Upcoming Release Master The West Midlands!

Well, I’m looking forward to this one. I used to live in the area many years ago and while Birmingham has changed a lot since then, a lot of the line will be recognisable. I quite enjoyed it in Train Sim Classic, so if they’ve got the sound right, it’ll be a first week purchase for me (As soon as I’ve seen the initial feedback and the Gamepass discount turns up.)

Can’t really judge anything until the preview, but the screenshots look nice so far.

 

DTG JD I'm assuming you won't be the only member of the DTG team keeping an eye on this forum thread, but please can you make sure it is properly fed back through the internal channels to whoever is responsible for new DLC that the community is unhappy with the prospect of only have one new piece of rolling stock. I love the Class 323 in real life and can't wait to have it in game, so I'm not putting a dampener on the new route before it is even out, I'm just saying that for a busy route like Cross City, which includes Birmingham New Street, it really should be accompanied by a second new train.

I appreciate what you are saying about more details being shared don Thursday regarding services, but regardless of how many services are in the timetable, if they are all Class 323s with the occasional Class 66 doing freight services (which I assume will be layered in), the route will quickly feel samey.

I'm honestly overjoyed the Class 323 is coming to TSW, but the lack of any other new traction just dampens the excitement considerably, as many others have said here on the forum.

Like I said, please can you make sure it is fed back to whoever is responsible that the community is crying out for an additional new piece of rolling stock. It would be good if this could be touched upon during the live stream.

 

For me is a good example this one: I'm Italian and see/drive UK and DE trains is a lot fun (didn't like so much freight train from USA at moment), but....
How can you read, I'm Italian and i thinking you never build something from my country (as in TSC) and for me that is the unique limitation.
The fact there isn't an editor to build my own route is another limitations but this is another question...

Hope in future you will bring tinting train's (for example the Class 390 that I use on TSC somethimes) because they is my favourite one and I can console myself with that!

 

And intrigued by the mention of the forthcoming 730 in the intro article. A clue to the second included train, perhaps?

 

I never noticed that. Interest peaked.

 

...just informed about Birmingham and its commuter network (interesting architecture at New Street). As a regular TSW player you learn something new with every released route or train. Meanwhile I know a lot about the railways in the UK. This time it's not a third rail route, just overhead lines, like in Glasgow. Because West Midland Railway is represented in accordance with the Creators Club license (including the logo in Livery Designer) for a while, it was foreseeable that a separate route would soon follow. The chances are also good for the first british tilting train, the Pendolino (probably to be seen as a future DLC, because the Acela Express would be next in line). Like London, Birmingham could also serve as a starting point for future routes, then maybe even with the Class390, because after so much commuter traffic it's time for some high speed again.

 

Can you send me a link for this article as it was not mentioned in the original link on the 1st page of this thread?

 

I don't know where all this Birmingham bashing comes from. Presumably by people who have A) never been or B) went 40 years ago when it was a bit of a bleak concrete jungle.

 

Then you're out of luck because there's loads of call for up to date routes, more probably than diesels from the 60s and 70s which also get loads of asks

 

Not that I recall. I think most of us welcomed Cajon Pass, though we did have criticism of some of the route and stock details.

 

I'm late to the party! What's going on, what's all this fuss about?

 

I saw some saying "not another freight route, can't we have an Amtrak or other passenger route", so maybe "most" welcomed, but there were definitely "Why can't we have...?" posts

 

On a lighter note I sincerely hope some of the scenario titles will play homage to Birmingham culture.
Peaky Blinders for one, but also ELO - loads of song references possible: Mr Blue Sky, Wild West Hero, Birmingham Blues, Last Train to London (okay Lichfield), Nightrider, Big Wheels etc, etc.

Edit: Sorry got to add a few more...
Take Me On And On, Train Of Gold, Danger Ahead.

Anyone would think Jeff Lynne was a rail buff. And that I like ELO!

 

Or they could use "A load o' bull", and maybe have the actual bull be the donkey?

 

Surely Ozzy Osbourne's Crazy Train has to be a contender. He's from Aston, which is on the route, if I remember correctly.

