AAS to release in a better state than their previous releases. Also nice to get a solid length TFW route, along with finally a full run for the WMR 170. Ultimately this will still be a 1 hour, semi-fast run which is going to be great for sprinters & turbostars alike.

 

196 Aside, Its great to see AABS continue to intertwine their DLC..I still feel we may just get that MK to Birmingham via Northampton at some point down the road

 

If AABS are investing in their own all new 158 (as opposed to doing a deal with Skyhook) hopefully that means there are indeed plans afoot to extend the TfW network - Marches Line, down to Chester or even some of the Cambrian. The Perkins 158’s are a little different from the Cummins version both in terms of sound and performance. They were a little more sluggish and at full power tended to roar and rumble a bit more.

 

Looking great but still using DTGs unrealistic speed signs instead of the realistic set used by Firefly/ATS? Dont really get this as their routes are so detailed otherwise.

 

Class 170s in WMR livery have never regularly run on the route. I think they vinyled one for publicity purposes, but IIRC the fleet retained its previous livery until replacement by the 196s. I used them every day and I was surprised how slow WMR were to rebrand.