Alan Thompson Simulation Route Discussion/speculation Thread

That’s interesting. I like the concept of skip-stopping as a way to maximise line capacity while still offering decent overall journey times - although you’re a bit buggered if you want to go (e.g.) from Burnage to East Didsbury!

The exact year hasn’t been confirmed as far as I know - just that it’s ‘modern’.

 

Given that it's modern, then it's likely set after 2020 when the DfT took over Northern Trains as the license exists.

Rather than Wilmslow, it might be worth considering that for a period after the DfT took over, half of the trains to Crewe via the Styal line terminated at Alderley Edge (one station south of Wilmslow) before turning back to Manchester. If this route has been planned for some time on a 2021-22 timetable, Alderley Edge could make a logical end point given some services did terminate there.

 

New screenshots. Sadly they lost me with the word Commuter with a modern EMU in a screenshot.

Looks very well detailed though that were expected really.






I'll keep my eye on it, more so for what they do in the future than this route itself.

 

i see the they reusing the class 323

 

I was wondering if it's Manchester to Stockport or carries on to Crewe. Nice to see some information on it finally. Only took several years

 

Looks very nice.
At last, I think UK route fans are getting a decent set of realistic looking speed signs?

 

Bit off topic I know but….


Yeah…this is the leven branch from rivet lol

 

For me I find nothing wrong with reusing rolling stock if it is relevant to a route...

The route looks pretty solid so looking forward to it.

 

One thing with ATS (if you know anything about Alan and the team) is that this route will blow anything you've seen from TSW out of the water in the level of details...

 

The route seems to be both the main line between Alderley Edge and Piccadilly (via Stockport) and the Styal Line (including the airport branch.

Longsight included too which may be a hint that the Pendolino’s will make an appearance, as this is their main depot IRL!

Anyone know if the ‘International Depot’ is the Trafford Freightliner one?

 

Very happy to see Manchester make another return! It looks pretty good too.

 

The ATS route does look good. It’s just I can’t really get excited by Crewe to Manchester in the modern day.

 

The international depot is opposite longsight TMD

 

Do we know if Crewe is the end point? I’d taken it to be Wilmslow from the available info.

 

All the details here^

 

Funnily enough after reading the Roadmap I began to think that too. Well if it’s literally just a short route in and out of Manchester Airport in a couple of directions, can’t really see me partaking other than in a very deep sale. I know they’re getting their toes wet with this one but I look at that, then JT giving us Preston to Carlisle and no doubt where my money is going.

 

"Neutral sections added along the route at specific locations"

Either side of Picadilly - you can enter but you'll never leave

 

Hearing Alderley Edge will be the Terminating Point...

 

Looks promising, potential buy for me once we know more details.

 

As Stockport station is mentioned, it looks like it will be the two lines out of Picadilly, but with a currently unknown terminus but will run to at least Alderley Edge

 

Where is Crewe?
Not including Crewe as End Point is the biggest joke

 

Would assume the Pendo will be layered in so will be a purchase for me.

 

The article also mentions 27 miles so it would be whatever goes together to make that up. I don't know the route enough to figure this one out.

 

Look at the map above your post.

 

FredElliott 's literally shown you on his map above!

Edit: matt#4801 beaten me to it!

 

Why it doesn’t just say where it starts and ends is silly.

Not entirely related but there’s then the other TSG route which has 0 details but is 0-3 months away.

Really don’t get why they’re so protective of details in TSW, especially when content gets abandoned after a couple of months anyway.

 

Handforth & Cheadle are included

 

It looks good so far, but I would be disappointed if the 323 is the only train included, since other trains run the route as well.

 

They want to build the suspense/surprise/hype

 

If it’s the only train included I’d expect the 158, 66 and 390 to appear as headline layers

 

Whoops, missed that. Given the milage we’ve been provided It probably isn’t going to Crewe then.

 

Hopefully a TFW 158, even though the majority of TFW services on this route are run by 197s mostly (I think)
A Northern DMU would also go a long way, be it a 195, 150 or 158.

 

The 323 is the only train coming. Layers would be provided via whatever stock already exists, so none of what you’re wanting.

 

If the likes of rivet didn't include any new stock, you would all have been at them with pitch forks and torches, but because it's the [EDIT - Jan - Inappropriate], you're all turning a blind eye!

 

100%

 

Yes, just confirmed on ATS Facebook group.

@everyone hating on this, saying it´s too short and no rolling stock. It´s the first route from them for TSW. I assume they spent the past two years or so going to a lot of trouble establashing a big pool of custom assets etc

PS: the ongoing complaning about route xyz beeing set in modern day from the grandad rail club are getting very annoying. Yes, we get it. You want every route to be set in 1839 back in the good old days

 

Despite crewe not being included, I can see ATS is going down the cautious road, which isn’t a bad thing at all, starting small is a good choice for your first TSW route

 

I assume you are not a fan then.

As I have said it's not the route for me, but they have to start somewhere, and unlike Rivet's routes this looks to have a deep level of detail in the route modelling.

 

Could you 2 sync up & decide if ‘everyone’ is turning a blind eye or if they’re hating pls

 

Guys, you all need to remember that this is ATS' first route. All of you moaning about lack of rolling stock, their development team is TINY, and Alan Thomson has said on his own streams, the reason for re-using the 323, is that it's a decent EMU, that runs on the line, and his team haven't had the capacity to create new rolling stock while they fully learn the TSW UE4 engine.

If you don't like the length or lack of extra rolling stock, you don't have to buy it. But if you like accurate environments, signalling, stations, trackside furniture, this route will be for you!

Those of you comparing this to JT Preston to Carlisle, remember that Just Trains Blackpool branches isn't a particularly long route and was JT's first attempt at a route in TSW, so just give ATS the chance to get their feet under the table. Their second route will no doubt be longer, with rolling stock fit for the route, just like JT.

 

Funny that there's a coming route (WCML over Shap) that goes to the area I grew up near, and now this in which you will almost be able to see where I've lived for the last 20 years! Will be nice to see Piccadilly looking a lot less of a ghost town than it does at the moment with just the Glossop route (plus the EMT sets occasionally passing by on the way to Norwich)

 

I must say I’m a little disappointed. I understand it’s a first route and I wasn’t expecting anything crazy, but this is just going to feel like Glossops Line again… which got incredibly boring, incredibly quickly.

I’m hoping they have done some work with the 323 because otherwise I just don’t see the appeal unfortunately.

 

Much higher speeds & if there’s a 390 layer, it’s effectively a high speed line with a commuter branch.

The only thing it really has in common with Glossop is the 323 & Manchester.

 

The picture of the airport looks points by having the automatic walkways apparently running - I think those have been down for repairs since at least 2020!

 

don´t get me wrong, I´m disappointed with the route not going to Crew ... but no rolling stock? DTG doing the same with Ludwigsbahn soon.

 

So pleased to see ATS announcement about their new Manchester route. Have been asking for this for a very long time. Travelled on the line as a youngster firstly as an eight year old.

 

Knock knock, ATS has a very small development team. Would you prefer a route with no detail and lots of extra rolling stock, or a highly detailed route reusing a working EMU that fits with what they are trying to achieve?

 

If they make no new Trains, so they have to make a Great lenght and a Good End Station like Crewe.
But none of This is terrible and Not Great for enjoying the Route.

 

so Just Trains have competition then

 

20 minutes ago, you didnt even know where Crewe was…