 

Maybe a chocolate donkey statue at Bournville?

 

Actually weren't a couple of the Moody Blues also from Brum? Oh dear, we are wandering a bit here but only a bit of harmless fun!

 

Fine, except that there has been no evidence that DTG is even considering any of those things on their current routes, so no basis to expect it will happen on this one.

 

I think they all were. Go Now would be a scenario where you have to start a service in an emergency (One for the teenagers...)

 

Will be interesting to see what they do with the layers.

I can't really see DTG creating any of the 'big' stock such as the pendolino / voyager because they are only seen at new street station and for a very small distance on the exit / approach before the in game route would cut off, and for such little use I'm almost certain it doesn't warrant them being introduced to the game at this point

 

I live there now, I'm in Selly Oak by the QE hospital (born there)

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Musicians_from_Birmingham,_West_Midlands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Musical_groups_from_Birmingham,_West_Midlands

 

Sorry, it's me getting confused - it's the 730 that's replacing the 323s, so that could be the second train. The 196 will be replacing the 170s, so fingers crossed for both of those if the line gets a DLC and the section further south of Bromsgrove.

 

There's no evidence of anything much DTG do until it's released so can't disagree there.
SO much for openness and transparency I guess

 

New cultural scenarios….

• This aint no bull..
• Spaghetti functions
• Taking round the ring
• Hot mile approach

 

Could be... they did have a couple of cadbury creme egg cars outside the Cadbury world place a few years ago so wouldn't be out of place

 

I have friends who live near there, it is a nice part of Birmingham. I live around 25 minutes away and visit there regularly.

I just get annoyed by the outdated and ignorant comments you get about Birmingham in many places on the internet by people who really haven't a clue. It isn't perfect but what large city is?

 

I think by now it's pretty much clear the routes will have to come first for P42s and Superliners to then release and layer onto a bunch of routes at once, given they usually run 1tpd in each direction, and you need seven different models in one DLC (P42, Vierliner baggage, transition sleeper, sleeper, diner, lounge, coach)

 

Birmingham isn't a BAD city, although I'd happily take Manchester, London, Liverpool, or any other city of comparable size over it. And as I said previously, New Street is a dreadful station, and the staff hate enthusiasts judging by my experiences.

I do wonder if there's a lack of enthusiasm for UK routes within DTG. New German and American routes always seem to be a bit more polished and generally more substantial.

 

Birmingham is a perfectly adequate city and as others have stated it does seem to attract some unwanted negative feedback... at times.

I was looking forward to some westcountry action personally.. haven't seen alot since WSR.

Paignton to Exmouth or Plymouth to Exeter St Davids

Anyhow let's see if an XC or blue and yellow BR hst can be found at brum new street... suspect the latter will have less problems from a license perspective.

 

Sadly, Liverpool is going down hill at tremendous speed. The current council doesn’t seem to have any brain cells between their ears.

 

I think Birmingham, like many cities which have been negatively portrayed in the past, gets a bad rap from people who have only experienced it by proxy (such as on TV) or by going through it, and Birmingham isn't necessarily a nice place by train given the wrecks on either side of New Street itself (and of course much of the city to the east is now a building site for HS2), but the main centre of Birmingham has been done up over the last decade or so and is relatively nice now, especially when the trams are actually working
(And I love the xmas market)

 

Most regions in Britain are steeped in stereotypes, I know this firsthand as a Cornishman. Ahoy; me hearties.

 

Personally I’m looking forward to BHM, I love it when we get a route that goes through a huge station without ending there, it adds some excitement to a run, it also adds a lot to variety, not every run has to start and end in the same place. Having what is usually a terminus in the middle of a route opens up options to various route patterns, as opposed to always starting or ending in the same place.

This route is only 34 miles long and yet it will offer a wealth of start and end points.

 

Maybe we'll be seeing Cadbury candy vending machines on these platforms.

As a Chicago resident, I know exactly how this works.

