I have recently got myself a gaming pc and also bought train sim 21 Deluxe from steam. My question is what kind of routes are available that may be of interest? I prefer a bit of everything when it comes to train driving but I am particularly keen on scenic routes a bit like the fife circle line and high speed routes such as LGV Méditerranée On TSW2.
In The Weardale and Teesdale Network in the '60s you can legitimately drive almost everything except high speed main line traffic and even that can appear on diversion. It's Diesel as it comes but steam fits nicely if you do start buying extra rolling stock and the route represents the sparse beauty of south-west Durham (where I live) very well. For high speed I most enjoy driving the APT in WCML Over Shap. The P-Train is great fun while the route is detailed, interesting and varied with good trains in its own right- and scenic to boot. Thinking outside Steam you might look for a key for TS2019 that came with Soldier Summit (pretty), Frankfurt High Speed (whoosh) and the newer Portsmouth Direct (there also*)- a good bundle. Getting old editions of TS is a good way of building up a cosmopolitan collection and in a couple of instances the only way to get routes that are otherwise unavailable now. Often cheap too- a quick Google shows TS2019 available for £5.45 as I type. (*A little glib. PDL is good looking, perfectly pleasant to drive, probably the best London commuter route I have- I just don't get that excited about London commuter routes.)
Train Simulator 2021 and Trainsim World 2 are 2 different train simulators and you cannot run DLC from one to the other. Here is a video that I made of LGV Méditerranée in TS2021. LGV Rhone - Alps Mediterranee Route, Lyon To Marselle scenario TS 2021 - YouTube
My reading of the OP was that he's well aware of the difference and been using TSW for a while but just bought TS. Could've misread but I thought he mentioned the LGV as a for instance owning nothing in TS that compares with it.
Along with the TSW2 version there is also the LGV Med in TS2021 - in two parts You need the base route https://store.steampowered.com/app/376938/Train_Simulator_LGV_Marseille__Avignon_Route_AddOn/ then you can get the add-on https://store.steampowered.com/app/..._RhneAlpes__Mditerrane_Route_Extension_AddOn/ There are a number of assets from the base route that are needed in the add-on However there is not much "playability" in the route and you just set off and go like hell It has the one train, the TGV Duplex and a unique Cab signalling system TVM430 A few UK trains, Class 92 and Class 395, can see the Signalling as it is used on HS1 London to Faversham So the route is stale without other trains. The Berlin - Leipzig is a good route with a mix of freight and passenger trains https://store.steampowered.com/app/376943/Train_Simulator_Berlin__Leipzig_Route_AddOn/ If you like scenic routes try Switzerland The Gotthardbahn is very good https://store.steampowered.com/app/...ine_Classic_Erstfeld__Bellinzona_Route_AddOn/ And the Albula line is one of the better narrow gauge routes https://store.steampowered.com/app/376966/Train_Simulator_Albula_Line_St_Moritz__Thusis_Route_AddOn/ Peter
On the real railway you would see other services at Lyon and Marseille And you would not have a big empty yard at Lyon Venissieux The lack of other trains makes it uninspiring
Isn't that the sad case of the majority of TS routes and scenarios though? Big empty sidings with maybe a loose consist or light engine here and there, why they don't fill them with low poly dummy models is beyond me, I'd sooner see static non driveable sets in sidings than nine barren sidings and 10 hoppers in the tenth. A low poly model doesn't have to look like a chiselled edged Lego brick either, you can get quite a realistic looking exterior with proper bump mapping, just no need for any interiors or see-through windows or highly detailed modelled pipes and bolt heads.
If you are after scenic routes, then Swiss routes would be your best bet (Albula, Engadin, Arosa, Bernina, Gottardbahn etc). Dependso on what you're willing to drive and what types of trains. Best commuter style routes are: London - Brighton Chatham & Medway Valley lines North London LIne Edinburgh - Glasgow South London Network If long haul freight is more your thing: Sherman Hill Feather River Canyon A mix of both: Hudson Line North Jersey Coast line Peninsula Corridor Miami - West Palm Beach International (The japanese lines are commuter/interurban, the South African one offers a mix of Pax & Freight): Tadami Line Hidaka Line Pietermaritzburgh - Ladysmith Wakayama & Sakurai Lines
