PS4 Blackpool Branches Crashing Near/in Preston

I think it's been 5 updates since I started seeing this issue. Unfortunately for me, it was an issue right after I bought this DLC back in the beginning of this year (so yes, I've been unable to do a run that passes Preston station).
Also yes, I know it's been a long time since I've been on here. I've recently started playing TSW often again.

The issue is the game crashes if you:
A) Load into a service that begins at Preston station
B) Drive a service to within 1 or 2-ish miles of Preston

I've also seen a post about this happening on PS5 too. Surely DTG should've fixed this issue at least 3 patches ago? It's been 5 patches at least since I bought Blackpool Branches and nothing has been done about it. It's quite disgusting that DTG would leave a route in a basically unplayable state like this. I can forgive things like station modelling not being 100% accurate or lighting being weird once in a while. But this, I can't forgive! I paid good money for the route and I would like to at least play it!

The only way I've got any use out of the DLC is using the pacer on WCL and WCML. I know for a fact Blackpool Branches was not like this upon release, so a patch must have broken it. I can't be the only one who's noticed this issue.

 

This won't help in the slightest, but it doesn't crash for me on Xbox.

 

It's 1.9mi from the Salwick side and 2.9mi from the Croston side.

Before I upgraded my console my work around was to spawn at Salwick and take over the AI trains running towards Blackpool North or South. You can still complete them and get a platinum.

Not the best but every single ticket I submit get closed and this issue was 'solved' patches ago

 

Not sure whether this helps. I had severe crashes on BPO, in particular when the Class 31 DLC from TVL was installed. My workaround was to go back to TSW4. I only installed BPO and the routes/locos that layered onto it. That worked fine for me on PS4 standard.

Certainly not ideal, but hey...

 

Unfortunately I skipped TSW4 and went right to 5 after taking a long break from the series. I thought that the TSW4 version might be OK, so it's nice to have confirmation that's indeed the case. What a strange situation, though. It's a shame because reviews for the route were very good and it's excellent for players who enjoy the 80s BR railscene like me.

 

I hadn't thought of that. Thanks! I'll have to give that a try and see how it goes. The spawning on foot is a feature I've genuinely never used before.

I imagine I have to guess what the right time to spawn at Salwick is to catch the service. I don't think there's a way to speed up time, right? Also, the fact this ticket has been closed is quite...shameful, really. Issues ought to be fixed before they're closed or at least a reason provided for closing it.

 

Out of curiosity, where did the crashes happen? Were they random or at a certain place?

Mine just crashed even though I spawned on foot at Kirkham, taking the AI train to Blackpool North. It crashed about 0.1 miles from Layton towards Blackpool. Shame...it was going so well, too

 

What I would do was pick the service I wanted to do from Preston (eg, the 9:30am to BP North) and spawn at Salwick at that time. It gives the fame some time to load textures while the AI drives from Preston to Salwick and then I just hope on board once it pulls in and take control, with safeties and somewhat OK driving I was able to get a platinum with about 200ap wiggle room between plat and gold. - it's only about a 5 minute wait anyway.

Every ticket I submitted, some with quite detailed info, I got the same general response of "its not enough memory in your console, sorry" and it's closed. Which is sad in my opinion for two reasons. Firstly, BPB is playable on TSW4 so it's not an issue of memory. And second is that seemingly because it happens to be only effecting a small amount of 8th gen players, it doesn't look like either JT or DTG are working on a fix or even planning a fix.

This could be because 8th gen is being phased out (see recent 9th gen/PC only releases) with TSW6 likely to be announced by years end, and add in that JT are working on their two new loco DLC packs and you get the perfect storm of circumstances for the issue to fall into any number of cracks.

Not having a go or trying to throw shade, this is just my opinion of how it looks - being a very recent 9th gen upgrader I still feel for 8th gen players but after seeing the difference between the two I have to admit that the 8th gen version of TSW is good but it really IS showing its age now.