Lirr - The Differences?

I’m thinking of purchasing LIRR Commuter. I loved the original LIRR route but I wondered what the differences are? Is it a brand new line or simply a remake of the original route with an extension?

 

Its the original route but with extra branches and a fresher feel you 2 trains plus a dlc train if wish to purchase it still nothing layers into

 

thank you. Might wait for a sale and play the original again. I’m guessing it’s busier too?

 

I would recommend LIRR2. one of my favorite routes in the game.

 

Way, way, WAY more traffic (busiest route in TSW), and signals that actually work properly. Also much more accurate PIS and signage (not perfect, but a lot closer to the real thing)

 

Lirr commuter have safety systems always on

 

If you liked the original, you will love it. It's what the original should have been.

 

wouldn't play the route without safety systems on so for me is not an issue. I'm actually surprise more operators don't required this.

 

LIRR2 is currently 50% off on Steam

 

im the same. I see no fun in this game at all without them turned on at all times. It’s just Train Arcade World without them

I’m on Xbox so could be waiting a while. Wish I’d picked it up in December but I bought Harlem instead. I know there’s an Xbox sale on now but can anybody remember if there was an Easter Xbox sale last year? I know it’s a Microsoft issue not DTG but it’s a bit frustrating

some great in-depth feedback here tho, thank you

 

I think it's understandable that it turns many people off at first, as it might seem like the speed drop just happens randomly and punishes you out of nowhere.

But if you stop thinking about them as "penalty" and realize that they are also quite predictable after a few runs, they are much less of an issue.

I mean half of it is literally just enforcing the wayside signal speed limits, which you should be following anyway. Other half is track speed limit, admittedly quite often getting enforced before the actual speed limit change. But you get used to it and learn to predict it. But even if you do not, there is no issue. You just slow down and it stops beeping.

 

Lets hope they don't, so people can enjoy the game their own way, without being forced to play to a specific way. Safety systems should be optional.

 

Have to take issue with that.

Safety systems are a combination of wayside signalling, speed boards, whistle boards, directional indicators, in cab signalling and other functions.

What would you dispense with? AWS, SIFA, ATC or wayside signs or in cab speedos?

Without safety systems, you're not simming the real railway.

 

I like AWS since it actually helps me be aware of signals, but SIFA is just annoying. Not using ATC either. Wayside signs are useful, but can be ignored. In cab speedos is just a basic feature, not a safety system.

So what. If people want to enjoy the game without "simming the real railway", how does that affect you? I've never said safety systems should be removed from the game, all I want is them being optional. It's one of the reasons I haven't bought the new LIRR (but not the only reason).

 

I used to play without safety systems at the beginning of my "journey", but I got bored of it quickly... when I managed to learn the safety stuff and signalling (tho especially US signalling I cant say I have mastered even to this day, but then, if you follow in-cab stuff you cant go wrong, so in-game you dont really have to know the name and meaning of every single signal), every single run has become engaging... because you have to keep attention... some are more chill, some require really constant attention... it got to the point where I am kinda bummed that the safety stuff isnt properly implemented and enforced on Metrolink/Caltrain routes, but there I managed to find enjoyment in other stuff (dynamic braking, speed management etc)

I know it may seem hard to learn, but one doesnt have to learn it all in a day... it is a combination of reading, watching some vids, asking for advice here, and of course personal practise... and in the end it is so rewarding... even learning from own mistakes - recently I had played Frankfurt Fulda, approaching Hanau and I got a signal I didnt recognize - asked here, studied a bit and next time I got through that section without penalty braking

and when talking specifically about LIRR, I am glad they put safety stuff as mandatory (though I was a tiny bit bummed they automated the brake charging procedure), so now I dont have to go switch hunting... the only more "involved" stuff you may do (but also may decide to ignore) is inputting the train number to get correct PIS on the train... the on-board systems do so much it is pretty easy now to drive... I especially love the system (ASC or sth, I think) that when beeps, you only have to acknowledge, and it brakes for you

so for me that change was for the better... and really, there are a couple super-great videos on this signalling by tygerways and cactusjuice, I think, that explain everything in great detail, yet so simple (also Matt did a couple runs to show off the systems and how they work)... so it is up to guys to put in the work ... and it is enjoyable

 

I'm rather more annoyed they removed the door keys at the licensor's insistence

 

LIRR2 is one of the few routes that I’m able to drive hudlless. I can’t say that about many routes. The signaling was done so well and makes it so rewarding to be able to drive it realistic

 

If you are on the PS4 and using the newer one of the route, you find it crashes the game near Jamaica

 

Yea you will find gen 8 doesn’t do well with newer routes.

 

I’ve just bought after some great in depth feedback so thank you. Seems very much worth paying full price for and as I said, I did love the original route.

