When I start a service (TSW GWE) from the list (and not as walker) I get in the cab the moment I have to leave. Now. Immediately. I have to quickly unlock the master key, set the reverser and then throttle because I need to get going ASAP or I will lose time already. This feels rushed and not real. My suggestion: add at least something like 30 seconds or a minute before actual departure: that way I can unlock the master key, prepare the reverser and throttle, enable DSD and AWS, turn on the appropriate lights, etc. and all that manually in the 3D cab (so not using keys) to make it feel more real. It feels odd having to set the lights AWS, DSD, whatever, only after departing in a rush. Maybe you could let the player enter the cab the moment the passengers start loading, which would give him or her a minute to prepare. As I said, this feels more real. Of course whenever I have time I start a service as a walker but unfortunately I don't always have time and starting as a walker has (big) some disadvantages, like you can't set the spawn time in minutes, only in quarter of an hour (which would be another feature request: let us set the time in minutes!) and quite often you have no clue at all which train you should hop into (I hope those empty boards will be fully working soon!).
Great idea. Totally support the suggestion. The present state creates the feeling that you are always late for the service you have to drive. This actually might happen from time to time - it is no bad idea to let a scenario sometimes start the way you have to start your train immediately, but the majority of scenarios and services should begin with enough time to start the engine, turn on headlights, safety systems,... Especially when you have to set some switches but also have to start driving immediately you must set the switches with the 2D-map not being able to walk to the switches and set them manually. Realism suffers from this fact. Furthermore I'd like to suggest that more scenarios and services begin with a turned off engine, especially those services beginning in the depots or next to any other station. Especially freight services should start with a turned off engine, while scenarios and services beginning at railway stations may start with engine turned on, but only if the player doesn't need to wait ten minutes or longer - in such cases, the engines should be turned off. Of course, the player has to get a couple of minutes during which he turns on the engine and, maybe, even has to set locomotives for multiple traction (usually at CSX heavy haul) and then he or she needs some time to turn on headlights and safety systems, enable the reverser or make a break test.
I sometimes spawn walking instead of in a train when I'm gonna drive a Service, cause then it feels more real having to go to your train and set it up. But there are some problems with this, - first of all, you can only choose times with 15min apart, like 12.00, 12.15, 12.30 and so on. So if you are gonna drive a service that starts 12.29 you have to spawn 12.15 and 14min is kinda long time to wait. - also you have no idea of which train is yours. If you spawn at Paddington it might be 5-6 trains in the platforms sometimes and you don't know which train that departs when. That might get fixed when they release the Passenger Information System tho with working signs on stations, that would be a lot easier. But it needs to be easier finding the right train in the depo aswell. Also agree with that train engines should be turned off when you are getting a train from the depo. And the doors should be open on the trains standing on the platforms at the starting station so people can get on - most often when a train is turning at Paddington for example, the train doors is just open so people that are going with that trains next service can get on directly even if the train departs in like 5min
