Route Portsmouth Direct Line

The Portsmouth Direct Line

This proposal outlines the potential for the Portsmouth Direct Line to be developed as a route for Train Sim World, offering a mix of gameplay, rolling stock, and expansion opportunities.

Why the Portsmouth Direct Line?

• Varied Gameplay: The route features a mix of challenging hills, sharp turns, and diverse speed limits.
• Iconic Terminus: London Waterloo, with its 24 platforms, is a major UK railway hub and would be a fantastic addition to TSW.
• Rolling Stock Variety: The line utilizes Class 444 and 450 EMUs, offering a different train to be used on the different timetables.
• AI Potential: The route could feature AI trains from other TSW packs (e.g. Class 377)
• DLC Opportunities: Suburban routes and additional rolling stock (Class 442, 458) could be offered as DLC.
• Conductor Mode: The line's busy services would make excellent use of TSW's conductor mode, adding another dimension to gameplay.

Route Details

• Possible Scope: Ideally, the route would cover the full line from Portsmouth Harbour to London Waterloo. A shorter version from Portsmouth Harbour to Woking could be considered.
• Services: Include a mix of stopping, semi-fast, and fast services to accurately reflect the timetable.

Rolling Stock

• Core Route: Class 450 EMUs could be developed with moderate effort by reusing and modifying the existing Class 350 from the WCML route. Class 444 EMUs would need to be made but the sounds are the same (I believe)
• DLC: Introduce the Class 442 or 458 as DLC, expanding gameplay options. (These were proposed to run on the route and tested)

Licensing and Operators

• South Western Railway: Securing licensing may be challenging seeing as they did not give out licensing to the Island Line add-on.
• Other Operators: GWR and Southern already feature in TSW, making licensing more feasible. Southeastern could also be included for AI trains at Waterloo East.

Conclusion

The Portsmouth Direct Line offers a compelling package for Train Sim World, with its gameplay, rolling stock, and expansion potential. It would be an amazing addition to the simulation, appealing to a wide range of players.

Feedback and Suggestions

Community feedback would be nice! Please share your thoughts and suggestions to help fix up and expand this proposal and increase its chances of being noticed by Dovetail Games.

 

This route is long overdue.

 

I like the structure of this suggestion.

Also, we need an SWR route (or any route in an era in that part of the network really).

The 450 is a good shout, being the 350's 3rd rail cousin. The fact they're Desiros (including the 444) is good as they all use the same sounds AFAIK. The only thing which might mean we don't get both (licensing aside) is having access to the trains themselves.

The licensing itself isn't a big deal. Can't get the license, have it unbranded instead.

 

Would love to see this route set in 80s when slamdoor stock and 50s ruled those rails

 

If we can't get SWR we could get SWT through the same process as the EMT license. I'd kinda prefer it anyways, although we'd lose the 442 (assuming it's in the late stages of the SWT franchise) we can still include the 455 (which I believe is a more important train as it essentially represents all the commuter trains to Guildford and some Reading). The contrast of white and blue Desiros would be great to see, while see the 455s plying at their trade. 458s could be included, but wouldn't be fussed if they never came (unless we get the 460). I think the PDL would be great but IIRC DTG don't want to always do carbon copies of routes already in TSC, so to differentiate it they could include the commuter lines via Epsom and Cobham to Guildford. I rarely travel them so don't know how much of a difference there is but would be great to utilise the 455s.

 

Don't forget the Class 158 and 159 fleets as dlc.

 

This would be fantastic addition to TSW5. This is the new "Rush Hour" we've all been waiting for if this we're to go ahead. The Hampton Court Branch should be added to this though as it's just a short branch line for the route. I think this would be absolutely phenomenal if we got this as a full route. I'm a big fan of the SWR network. However it's very ambitious but I would absotuley love to include the hounslow loop or strawberry hill branches but this is probably asking way too much but this would honestly provide a 5 star game.

 

Hampton Court should be included as part of a South Western Suburban route as there are several other branches and routes near the London end that also need creation.

