Tie 1 10. WCML: Over Shap vs 1. NEC: Boston - Providence A meeting between Just Trains' most recent route and one of America's two surviving routes. WCML or NEC, which is your pick? Tie 2 4. Tees Valley Line vs 11. Southeastern Highspeed Tees Valley Line - the worst-performing of any route to get to round 2, is currently on-track for a big game against 2023 Finalist SEHS. Could a shock be on the cards for the Dark Horse of this tournament? Tie 3 6. San Bernardino Line vs 8. Niddertalbahn TSG's Niddertalbahn takes on the newly-released San Bernardino Line, one of only two American routes which survive in a total mismatch of routes. Tie 4 5. Suffragette Line/Goblin vs 2. Cathcart Circle Line In tie 4 it's the Suffragette Line (GOBLIN) up against Cathcart Circle Line in a commuter battle. Will the GOBLIN trump the newly-remastered Glasgow Suburban, or will Scotland's sole survivor last into the 4th Round? Tie 5 13. Dresden-Riesa vs 12. WCML South DRA against WCML South, the most controversial candidate so far. Will last year's finalist DRA manage to push itself once again? Tie 6 9. Salzburg - Rosenheim vs 14. Ruhr Sieg Nord It's (almost) an all-German battle here with Salzburg - Rosenheim of Bavaria/Austria taking on the Ruhr-Sieg region. Hard one to call, but one has to go through. Tie 7 7. Brighton Main Line vs 3. Blackpool Branches Finally, a clash between last year's Semi-Finalist and last year's champion. Their paths didn't cross last time, so it's hard to say how Blackpool will stand against this Rush Hour classic. (Note - just like last year, we're set for all three Rush Hour routes to make it to R3!) Voting You'll receive SEVEN votes, one for each tie. However, we've got a twist here. Because this round has 14, the next will have 7. As such, one route in there will receive a pass into the final, with this based on it's score in this stage. So, every vote counts more. Not that you'll know where each route stands until after you've voted... So, this is maybe one race you'll be wanting to keep an eye on... What's Guaranteed? Well, we have 3 all-British ties here, meaning 3 will be going through. Likewise, there's one all-German. So, we'll have 3 UK Routes in the semis and one German. This means we are guaranteed a UK Route in the final!
WCMLOS vs NEC BP - don't own either - but WCMLOS has to take the W for the quality based on screenshots! TVL vs SEHS - SEHS - modern era, my preference SBL vs ND - SBL is just too slow for me. Don't own ND, but quality looks great. SL vs CCL - Very close one - I have SL and enjoy it, so opted for this over CCL which I do not own. I am interested in getting CCL though, and this may beat it in future world cups once I've played it for myself. DR vs WCMLS - WCMLS - much better since Liam's update, and I prefer UK routes SR vs RSN - Don't own either. Voted SR in another round, so it won in this one too for consistency BML vs BB - don't own either - BB is great quality from what I've seen based on screenshots, but BML beats it as modern era which I prefer. Close one though, as not too fond of electrostars. The availability of the 700 mod is what helped me make my choice! (N.B. I don't know proper route acronyms ) Thanks for putting on this World Cup OP, it's been surprisingly fun! Looking forward to see which route wins!
And just like previous years, US routes don't stand any chance due to the onslaught of decent 1st party UK/DE routes and excellent 3rd party routes......
Yes, maybe, but, America, well, railroads are ... reduced to freight or commuter, there is no high-speed long-distance traffic (ok, not talking about Northeastern Corridor, but...), e.g. Peninsula Corridor, an ACELA service San Francisco-Los Angeles as a change, which starts in SF, stops in Millbrae, and then rushes through to San Jose, would offer some variety...and that would make Peninsula Corridor a really strong route. You just miss the option of the different types of possible trips.
There is also a UK bias to an extent. If FFA cant beat BML even though it is about the same in length and just as linear but beats it in variety of services, safety systems and layers, then Im not sure what kind of non-UK route can beat it. Maybe SKA with the new timetable would fare better.
Some good ties there and nice to see Goblin getting pounded by Cathcart. The rest pretty much as you would expect. Hopefully in this one the WCML South will be packing its bags for the early flight home…
WCML had a lead during the early hours (posted after the Europeans mostly went to sleep) so I'd imagine it's exhausted it's core support. Definitely the most controversial pick so far. Also happy to see Cathcart winning. No particular reason
There's nothing wrong with Goblin per se, the route and train both put together well. Just doesn't inspire. Cathcart also an electric bus service but kicks off from the centre spot by being a network and gets an early goal by featuring Glasgow Central!
If Just Trains continues to produce an excellent route once a year, they will be like Glasgow Celtic, predictable, perennial winners over the also rans. And until we get a decent new route with new locos, the US has no chance.
