Race along the South Wales Mainline or trundle along the Vale of Glamorgan in Train Sim World 2: Cardiff Commuter. Take to the controls of a Class 150/2 ‘Sprinter’ DMU or whizz down the fast lines in an iconic High Speed Train History The Vale of Glamorgan line, connecting Cardiff and Bridgend via Barry was built in the 1880s and opened in 1885. Services were operated with ageing steam locomotives by the Vale of Glamorgan Railway Company. In 1886, the GWR opened their direct railway from Bristol to Wales via the new Severn Tunnel. In 1923, under the Grouping Act, all lines were absorbed into the wider Great Western Railway. After privatisation, British Rail operated all services. In 1964, as part of the Beeching cuts, the Barry - Bridgend section of the line closed, not reopening to passengers until 2005. Under British Rail, stopping services were primarily operated by ‘Pacer’ and ‘Sprinter’ DMUs on both lines and High Speed Trains on the SWML. Today, express services in the area are operated by Great Western Railway and local, domestic services by Transport for Wales. Stations and route length The overall route length is 41mi 9ch including the Penarth and Barry Island branches. The SWML section of the route has stations at Newport, Cardiff Central, Pontyclun, Llanharan, Pencoed and Bridgend. The Vale of Glamorgan section diverges from the SWML at Cardiff Central then featuring stops at Grangetown (Penarth branch diverges with stations at Dingle Road and Penarth), Cogan, Eastbrook, Dinas Powys, Cadoxton, Barry Docks, Barry (Barry Island branch diverges with a station at Barry Island only), Rhoose, Llantwit Major, after which the route rejoins the SWML at Bridgend. The total number of stations is 18 stations. While this may seem a lot, Brighton Mainline had 28 stations at release. For more information on the route, see the route map section. The maximum speed attainable on the route is 80mph, between Pencoed and Bridgend. Rolling stock and service patterns The route would be set in 2017, with operators as Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales. 2+8/7 HST Sets (GWR Green) 1Bxx London Paddington - Swansea (1tph) 1Bxx London Paddington - Cardiff Central (1tph) Class 175 (TfW Red/White) 1Vxx Manchester Pic - Camarthen (½tph) 1Vxx Manchester Pic - Milford Haven (½tph) Class 142 (Ex-ATW w/ TfW Branding) 2Yxx Aberdare - Barry Island (2tph) 2Yxx Merthyr Tydfil - Barry Island (1tph) 2Exx Merthyr Tydfil - Bridgend (1tph) 2Pxx Bangoed - Penarth (2tph) 2Pxx Rhymney - Penarth (1tph) Timings have been researched using the 2017-05 WTT Sections PB and PD. The route also has vast potential for DLC, including but not limited to: TfW Class 150/2, TfW Prem Express (67+Mk4s), TfW Class 170, GWR Class 150, GWR Class 158, XC Class 170 and various freight workings. Summary Train Sim World 2: Cardiff Commuter features: - Brand new Class 175 DMU in TfW livery - Authentic Class 142 ‘Pacer’ in Ex-ATW livery - Iconic High Speed Train set in GWR livery - Over 40 route miles The route is ideal for those who like a mixture of fast and stopping services Route map
Yup TfW has been a thing since 2016. Arriva are also notably iffy with licensing, especially over franchise they lost
Yes, then DTG could take the shambles of a 150/2 that rivet haven’t finished, and then totally revamp their 150/2 and re-release it with the wales route and bill rivet for fixing their disgrace of a unit.
I did the maths on this before for my own suggestion and it works out too long for a TSW route. Mainline Newport to Bridgend - 32 miles Valley Lines (including branches to Penarth and Barry Island) 30½ miles Total - 62½ miles (distances taken from RTT)
Cardiff to Bridgend via Pontyclun or the VOG might be doable. Tweak the era right and you could still have a fair bit of freight traffic. All sorts of trains on the main line, including Port Talbot to Llanwern iron ore and upset Greta with the steady flow of coal trains to Aberthaw.
Set it in the steam era with what became the Valley lines and I am a day one. I was born on a mountain above Pontypridd and still remember the clinking of coal wagon shunting.
Good idea and remember Class 150/2 improved version from Rivet WCL does run with Pacers in as a combined unit to comply with 6 April 2010 RVAR Regulations. The video is by Dylan's Train Travels June-July 2021 of the combined Class 150 Sprinter Pacer combination
Would love this route if it is too big for tsw 2 maybe remove Newport for another route say Bristol - Swansea mainline and west wales service Swansea - Milford haven with branches to Fishguard and Pembroke dock
