I know this has been posted before, but given a recent thread giving advice about route suggestions I wanted to raise this one again and hope that people can support by posting in this thread. I have tried to keep it fairly to the point and hope DTG will already have noticed the interest in this route, particularly as its never appeared in TSW or TSC officially. I did build it in MSTS but it never made it past Pitsea, and then on TSC I built Crouch Valley which took up all my spare time. I hope the LTS’s time is coming. The c2c line, also known as Essex Thameside and historically London, Tilbury, and Southend (LTS) route would be a compelling and long overdue addition to TSW, offering a diverse and dynamic gameplay experience that captures the intensity and variety of UK commuter rail (nod to international audiences there) Stretching from the heart of London at Fenchurch Street to the coastal town of Shoeburyness, the LTS route provides an immersive journey through urban, suburban, country and coastal landscapes that are rich in activity and diversity with the City of London beside you as you depart before heading past other railway lines, motorways, rolling countryside, coastal towns with the original line through Tilbury also showing off industry old and new. With high-frequency services, a mix of fast express and all-stops commuter runs, and unique freight services to the Port of Tilbury, Tilbury 2 and London Gateway, this route offers an incredible range of gameplay, ensuring players will be engaged and challenged. In particular, with the new route hopping facility a freight train could run down WCMLS before branching off along the Gospel Oak line to Barking and continuing on to one of the ports. The route also runs alongside HS2 for a short stretch. The route should be set in the modern era to link in with the Gospel Oak line and would feature the lines staple, Class 357s along with the newer Class 720s I would say however I would also love a slam door era version from Network Southeast days with the class 302, 308, 310 and 312s. However sticking with modern, the Class 357 “Electrostar” units form the backbone of the current LTS commuter services, offering both express and stopping services from Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness, as well as branching to Southend Central and Grays via Chafford Hundred or Purfleet. The Class 720, part of the new Aventra family, would add a more modern dimension and represent the ongoing modernisation and investment in the line. With the distinct characteristics of each train, players can experience different driving dynamics, from the proven performance of the Class 357 to the modern features and enhanced acceleration of the Class 720, all while managing an intensive timetable of up to 16 trains per hour in peak times. Signalling is a mix of 3 and 4 aspect bulb and LED type units. There are two depots on the route, at East Ham and Shoeburyness. What makes the LTS route particularly engaging for us as a player is the route’s unique service pattern. During peak hours, high-speed express trains run between Southend and London, providing a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience that demands careful attention to speed, braking, and scheduling. In contrast, all-stop commuter services require more precise stopping and smooth handling, testing a driver’s ability to manage tight schedules through busy stations. This variety between express and commuter services would appeal to both novice and experienced players, giving everyone a rewarding challenge and the different route options from east to west improve the replay value in the line. The route is also often used by charter services such as Steam Dreams, for heritage steam and diesel trains, that run between Shoeburyness and places like York or Hastings, as two that I have sat on. Another exciting option is the freight aspect, a unique addition that other UK commuter-focused routes might lack. Tilbury Docks, along with Tilbury 2 and London Gateway, serve as central hubs for freight operations. Freight runs to and from these ports and add operational complexity and variety to the route, requiring players to adapt to slower, heavy-haul services that demand precision in managing both timing and speed on a mixed-traffic route. This balance of commuter and freight services makes the LTS route uniquely versatile and rich in gameplay possibilities and allow for more of a 24hour timetable. In terms of scenery, the LTS route offers a vibrant and dynamic environment, from the urban skyline of London to the more peaceful coastal areas of Essex. Players will appreciate the scenery transitions as they move from the densely built-up areas around Fenchurch Street and Barking to the quieter, open stretches along the coast near Shoeburyness. Alongside this, the route runs parallel to the District Line and DLR at certain points, enhancing immersion and showcasing the complexity of London’s rail network. Furthermore, if it could include London Liverpool Street as an alternate starting point, when Fenchurch Street is closed, this will add realism and operational flexibility to the gameplay. With end-to-end runs that can be completed in a reasonable time frame, the LTS route is highly accessible without being overly long. The manageable length of the route keeps gameplay focused and ensures that players can complete immersive, realistic runs within a single session. Overall, the LTS route would be a welcome addition to TSW, combining a range of services, including high-frequency commuter, express, and freight operations, all set against a richly diverse backdrop of the lovely (I am biased) county of Essex. So that is my suggestion for a new flagship route for TSW and I hope people will support and keep this thread alive show the interest and enthusiasm. It might not be the most well known route in the UK, but done right in TSW, like Barking station in the Gospel Oak line was and that DLC in general, this could be a firm favourite for many. DTG?
I was thinking of posting something similar after the recent thread you mention, so I'm glad you've gone to the trouble of doing it much better than I would have done! Needless to say, I 100% back this thread, but would also add a few points of further detail: The eastern terminus isn't just a town, as Shoeburyness is part of the larger city of Southend-on-Sea, famous for the longest pleasure pier in the world. Southend Central station is not that far from the seafront, and the stretch of route from Leigh-on-Sea to Westcliff going along the seafront would show off the pier in the distance You rightly mention the parallel Tube lines (District and Hammersmith & City) - in the absence of S7 Stock in game, these could be populated by unbranded 484s masquerading as D78 stock, in the same way as planned for the GWE remaster - adding a busy AI layer to that stretch For those not familiar with the route, as mentioned there are no fewer than 3 ways to get from one end of the line to the other - main line via Basildon, and the Tilbury loop which has two ways of connecting back to the main line I would also add that the short stretch of London Overground from Upminster to Romford should be included in this route, as it uses the same Class 710s as the Suffragette line (aka Goblin) and doesn't really merit its own release
Good additional points made, and yes the bit between Leigh and Chalkwell is particularly lovely with the sea right beside you and the Pier in the distance. Would make for stunning early morning or evening runs.
You also have the tidal mudflats and river on one side and a wonderfully rural-looking hill with a castle on it between Benfleet and Leigh-on-sea. I don't think any other line I've traveled on has a totally different landscape between each station. Even West Ham to Barking (Victorian houses) and Barking to Upminster (1930s suburban housing with many more green spaces) is very different. It's a very interesting line, it's amazing how few books there are on it. The electric railways north of the Thames don't seem to have attracted as much interest as Southern over the years. There are now no BR era EMUs anywhere in the northern home counties, like the 1st generation, their replacements disappeared without much fanfare.
I think you mean "castle ruins", unless Hadleigh Castle has suddenly been rebuilt! Funnily enough, I was musing on the train home today while reading this thread, that if this route was in TSW that the remains of Hadleigh Castle had better be represented.
