Hi everyone, Here is my suggestion for a Train Sim World 5 route, SWML: London Waterloo - Southampton Central (or optionally Weymouth). Given that we don't have any routes available in the South West region (and another station in London, Waterloo), this might be the perfect opportunity to introduce one of the routes and rolling stock, including the new operator, South Western Railway. Route: The route will pass through the following stations: London Waterloo - Vauxhall - Queenstown Road (Battersea) - Clapham Junction - Earlsfield - Wimbledon - Raynes Park - New Malden - Berrylands - Surbiton - Esher - Hersham - Walton-on-Thames - Weybridge - Byfleet & New Haw - West Byfleet - Woking - Brookwood - Farnborough (Main) - Fleet - Winchfield - Hook - Basingstoke - Micheldever - Winchester - Shawford - Eastleigh - Southampton Airport Parkway - Swaythling - St. Denys - Southampton Central; and optionally an extension to Weymouth: Millbrook - Redbridge - Totton - Ashurst New Forest - Beaulieu Road - Brockenhurst - Sway - New Milton - Hinton Admiral - Christchurch - Pokesdown - Bournemouth - Branksome - Parkstone - Poole - Hamworthy - Holton Heath - Wareham - Wool - Moreton - Dorchester South - Upwey - Weymouth. The route could be laid in 2019 (or earlier), before the withdrawal of the Class 442 "Wessex Express" EMUs. Rolling stock: - BR Class 442 "Wessex Electric" - an electric multiple unit used on express services on the London Waterloo-Weymouth route and regional services. - BR Class 444 and Class 450 "Desiro" - electric multiple units from the "Desiro UK" family, operating on the London Waterloo–Weymouth, London Waterloo–Southampton (Class 444) and London Waterloo–Woking, London Waterloo–Basingstoke, London Waterloo–Portsmouth (Class 450) routes - BR Class 455 - electric multiple unit used to operate on the London Waterloo - Wimbledon and Surbiton routes. - BR Class 458 "Juniper" - electric multiple unit from the "Coradia Juniper" family manufactured by Alstom in the late 1990s. The route will be operated by Class 458/5 variants (from the original series and rebuilt Class 460 trains). - BR Class 67 - a diesel locomotive, used on freight trains (this could be a great opportunity to introduce a locomotive other than the Class 66). "Layer" rolling stock: - BR Class 66 - freight trains (alongside the Class 67), - BR Class 47 (NTP, Blackpool Branches, WSR, WCML: Preston-Carlisle) - vintage trains - BR Class 33 (from WSR) with the blue and yellow British Rail livery - vintage trains So here is my route concept (and suggestion) for Train Sim World 5.
This would be good except it may be hard to get the class 442s as they no longer exist. It would be great to have the SWML.
As the 442s have all been scrapped, is there another similar sounding train that could be used to source sounds from?
Unfortunately, when the class 442s returned to SWR they didn't operate many services (I only recall ever seeing one of them once) . I think they used the same traction from older slam-door stock, so I think they had that "growl" you get with older electric stock.
The 442’s reused traction motors from the iconic 4REP “tractor” units. Personally if you were going to do Waterloo to Weymouth or a section thereof, I would much rather it be with the REP’s and TC’s, with Class 33/1’s taking over at Bournemouth for the push/pull operation from and to Weymouth. That era would also allow you to include trains to and from Weymouth Quay which, for me, would push the LAMPOIL score all the way to 11!
