Should the Great Western Railway license ever be renewed/sorted out for TSW, a route I’d really like to see is the highly requested and popular Riviera Line. This would be set in the modern/present day era. Starting at Exeter to the north and Paignton to the south of the route, you pass along the iconic Dawlish Sea Wall. Plenty of photo opportunities here and stunning scenery along the way. I’d also include the line down to Plymouth, to allow for a bit of mainline working as well. Route: Exeter to Paignton and Plymouth. Mileage: 60 miles Stations: 13 Rolling stock opportunities: - Class 166 - Class 80x - Castle HST and/or full size set depending on year set - Class 150 - Class 158 - Class 66
Seeing as this route doesn’t necessarily need new stock added to it, maybe a voyager dlc, this route seems very likely for the game. the 802 could be reused and tweaked from Doncaster the 150 could he completely gutted from the absolute nonsense rivet one. the 166 could be layered on from GWE. it seems perfect.
Even if we never get a modern day version, we practically have all the stock already for a 70's/80's/90's era version instead. Class 08, 31, 45, 47, 52 and the 101 were all commonplace and a Valenta HST would be a useful new addition, allowing for new layers on other routes already in-game. It's such an iconic route that it has to happen at some point eventually.
While I do want this route in the game, I’d much prefer it done either in the 1950’s with original GWR locomotives (this is all hoping that DTG will resume steam traction development at some point in the future). If not steam, then I’d happily take it in late 1960’s with a focus on the Western Diesel-Hydraulic locomotives. This is one of those routes that you can’t really go wrong with in any era to be honest, they could even do a TS Classic approach and do a modern and a historic version.
A good era would be the early 90’s, transition from heritage DMU’s to Sprinters. Mixture of HST’s and loco hauled on inter regional services. Valenta HST’s on Western internal express services, with the odd Class 47 or 50 loco hauled train. Pre privatisation so no licensing issues. New/reworked stock, perm any from the following… Class 108 Derby Lightweight heritage DMU. Properly modelled Class 150/2. Class 155 for Alphaline “Regional Express” services. Depending on exact era maybe post conversion to Class 153 single cars. HST reworked into Paxman version and InterCity livery. Class 50 with Mark Two aircons also in IC livery which could also work with IC livery Class 47/8’s on the inter regional loco hauled services.