 

I'd honestly pay £39.99 plus additional dlc for the content of this route. I think if they deliver a large route with this suggestion DTG could change a lot of perception of gameplay and and have DTG deliver content as a whole and player would largely respect the amount of work and detail that can go into this route. I'm really down for this route if I'm honest and I hope DTG take this suggestion and a small branch line or two just to prevent the line being very linear and we could end up seeing another 5 star dlc such as a rush hour.

WCML has been the new rush hour with up to date textures and gameplay and with the timetable being fixed it's actually a really fun dlc to play I just hope this could be our new rush hour 3.0

 

If they also had it to southampton and branches then I would Pay that too

 

I'd imagine it would either need to go to Portsmouth or Soton. Having both seems like a massive job considering how busy the route is in general and wouldn't be feasible to develop. Maybe two separate routes though, that would be nice.

 

Potentially a add-on to southampton or Bournemouth

 

Going all the way to Portsmouth Harbour is already a push, it would likely appear as two routes, split at Woking or Guildford. Even the first version in TSC didn't go all the way to London Waterloo originally.

 

I totally agree. I hope that they will be able to make this route and utilise the terminus of London Waterloo. If they were to shorten it then I would prefer Waterloo to Guildford or Woking.

 

I agree. I love the Southern (London Commuter) and I believe that this route would be similar as it offers the variety of services. The route would be incredible and I would love for it to feature

 

Yeah that would be better, it would allow for the suburban routes potentially. Or they could release it Waterloo-Guildford/Woking and then add the rest of the line as DLC. There's so many opportunities DTG could take which is why I suggested it.

 

For DTG to shorten the route they would have to add a suburban route additionally to the line such as the Houslow loop etc but I think if this was go to go ahead multiple routes' should be added to this line just to give more gameplay to this route rather than another generic linear route

So much could be added to this route with a lot of suburban lines such as strawberry hill, hounslow loop, shepperton line. I would only really approve of this if DTG went the extra to add majority of the suburban lines too this would seriously provide a great level of gameplay of multiple destinations to terminate at.

If trains go via Epsom they could also reuse the 377 in game too

 

Don't say Woking!! Guildford only (could allow for the commuter lines as well). W'loo to Guildford is about 40 minutes while to Woking is 30 so a bit too short.

 

Justrains just did over 80miles so who says the swml cant be. Just it would be a higher price and take a bit more work

 

Yeah, to be fair you are correct. I should not allow DTG to get away with this again. Guildford should be the minimum yet I can see them doing it to Woking

 

I would say that the SWR would be worth loads if they were to include it especially if it included a large proportion of the network

 

I think a good package would be Waterloo to Guildford + another SWT suburban line, whether that being the Kingston Loop or the line via Cobham & Stoke D'Abernon. The problem I feel with Portsmouth Harbour to Woking would be driving all that way, then having to give up your train knowing Waterloo is just down the road.

Great suggestion, surely it is only a matter of time before we see a route like this.

 

I think if they got a SWR license they would have to make multiple addons probably more than two.

 

South west trains, network sourheast, BR Blue, BR (Steam) or Southern (Steam) is the current list of potential licensing SWR will be once they are 100% under Great British Railways

 

I totally agree and love your suggestions. I think there would be a variation of services which would be great aswell

 

Don't forget. It looks like SWT is the first TOC to be absorbed into Great British Railways in about 5-6 months' time.
In development terms that's no time at all. The two others going later in the summer are C2C and my local TOC Greater Anglia.

Us English rail fans must be hopeful that DTG get the GBR licence and some endless possibilities for content.

 

It would suck if gbr said no.

 

Yes.
I’ve seen this preview before and thought the same..

 

Sorry could you elaborate on this preview as it is not showing

 

Ah, it’s the Video125 cab ride of the very route you’re suggesting. Portsmouth Harbour all the way up to Waterloo. Should be easy to find on YouTube if you’re interested!

 

Sounds great! Thanks so much for the response