 

Great to see a new UK route, I will be picking this one up unless there is evidence of cost-cutting, like bare scenery (cough SoS cough). However it seems to me that there’s a big opportunity for some loco, MU, and rolling stock DLCs that would really enhance the UK routes we already have with extra layers. Still waiting for a class 25 and another 1st gen DMU for Transpennine.

Although I was initially disappointed, I do like the precedent set by SEHS as a route extension. It would be nice to see it extended even further, for instance to London Victoria, the Sheerness branch, Margate, Ramsgate, Dover. Be great to see a fuller network.

 

I guess it happens in many places, they do tend to be a big part of a persons identity so it can be quite insulting as they are often stererotyping people as a byproduct of that place and therefore a personification of it.

I think much of the prejudice about Birmingham are peoples aversion to the accent.

 

Oh yes please definately, chances of it happening - vanishingly small!

 

I think when Q&A for the stream goes up, that will be my leading question - is it the intention to take this and build on it as a central England hub, add extra mileage and train DLC or is it another "burner" (as in throwaway) route project?

 

Yes, I would love to see this as part of a larger WCML route. Cathcart was also a perfect candidate for that, but sadly has not been thus far exploited.

 

I think it's a given that New Street will be used again. It may be a year or longer but it'll be used, I'm certain.

 

If its released as a starter pack which it seems wll be the case then it will be £29.99 but if its dlc it should be £24.99 right? I'd consider not downloading any more routes if they're £30 each tbh, £25 is bad enough but £30 is entire new game territory.

 

I think a significant proportion of the customer base who are prepared to pay £24.99 for a quality route (£22.49 with pre order discount) will think likewise and wait for a sale. DTG need to be careful they don't shoot themselves in the foot on this one.

 

Indeed, I live fairly near to the Cathcart circle and wanted it bt no way was I paying £25 for that. I want to download the London to Brighton route at some point as according to the playstore it's a 22gb download vs the 10gb or so of an average route so that must be worth having.

 

It could be worse. You could be in Cleveland or pittsburgh.

 

I don't have Cajon Pass installed because of this. I'm not a fan of middle of nowhere freight routes or freight routes in general. I don't get why dtg decided to bundle a freight route with two high speed routes to be honest

 

I'm looking forward to getting this route too, but only after the Addons-Manager is released for TSW 3...

 

Every time I am not interested, I look at all these awesome article screenshots and I am getting interested instantly. Here I go again. Not bad for mono EMU DLC. I count on scenery to be the hero this time. BR o7

 

Don't agree with this at all. UK has more variety than anyone else really, you've got:

1. Modern EMU commuters in SEHS, BML, ECW.
2. More classic EMU commuters in Glasgow and ECW 313 add on.
3. Classic diesels from 70s-90s in multiple (albeit older) add ons - TVL, NTP available.
4. High speed trains - Class 395/SEHS and Class 43/GWE.
5. A DMU that shows up in 2 routes - Class 166 in GWE and also playable on BML
6. STEAM - the only steam route in the game being UK and its not even been out very long. For some reason people always just seem to forget that this one exists and is a UK route, but it is the absolute opposite of an EMU commuter route.

So you've got freight, passenger, 50s, 70s, 80s, 90s and modern, steam, diesel, electric AC as well as DC... some routes are older but have at least been reworked with passengers/crossings/PIS/etc. When you look at the two most recent ones (not including the SEHS update) you have BML and SoS which couldn't be more different.

That is just DTG. If you include Rivet you get another vintage route with another DMU as well as 2 versions of Isle of Wight.

And finally I will add that when it comes to "TSW 3 quality" routes with the new lighting etc, when Cross City comes out we will be standing at the UK having three TSW3 quality routes (SEHS, SoS, and Cross City) vs only one each for Germany and US. Yes, two of those are "reworked' from TSW2 but its a pretty big improvement in visuals for SoS and visuals plus a major route improvement for SEHS.

Overall Britain seems to get as much attention if not more than the other two main regions and has more variety in playable content. Germany gets a lot of attention from DTG but not a ton of variety, all the routes are modern and mostly electric - no historical and barely any diesel. North America has a whole set of issues that could go into its own thread. With the last announcements North America doesn't even have a known route in the pipeline, just a loco.