Alan Thompson Simulation Route Discussion/speculation Thread

The line without Stockport would be disappointing as it would remove a great opportunity to run the 390 on what is basically a WCML Spur - so I'd hope that is the route taken instead (comes out at about 30 miles) and perhaps Manchester Airport is included for the southbound Crewe services.

Feels like a bit of a miss to cut out the "main" route.

That being said, the network idea put above would be fine; at least then some Piccadilly-Stockport runs with the 390 would be possible.

 

You could be right about that. Crewe would be a massive station to make for a debut route.. and Piccadilly already exists.. the 323’s also run the Stoke route via Macclesfield..

 

Could it be the Northampton Loop extension for WCML South, that ATS just released for Train Sim Classic, ported over to TSW?

https://alanthomsonsim.com/product/...rthampton-loop-for-west-coast-mainline-south/

I mean, that was only 24 miles, but maybe they added something extra for TSW?

 

I really thought it was maybe somewhere in Glasgow with the way the high block of flats look but it does appear to match up with Manchester so it’s probably that.

 

You can't "port" a route over to TSW, so I doubt it. I also don't imagine ATS would want their first effort at a TSW route to just be an upgrade for a DTG product.

And with the revelation that the route is 33mi, it can be safe to say that, unless Alan got the length wrong, it's not Inverclyde; as that's 36 miles.

 

Sorry, I was just being lazy when I said "port".

 

Been watching his twitch stream where he had a lot of praise and rightly so for JT's new route.

He also hinted they want to do something above and beyond what JT are doing with a 90 mile plus route..so that will be cool. If it happens..

 

Maybe a modern 90 mile section of WCML ?

Because there is no way DTG will make a route that long. So some third-party developer will need to volunteer if it's ever going to happen.

 

I really wish dovetail would though..it looks an excellent route so far whatever it turns out to be.

 

Well that would be difficult if he is sticking with his usual modern era. A good challenge and even better to hear that he is clearly aiming for good quality routes.

 

I wonder when this route will come out.

 

It does beg the question, if hypothetically his development company did make a route longer then JTs, will it necessarily trump it for detail? JT really go to town with their routes, Blackpool Branches was just a taster of what they are capable of and the amount of work they put into it. Never say never, but even if he did develop a longer route, would it be able to trump JTs products? I'll sit on the fence with that one until I'd be able to see something in the flesh so to speak. Maybe ATS entry to TSW will show us their own capabilities much like Blackpool Branches did for JT.

 

In the roadmap it says the screenshots are from early testing, along with mentions of the route being in the final stages of development.

 

My wild guess on the route is that it’s something southeastern related. I came to this conclusion by what Alex said in the stream. He said “this route is very close to where I’m currently am at the moment”. Is this close to DTG’s home office in Chatham (on the Chatham mainline) or where Alex lives? One of two.

 

You say its MCR-Crewe if that route is 33 miles then you may be onto a winner. Skyhooks Container Cargo v3 has me thinking Crewe to Trafford Park. Avanti 390 layers.

 

I thought that were in reference to routes people were saying they thought it were in the chat. He certainly don't sound like he is from the south east.

 

Yeah I’m not sure where he’s from, but definitely not the south-east of England. I’d say he lives in south of England though and not far the main offices at DTG. Somewhere in Kent or central London, so that’s why I’m thinking Southeastern by going by what he said on stream.

 

I didn't read that bit lol but looks amazing doesn't it what they have said.

I hope they use suggestions from these forums for future routes.

Additionally, they did say about testing and said no assets need to be changed so that's cool.

 

Inverclyde line is around 35 miles.....
(Delusion)

 

Alex hinted in the roadmap stream where it was set in in the stream by saying its not far from where he lives.

 

I suspect Piccadilly to Trafford Park is probably more than 3 miles, but would Piccadilly to Crewe at 30 miles, mean a Piccadilly to Basford Hall Yard be around 33 miles?

Certainly going to be a good time to be involved in tsw over the next 12 months

 

They said at very end of stream to expect more info in October roadmap!

 

Well, can't answer that as I haven't a clue. It can't be too far south east as they use 3rd rail down there. London, possibly but I feel it is more likely he does the home working thing and doesn't need to be near DTG towers. Cambridge could be a possibility and what I thought initially. I am still sure this comment were in reference to routes people were saying they thought it were rather than where the actual route is set.

