Expansion Great Western Express Extended - London To Swindon

Hello, this is my suggestion for another route extension: Great Western Express Extended. Great Western Express is now over 6 years old, being one of the first DLC released for the game. Since then, the game has recieved many new trains and improvements and that's why I believe that it deserves an extension.

First of all, the route would be extended from London to Swindon (or possibly Didcot Parkway if that's too long) and be set in early 2019. This section of the Great Western Mainline is 111 km (69 miles) long.

Stations: London Paddington - Acton Main Line - Ealing Broadway - West Ealing - Hanwell - Southall - Hayes & Harlington - West Drayton - Iver - Langley - Slough - Burnham - Taplow - Maidenhead - Twyford - Reading - Tilehurst - Pangbourne - Goring & Streatley - Cholsey - Didcot Parkway - Swindon

There are also many branchlines along this route. Branchlines that would be worth adding:
- Greenford branch, from West Ealing, 4 km (3 miles)
- Heathrow airport branch, from Hayes & Harlington, 4 km (3 miles)
- Henley branch, from Twyford, 7.5 km (4.5 miles)

North pole depot should also be added, as it is the main depot for the Hitachi IETs. It is located very close to Old Oak Common.

Map of the Great Western Railway:



Map of the Heathrow branch:


Rolling stock:
GWR Class 800 and 802 "IET"

The Hitachi class 800 and 802s are high speed trains, are named IETs by GWR which stands for "Intercity Express Train". These trains run long distance services on the Great Western Mainline. As the 801 already exists in TSW, these shouldn't be too difficult to make.

GWR Class 43 HST

The HST is already on the route and would be used for long distance services, although it would be a lot less common as they were being withdrawn and replaced by IETs at this time.

GWR Class 387/1 "Electrostar"

The class 387 Electrostars were introduced on the GWML in 2016, and run commuter services from London to Didcot Parkway. These could easily be converted from the 387s from the Brighton Mainline.

GWR Class 165 and 166

The class 165 and 166 "turbo networker" units would run most branchlines on this route. As the 166 already exists in TSW, the 165 and 2-car variants can be made. I'm not sure about these trains' mainline operations.

TFL Class 345 "Aventra"

The Class 345 are part of the Bombardier "Aventra" family and were built for the Elizabeth line. As the Class 710 Aventra was recently revealed (or at least teased), the 345 would be easier to make. These trains would run between London and Reading as well as the Heathrow branch.

Heathrow Express Class 387 "Electrostar"

Heathrow Express uses the same 387/1s as GWR. These trains run non-stop services from London Paddington to the Heathrow Airport stations. If licensing is an issue, GWR 387s could be used instead.

With the amount of trains, branchlines and service types, I think that this route would be a big success for TSW. I believe that it would fit well as one of the main routes for TSW 5 or 6, just like Southeastern Highspeed was done for TSW 3. Thank you for reading

 

Heathrow Express won't happen for security reasons (unless it was AI only).

Not too long at 69 miles, that is just around enough to give the IET and HST a good run.

 

Yeeeeeees because of network!!!!!

 

I think the original GWE is considered a legacy route now, so won’t be expanded as such.. but a remastered, updated (electrification presumably) and branches added ‘new route’ would be possible.

Have ‘older’ routes ever been remastered in this way before, in this game or TSC?

 

They probably won't extend gwe as it's a old route now and won't make any gwr loco dlc or routes (modern day) due to licensing as they lost the GWR licensing and probably won't get it back as gwr comes from First group wich owns Southwestern railway that the reason for the fake livery on the 484

 

A change of era is a perfect way to do it. Currently it is set in 2015, but a setting of 1990s with NSE and Intercity stock would work but would be diesel only. If set in the early 1990s we could have a pre Heathrow branch version which would also have the additional station of Westbourne Park just outside Paddington. If it is indeed true that the GWR licence is gone, I see it highly unlikely that we will get a current electrified iteration unless done with a debranded green livery for all GWR stock. A version including all branches is long overdue now but should feature all 6, both passenger and freight. Perhaps even the Basingstoke branch could make it 7. The current version leaves so much out compared to the real route and needs a complete makeover. I would be happy to help with local details relating to the West London part of the line as I am a local resident.

 

What about oxford, Gatwick and Penzance?

 

Oxford could be feasible. Penzance is far too far. Gatwick needs the North Downs Line via Guildford and Redhill which is probably best as a standalone route.

 

Other option is Paddington to Oxford, or add the outer suburban branches to the existing route.

What we don’t know is what state the uncooked master version of the route is in, if it’s fit to even be worked on let alone extended.

 

In any case, the original GWE is now somewhat pitiful by current standards and a face-lift is the only viable solution, however this might be achieved. Here I go again holding my breath and crossing every extremity of my body.

 

Green ford, oxford and Swindon?

 

it is but the reason is the technology of the route is outdated it would probably be easier to rebuild it

legacy is just a word for non TSW4 dlc though, not in anyway a total right off.