SWML Very much needed.. While BML is one of my favourite DLCs, despite it being busy with 377s, 387s,166s, 700s + 66s the section around Clapham junction just feels like a ghost town without SWR (and OG) layers, so any chance to be able to see that come to life with a SWML DLC sign me up... With the 442 replacement could go
I think the length of the route would be a problem. You will get London to Bournemouth maximum, London to Southampton most likely, maybe later extensions as a separate DLC. I also think the amount of new traction is optimistic, nothing wrong with that of course, but I just don't think you'd get anything more than the main units used on the mainline route, the 444s and 450s (the latter would be easier to make as they are DC 3rd rail versions of the 350s) and maybe one more. Probably a 455 or a 701 for suburban services. The 458s live mostly on the routes to Windsor and Reading and will later migrate to Fratton Depot for the Portsmouth mainline and local services once the 701s are in service so there would be less of a need for them. Well, unless the plan has changed again. I've never hidden my dislike of the 458s, horrible, ugly units. Stagecoach wanted to ditch them for more Desiros shortly after they'd entered service.
I think that Waterloo - Southampton would be perfect. It's about 71 miles so plenty long enough for Dovetail to manage.
If it were up to me I'd have the route released as part of a core release/TSW6 whatever you want to call it. The Class 444 and 450 could be included by default, and the class 455 could be part of deluxe edition, as you could probably get away with having the 450 run the services the 455 runs, as they do seem to pop up on services to Woking and Hampton Court etc. I've only been on a Class 458 once, (a /5), I found it quite dusty, similar to the class 376; though I do remember seeing a class 458 pre refurbishment (so without the gangway at the front) when I was younger and thinking it looked really cool.
Would absolutely love to see this one come to TSW, with all the other British mainlines being somewhat represented I think this one's a no-brainer for Dovetail!
Recommended the same route last year some time. You have my approval on this, would love to see and it would make a fine entry into the game. Weymouth might be too far though for a route build, Southampton is more realistic.
Obviously some would be sold as paid dlc. The amount of rolling stock to choose from though is what makes this route a good contender to be made. The new rolling stock can be used on older routes too, that’s if DTG value their consumers feedback obviously and go back to give the older routes the TLC they deserve. I wonder what the future will be on that after Liam is done working on the GWR remaster.
Ok but there's one problem..... 455s don't go to Southampton only class 450s and 444s go there if DTG wanted to put the 455 as a separate add on then DTG might have to end the route at Woking.
There'd be no problem having the route go all the way to Southampton, just the 455 services would end at Woking. I meant that people that didn't have the 455 could just have the 450 subbing in for the services that the 455 runs.
Yep I'm sure players driving the class 455 will not be stoked when they find out that they cannot go to Southampton with the 455s
In fairness, the class 455 does sometimes end up at Southampton on their way to Bournemouth depot for maintenance. If DTG are concerned about the lack of playability for the 455 they could add the Kingston Loop as well
Or, here's an idea. If they made the Class 455/8 sub-class (with the original front-end design) it could provide the stoppers to Woking on the South Western route and could also come as the Southern variant and substitute the many Class 377 stopping services at the northern end of the Brighton Mainline. If the pack enhanced two separate routes it's going to be considerably more appealing.
Certainly; they could update the BML with various features that players requested, similar to how Reisa Dresden came with TSW4 if you bought the Vectron.
Is there still a 100 mph section west of Woking? I like the idea of a Class 444 Desiro express with only a couple of stops. I should also say the Waterloo - Portsmouth route would also be great in TSW, though the threat of butt-ugly Class 458s being included makes me a little cautious of that option. Incidentally, it may interest you to know that the First Group/MTR labeling is starting to disappear on SWR units. I don't think we'll be seeing a new GBR livery for a while, just slightly adjusted existing ones with the BR logo on them.
Yeah it's 100 from Woking all the way to Eastleigh pretty much. Some services during the peak run fast from Winchester to Waterloo so it'd be a great fast run. Perhaps I should stop living in the past but I still think the route should be set in the Stagecoach/South West Trains era. The liveries just looked so much better in my opinion.
Great suggestion. It is rather long for Weymouth, but London Waterloo to Southampton Central would be perfect.
I remember some conversation about a 350 masquerading as an SWR something I think on GWE remastered. This would be a good opportunity to get the actual loco in. And with SWR transferring to DfT OLR now (in the next couple of days I believe), the licence could be easier to get. I have to say, though I have never travelled with them, I love the livery!