I’ve ridden the line in real life a few times and that always helps with a purchase. Looking forward to maybe playing hudless. The only route I can do that with currently is Manchester Glossop as I’ve lived in Manchester my entire life and my knowledge of the route is good. I actually live on the upcoming Airport Commuter line so if I’m not hudless within a week when that comes out I’ll be very disappointed. Looking forward to getting stuck into this in the meantime

 

I'm thinking of purchasing this route and was wondering if there are any areas to run freight on the branch lines?

 

Well, there aren't any in the timetable. But there are plenty of sidings around the route that one could use by spawning some cars and playing around with them.

 

If you're on PC, there's a mod to counter this

 

LIRR 2.0 is basically an expanded version of the original route. It’s set to 2018-19 era. A LOT has changed in real life since then. A third track has been added between Hicksville and Floral Park. Most platforms have been lengthened to 12 cars. New signals have been installed in various locations across the system, as well as a few new interlockings. They cut a hole in the wall at the Vanderbilt yard, so trains no longer have to reverse out of the yard to reach Atlantic Terminal. Grand Central - Madison also opened since then. 2.0 is great; but sheesh, I wish things were updated to current times. Lots of AI trains. The most busy U.S route to date.

 

I personally like it it being set in the past a few years. I prefer NY Penn over Grand Central.

 

Wow this is brilliant. As an owner of the original route, I have absolutely no issue paying full price for an upgrade of this quality. It’s very quickly made its way into my top tier

 

The difference is like between a crust of stale bread and all inclusive banquet.
I'm not saying LIRR 2.0 is that good. No. It's just that LIRR 1.0 is that bad.

 

Night and day. Scenery wise not a ton has changed (other than the new lighting), but outside of that it’s so much better. The new signalling/timetable make it feel like the real busy New York experience that it should. The old one was basically LIRR if it took place during a zombie apocalypse.

 

Scenery wise the biggest difference are the new terrain textures, which look better than the old ones did. Also the whistle posts, which were missing previously.

Sadly the areas where you can see empty green hills just a few blocks away from the tracks are still there.

 

Still don't understand why the Manhattan skyline is missing

 

This thread inspired me to play some LIRR2 last night.

Took an M7 from Penn Station to Long Beach as the sun was setting- very nice!

Might be my favorite US route now- it's so busy and so many varied service patterns.

I'd pay big $ for another expansion to add more branches and some of the diesel equipment (fwiw we don't really have any MOW equipment for the US- an Amtrak or MTA set would be dope).

But with all the licensing difficulties i doubt DTG will ever go near LIRR again.

 

I'll keep pushing on my end. no guarantees but would love more LIRR stuff

 

The main advantages are the amazing signaling and the great timetable (we need more M3!). Of course, the scenery is weak and unreliable. But, as I see it, many are ready to close their eyes to the main disadvantages for the sake of the main advantages.

 

The scenery isn’t great but as somebody who commuted from Long Beach - Penn for years, I can say it does enough to capture what the different neighborhoods feel like. Long Island definitely feels like Long Island.

As for Queens, Austin’s Alehouse and Danny’s Pizza are neighborhood icons that are missing from Kew Gardens, but the stop still feels like Kew Gardens enough… And the rest of Queens feels a lot like Queens; while Austin Street isn’t anywhere close to real life, it looks commercial enough, and the residential side of Forest Hills has the correct architecture. Woodside feels pretty much like Woodside. Etc…

Would love to have a better recreation but the neighborhoods are distinct enough for me to tell where I’m at along the route, and I suppose that’s all I want in a game focused primarily on the rails.

 

Based on cab ride footage, I would say the worst offenders are the Atlantic branch and the Hempstead branch.

The elevated section on the Atlantic branch are really badly made. The elevated track structure looks nothing like in real life. Also the buildings around you are much lower than in real life, especially notceable at the curve where the tracks go underground at Nostrand Ave. In overall that avenue is just very badly represented in game.

As for the Hempstead branch, I feel like there's just not enough foilage. From videos it feels much denser and much more trees around the tracks.

 

And the bridges around Jamaica are made in the style of "there are tracks hanging in the air on some surface", even if in reality there is a tunnel. There is a lack of vegetation. And I am not talking about density, but about situations when there are zero trees in game. Distant scenery, especially from Woodside to the tunnels, are not there at all. Many buildings are simply placed according to the principle "there is some building here". It doesn't matter what kind of building it is in reality (I'm not asking you to create every model from IRL prototype, but at least keep to the approximate dimensions).
I watched dozens of videos, and all of them have magnets on the tracks, although many assured me that they are not there in reality. Apparently they put them specifically for the video footage, and then they will remove them. Or why else is there not a single magnet in the game?

 

Because this is a new branch that was done properly, and not in a slapdash manner, like the old part of the route.

 

At least they added the W signs for the crossings.

 

That, and there was also some improved scenery alongside the old areas as well. Like take a look at the difference in Jamaica between the two versions.