Mac is much better, but realistically you’d want Cardiff with it for the TFW layer. MAC offers a better run, even if it’s still pretty limited, along with looking much better in terms of scenery & detail. Unfortunately though since TSW 6, it is affected by the texture issue. Might be better getting it for TSW 5 so you still get the copy for 6 if you want it, but would prefer to play without that issue (at the expense of TSW 6 features & the 220 layer).
Personally whilst I think Manchester commuter is a extremely well made route I find I rarely play it as it lacks self contained services, stopping at Alderley Edge isn't that immersive. It's better made than Cardiff (although I think Cardiff is fine), but I keep going back to Cardiff as it feels more immersive. I would recommend the JT timetable which increases variety. However Cardiff is quite short and I feel should have at least gone to Barry and Caerphilly at least. It depends what matters to you most really.
Manchester is much more realistic with alot of accurate scenery, Cardiff has its faults just like WCL and Fife Circle. Really love the attention to detail Alan Thomson has put into this route although he missed out the football stadium at Edgeley, Stockport.
MAC as the standalone route and it is really well made as others have said, very good layers, brilliant detail, and very accurate. Cardiff City as as standalone route is very mediocre. I have revisited it since JTs modern Pacer was released and it does improve it somewhat, but still MAC is the better of the two. I think it could of been more successful had it had some more logical start and and stop points. CCN as a base route is only really good for its layers on other routes.
Even though I don’t own MAC I would probably recommend it over CCN. Tiny route with little scope for getting up to speed and Rivet/DTG should not be rewarded for the appalling abomination that is Cardiff Central main station building.
You can just about get away with missing the Etihad, it's a little way away from the side of the track, but it is clearly on the skyline as you leave Man Pic, Stockport's ground is near to the station, it really does need adding in at some point.
I voted MAC, but I would actually say neither on Series X if I am being honest. Both suffer from the afflictions of stuttering and blurring that can ruin one's enjoyment so much.
I can't vote for either, at a push I'd say purchase CCN for the layers it puts on other routes but because both are short and have illogical end and beginning points, neither of them hold much playability.
I might be in the minority here but i love Cardiff Network, i like that there are 6 different end points, there's plenty of AI traffic around and the new Class 142 add-on gives a lot of different gameplay.. plus for me the Class 153 is the best DMU in the entire game. MAC on the other hand really does leave me feeling short-changed, as having Wilmslow or Alderley Edge (depending on your choice of service) as the end of the line instead of Crewe really affects long term re-playability.. so much so that i've recently uninstalled it as i find it gets old very quickly, whereas the new Birmingham-Crewe route is excellent for long-term gameplay. but to get back to the point, Cardiff over Manchester here 100%
