No. Only speculation. As far as I'm concerned, I don't mind which route it actually will be, as it'll be fine anyway. Hope it's some BR era stuff though.
The North Wales Coast Mainline would be my dream route.. primarily because it's my local line, I feel as though it's got a chance but I'm not getting my hopes up at all. It would be good for variety too; • For passenger stuff we get 150s, 153s, 158s, 175s (formerly), 197sz 221s, 805s (soon), and the 67/WAG sets. • For freight we get 37s/97s (RHTT), 56s (freight and RHTT), 66s, and 70s. • For railtours we get a fair amount of stuff; (based on what I've seen) 20s, 37s, 40s, 43s, 47s, 50s, and even the 142 once! So a North Wales Coast Mainline would have a lot of variety and plenty of new loco add-ons providing DTG and/or any other developers decide to make them!
North Welsh Coast would be a nice one, along with Riviera from Exeter to Plymouth and Paignton. Of course both set in the late 70s to mid 80s!
To be fair I'd actually like to see more modern diesel routes honestly.. we've only got three routes for them: GWE, MML and FCL. Obviously I wouldn't turn down a 70s/80s route though!!
Two decades we haven't seen, and I have quite an interest in seeing are the 70s and 00s so a route (preferably diesel) in any of these decades would be perfect. The only issue with these routes in the 00s is that the peaks were long gone! Edit: licensing may also be an issue with 00s too.
Hopefully the Riviera Line. Exmouth to Exeter St, David’s and down to Paignton, and possibly through to Kingswear/Dartmouth too - 80’s or 90’s so we can use the HST, pacers, sprinters etc. I’d like to see the 153 make its debut too.
The early 2000s are weird when it comes to licensing. Some TOCs had their brands bought by the DfT meaning that they can be used. These include all BR iconography and names (obviously), Pullman and Cross Country (both filed in the 1930s, note that Cross Country has nothing to do with the TOC of the same name), Midland Main Line, WAGN, Virgin CrossCountry (this does not include the Virgin logo, but the name and logo specifically used for Virgin XC which was later withdrawn from train liveries), 'welcome aboard' (No idea how they got that one), South West Trains (used in TS), Thameslink (the original Govia franchise that was replaced by First Capital Connect), the Golden Arrow, Anglia Railways, Gatwick Express (the National Express one), Great Western Trains (prior to it becoming First Great Western), the Brighton Belle and formerly LTS Rail. There are others, and it's a very interesting list so feel free to take a look. Not everything is covered. I did a small search of former TOCs, and I couldn't find any trademarks relating to Thames Trains or Central Trains - I assume more have the same issue. Whether that means they can be used I do not know.
On the Just Trains side of things the only points of speculation I can offer are that the Pacer has destination boards for locations up and down the whole WCML (possible future proofing as with the later engine types being included). And two, during the showcase for Blackpool Branches they mentioned an interest in the idea of layering in AC electric locomotives from the right time period at Preston if it became available in the future, so perhaps they would have an interest in a route which can feature those? Also on a more solid related note, they did state somewhere that of the plans and options they had lined up, many if not all of them were around the BR Blue era. Could change in future but I reckon that's what this next one at least will be too.
This may be the case based upon BPO. If so, we might finally get to see some long gone classes turn up in game. So many worthy candidates that we so far haven't seen.
There was a developer a while back posting pictures of a Class 87 in Unreal Engine. I believe the model was just for show, but it went on to become AP's Class 87 pack in TSC. That could always hold some use as a starting point for getting an AC electric locomotive in-game for a BR-era WCML segment. Such would definitely complement BPO very well, and knowing JT they'll actually update the route to include new layers.
I hope if they keep going on with the WCML, they make it into a bit of a project and release different sections over time
Preston to Carlisle could be great to see in BR era by JT, i think that would also open up the opportunity for the APT could leave DTG to do the modern era
sounds like it would be getting a lot for JT, it is important to remember they are a smaller developer than DTG standards
They have been developing products for both Microsoft Flight Simulator, Microsoft Train Simulator and TSC for years and haven’t made a bad product yet. West Somerset and Severn Valley for MSTS were magnificent products.
Oh yes they have... It's only in the past few years that they've got good, most of their older TS routes were abysmal, and most of their rolling stock has been quite dodgy too.
I would love to see this. Many fond memories from travelling on the Avocet Line. Would like to see how they’d model the Commando Training Centre with the bottom field assault course. Maybe even see recruits doing a mud run on the estuary
Probably not modelled at all given security concerns. Anyhow the more I think about it and having spent a bit more time driving BPO the last few days, I fear we might be lifting the bar a bit too high in terms of scope or length of route for JT's next project. Suspect more likely to be another small network style focused on a location with interesting traffic flows.
There is actually a cycle path alongside the assault course on the perimeter now. With information boards on display all about the training. It’s all on public view. I myself trained there in ‘89/90.