As I say above I think this is referencing routes people were saying they thought it were than the actual route itself.

 

In last minute or so on twitch stream tonight

 

For anyone who hasn’t yet got the information - it’s a 33 mile route, modern era and they said to expect an official named announcement in 2 months, presumably coinciding with the next roadmap in October.

Given the way things tend to work, I wouldn’t expect it to be too long after that for a release (though there are always exceptions and circumstances)

 

I can’t see how it’s anywhere in the SE, primarily, as has been mentioned, it’s predominantly 3rd Rail DC as opposed to OHLE. The only place you would see it is HS1, which we already have a good portion but not enough of. I know from past streams Eurostar and the CTRL has been a hot topic for Alan himself, but this isn’t that.

 

What a "fresh and innovative" comment that we definitely haven't heard before.

As if having 2 handles radically changes how you control a train...

 

I desperately want the 185 too, but this is far from the right route. I'm assuming you're not familiar with Manchester to Crewe in real life. They don't run down to Crewe and would only be drivable north of Stockport, so a smidge over 10 minutes... Hardly worth developing an entirely new train for.

 

If it’s true that this route is only 33 miles, that means Stockport isn’t included, which would be a REAL letdown.

 

They do run services between the airport and Piccadilly though, and we don’t know if this route is “2024” modern or “mid 2010s” modern.

Though nothing has yet been confirmed whether this route will come with any new stock or if it will reuse existing stock

 

It's a statement against the continued production of trains with only one handle, and if you want a loco enjoy the red 66, again.

 

Considering we have the entirety of Southeastern's OHLE network (London - Ashford on HS1), it can't be them.

 

That also only lasts around 10-15 minutes.

 

So are we just ignoring the 80-mile stretch of the ECML they made, or the 186km (116mi) stretch of high speed rail between Kassel and Würzburg?

 

True. But more frequently and with varied stopping patterns. I believe also that both 3 and 6 car services could be used too, to add to the variation.

Okay - it doesn’t change that it is a short run, but the Class 166 has short runs on the BML, with the main stock being 377/387s, in this case the Class 323

 

The 166 was made for their first UK route the GWE. They didn't make I for BML it layers in..

It would be barmy to make a new train for a small portion of a route, where the runs are so short!

 

I hope so.

 

Basford Hall - Trafford Park would be around 34 miles… Perfect chance for a class 90 DLC?

 

If they want to have a friendly competition with JT, they’ll have to step it up and do BR era too. You can’t go above and beyond JT in the modern era, it’s never going to be as interesting

 

That does make sense for why they'd wait to announce it. Get people into the 390 from TSW 5 and then it gives more places to use it.

 

Rolling stock wise it would be an obvious one for the 323 (which serves the whole length of the route) as well as possibly reskins of the 150/2 and 142 into Northern liveries, though the 142 does have the issue of the wrong doors for the period. Shame it wouldn't be 1990s era as then we could chuck in the 305s which would be hellfire! - still I'll happily take it regardless

 

Yes Crewe to Manchester with 304's on the stoppers and 86's and the occasional 87 on InterCity services a far more appealing prospect than another helping of bland modern. As it is, with no aspersions on the developer and people working on it, is really down on the "might get later in a sale", compared to the other 4 or 5 announced all of which are pretty much guaranteed a Day One purchase.

 

They also announced Crewe-Manchester including Airport for TSC a couple of years ago and never mentioned it again.... I guess we know why now.

 

The 185 that ATS published was made by Imbue Studios and Searchlight Simulations for the sound (of course a lot of others also involved).

 

I would assume DTG were aware when building Glossop line last year that ATS were planning to produce the Styal line, as the Glossop line nicely provides a starting point from which ATS could have built from.

As for a second train, I believe it was mentioned a while ago that ATS are not including any new stock, rather reusing existing stock, which practically means the Class 323 featuring. Maybe for a bit of variety we could get the old Northern rail livery with it this time.

 

The route looks fantastic but interested to see what stock there is

 

Anything around Manchester is a yes from me. Still feels like Piccadilly will not be massively busy though. Pendos and the 323 and ... the odd EMT 158. We've nothing else in Northern livery and don't have any of their modern rolling stock in game - especially if this doesn't come with any new stock as suggested.

 

Did any more information get told yesterday on ATS stream yesterday

 

Is the route confirmed to be a route up North

 

No, nothing about the location has been confirmed by ATS themselves