 

That's a shame. There is so much potential for a new Great Western route

 

They're all too long, but they could do Gatwick to Reading (although I doubt they would). There are many possibilities with the Great Western network

 

I don’t think Oxford is too long if a complete new route was done yes Oxford and Heathrow with the side paths would be good or Paddington to Bristol

 

Any proof ?

 

How about instead heading west from Swindon towards Bristol Temple Meads via Bath Spa? Include the line down to Westbury for more local services and freight, completing a nice little network. There's the option for the Class 800/802 and the Class 150/158 to be included with layers for the HST and Class 166.

Upgrading GWE would be great, but part of that reasoning is being able to explore new extensions to that route, so why not spend the time creating something completely new rather than rebuilding a route you are mostly familiar with already.

 

We could have that.

 

Having it go to Swindon and include Oxford or Newbury would be a great idea

 

What's the security reason...? If there's like a secret passage like between T4 and T12&3 on the picaddilly line then that's reasonable enough for DTG to just miss it otherwise what is it?

 

To be honest they could also do with adding the Windsor and Eton central, Marlow, Bourne end and Heathrow branches if they improve GWML

 

Not entirely sure, but that's what I've heard others say here.

I think it may be to do with the station being in the airport itself.

 

The station is landside so security isnt a problem

 

The security for Heathrow is more than likely the tunnels/layout, it’s all airport infrastructure. It becomes a map of the place if a route was done.

 

Security is precisely the reason the Heathrow branch won't come to TSW.

 

I do ponder if “security” is a bit of an urban legend. The tunnel and track layout can be gleaned from Open Street Map and flight simulation, as I’ve remarked before, seems to have no issue representing Heathrow and every other UK airport in accurate detail including radio frequencies for comms and radar including ILS.

 

I believe that the problem is with the owners of the line. This line is owned by Ferrovial who are the owners of HAL (Heathrow Airport Ltd) and they are notoriously difficult to communicate with. Hence it is difficult to acquire a license from them. This is how I understand the situation (until someone with more insight can update me).

 

Not in TSW as far as I know - I believe the upcoming remaster for the WSR route is the first time DTG's gone back to retool an existing route, not counting the extended version of Southeastern High Speed.

 

I understand that and agree but I think it becomes an extra problem if they themselves are providing that information aswell, it mounts up the issue and comes directly from them, they start to take that responsibility.

 

Let’s not forget that the Heathrow Branch would have to be simultaneously licensed alongside Heathrow Express (or whoever operates the route nowadays!) and also the rolling stock they use (387’s?).

No point going to great lengths with airport licensees if you can’t get the TOC’s license in the first place!

 

That could also then mean the picaddilly line can't become a thing then?

 

Outer suburban is a must, and just an extension to Swindon and Oxford should do.

 

I would much rather have the Elizabeth line. If they were going to charge at least 25 pounds then I would expect a pretty extensive route. I am not interested in this route however I can understand why it could be popular. The stations are very different on the GWE now as a result of the Elizabeth line so it may be a challenge to implement it if you want it set in the current day.

 

Just a disclaimer that I'm only parroting what has been said by others.

 

They could remove the Heathrow section if that is likely and terminate the trains at Northfields and Uxbridge going westbound

 

I am assuming that Open Street View would work however that complicates things for Dovetail. Would this route be possible or would the security issue be a severe problem. I would love the London Underground. I would prefer the Central and District lines however I know this would be the most popular and I admire this route. It would be a great time to create this route before the new rolling stock are implemented however I am unsure whether it may be to big of a challenge. Please can you clarify this to the forums page. Sorry to disturb you. DTG Alex

 

Wouldn’t be against a new iteration of GWE but would definitely have to offer something different to the current one, outwith just bringing it to modern day.

Ideally to Bristol would be great but probably unlikely. Failing that Oxford/ Banbury plus one of the branches such as Henley on Thames would be quite appealing. Would defo need a couple of new trains though atleast the 800 and 345. So would be a pretty big project route, probably only at a new game launch.

 

But Gatwick airport worked just fine?

 

I wouldn't mind seeing this in TSW 5

 

Like I said above

 

GWR have withdrawn the license for TSW, so DTG won't do any GWR related content.

 

You have any proof of that

 

No proof, but it's been mentioned many times.

You could ask d.heal for his source

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/gwr-extended-leaked-theory.75776/

 

Still doesn't prove that DTG don't have a GWR license until they say otherwise

 

This debate goes round and round with no clear answers as to its validity.

 

There's no proof they have and no proof they don't.

 

For the era you are suggesting the class 360/2’s can be added as they were withdrawn in 2020

 

I wouldn't see this route being recreated on TSW as all the stations are now Elizabeth Line. I think if they were to do that, they would have to speek to TFL in order to do it.

 

I used to love going on the 360/2 Heathrow Connect, I wish they could be added, but they are withdrawn which is sad

 

Along with the Class 165/1 and Class 180 dmus, the Class 360/2 was actually in service at the time the original route is set and a perfect type to add as dlc. This is another thing that would be vastly beneficial to players because GWE has never received a single locomotive dlc that is period accurate.