Would love to see the Metropolitan line, but I'd imagine Preston - Carlisle set in the same time as Blackpool Branches could be a real contender
The odds would probably favour Northern England with second generation DMUs set in the 1980s. I am going for Preston to Man Vic
Preston to Manchester is a damn good call. Linking up 2 existing routes to make a bit of a cross-country journey. While I hope they do a new loco because I'm not a huge fan of Pacers, it would make sense for their next route to take full advantage of it.
Yes please! I was a student in Exmouth in the early 80s and this would bring back happy memories of the final leg of my journey from St David's to Exmouth. And the short hop from Exmouth to Topsham for a drink at The Bridge
I do remember travelling down the branch and seeing the signs stating only those on military business allowed to alight and if memory serves me correctly, a ruddy great MP manning the exit to enforce the rule. But you are probably right, if it can be seen from the train, it can be in the game. I need to take a run on the TSC Marches Line and see what, if anything, they have shown for the SAS Training Centre just south of Hereford. Back OT though, yes something like Exmouth to Paignton or Exmouth to Barnstaple would be a good second project for JT to attempt. Set it in the correct era and the 142 can layer in alongside a new Class 108 DMU which were the mainstay of the area in the late heritage DMU era. With a bit of licence you could layer in Class 31 and Class 33 loco hauled substitutions on the Barnstaple branch.
My dad worked on the railway from 1975-2000 and had a Rail Pass giving him free rail travel, he would sometimes go away for a few days on bashing trips, anyway one time he was staying at a B&B in Lympstone Village, he'd been out all day and had a few pints at a pub in Exeter, got the Train back to what he thought was Lympstone Village...turns out he got off at Commando and had someone shouting at him and pointing a rifle at him, He sobered up pretty quick at that moment, They waited with him until the next train came along and ensured he got on board haha, This would have been around Mid-80s.
Part of me is hoping for a modern Cornish Mainline from Plymouth to St Austell. Could easily be done and some fun with the Looe Valley line and Bodmin and Wenford on there too, plus Fowey. But I can see something like North Coast Wales coming, or even maybe part of WCML
North Wales coastal route would be a good one, though the TSC one was disappointing until the Holyhead extension was released. If the full Crewe to Holyhead route is too much for TSW, I'd be happy if it started from Chester. Wales and East Anglia remain un-served by TSW, I'll happily wait my turn for a good Welsh route.
I can honestly say that out of all of the mainlines from London, Chiltern is bottom of my list. Life-expired DMUs and coaching stock, painfully slow stopping services due to those DMUs and aside from the hilly bit over the Chilterns, pretty unremarkable scenery, sadly much of it now blighted by construction works for a huge white elephant that's being built between Just outside London and Just outside Birmingham.
My last trip across there was on a Class 115 DMU (showing my age). The best representation of this part of the world would have been part of the old Great Central main line, maybe Aylesbury to Rugby or Woodford to Annesley (both to get Catesby Tunnel in!) but as this was still largely steam worked at the end, not going to happen. But modern Chiltern with Turbo DMU's and welded rail along streamlined infrastructure is just going to be another variation on what we largely already have.
Hmmm the Mainline from Marylebone could be interesting...if it was set during the GCR years, Maybe Marylebone to Leicester Central. Yeah I know it's 100 miles and most of the closed route has been ripped up and built on. But I can dream lol
Personally, I think JTs route will either be a separate route, or an extension of Blackpool Branches. But one thing I personally think it will be, is, a portion of the WCML in the 1980s or 1990s. I think it will certainly be a northern portion of the WCML, so either and extension of the current Preston Station to Carlisle. Or, it will be Carlisle to Glasgow. Anyway that would be my guess...
If JT did a portion of the wcml, over shap in the 80s would be most likely imo, if it was Carlisle to Glasgow it would probably be made by DTG and set modern day to make use of the scotrail stock
What about the Woodhead line. Class 76 DC locos running double headed, 4-pan, up and over (and through) the Pennines.. iconic.
I don't think it'll be JTs new route as good as the Woodhead route sounds. No real references to obtain the sounds or physics of a 76, and if we all know JTs most recent add on for TSW we know they like to get things as accurate as possible. Where as something like a 86/87 that worked on the WCML in 1980s and 1990s, there are still ways of obtaining such things. (LSLs heritage fleet as one example).
Yeah, you’re probably right on that. I’ve just been browsing the wiki for the 76/77’s and interestingly there are several in preservation in various places. Getting sounds would be a mission though. Hopefully an electric loco is on the cards nonetheless!
I can't remember if it was a 76 or 77 that were exported to Holland, but if they had a preserved one, that might be a way of obtaining the sounds I suppose. Woodhead route is a brilliant suggestion though... the only part of it featured in the current TSW is the Glossop line.
There's always at least someone who once had access to sounds or operated the real thing and is able to provide reference material.
