(AI generated map) Route Length: ~47 km (29 miles) Why this route: This route would be a beautiful introduction of Italy into TSW, featuring a double track electrified 47 km stretch of the Ferrovia Tirrenica Meridionale from the port town of Villa San Giovanni to Rosarno through rugged Mediterranean landscapes, featuring views of the Calabrian coastline, Tyrrhenian Sea and Aspromonte mountains. It would include a variety of regional trains, both loco-hauled and EMU, as well as some express loco-hauled services. It is rather short at 29 miles and 8 stations (and a port) but since it introduces a new country this is probably reasonable. Rolling Stock: E.402B + MDVE/MDVC coaches Pop (ETR 103/104, Coradia Stream family) Like Spoorlijn Zwolle - Groningen it would hopefully come with two trains. For the first, I think an E.402B and MD type coaches would make the most sense. Normally regional services would be pulled by an E.464, however this is a less powerful loco designed for regional services and would be unlikely to be seen pulling freight or IC services. I think the E.402B would have more versatility than an E.464. However, an E.464 is also a good choice. Express Intercity and Intercity Notte services would normally be a E.4-2B pulling UIC-X or UIC-Z coaches, but again to keep development costs reasonable I would just use MD coaches instead. The second train included could either be a cab car, or an ETR 103/104 (part of the Coradia Stream family). Regional services normally use a cab car, but if you wanted to include the EMU for more variety and services, the cab car could be dropped and loco-hauled trains could run top and tail instead. Gameplay: Regional & express passenger, maybe some freight Scenery: Coastal, scrubland, olive groves, vineyards, citrus orchards, mountains, forests Licenses: Trenitalia Time Period: Whenever the rolling stock was in use Similar Add-ons: Riviera Line (coastal scenery) Californian routes (hilly, hot, dry) Stations: Villa San Giovanni Mare The highlight of the route, where some trains are shunted onto the rail ferry bound for Messina. In real life trains are shunted onto the ferry using a FS D.145 diesel shunter, so they couldn't currently be represented. However, if one were ever added, it would add more variety of gameplay and elevate the route. Villa San Giovanni The main station of Villa San Giovanni. Villa San Giovanni Cannitello Smaller regional station used by regional services. Scilla Highly picturesque station serving the town famous for the Ruffo Castle situated on a cliff (the ancient site of the mythological Scylla). Palmi An important station for the town of Palmi, which sits on the slopes of Monte Sant'Elia, known for its stunning coastal views. Favazzina A minor halt located in a small, relatively secluded seaside hamlet between Scilla and Bagnara. Bagnara A station situated close to the sea, serving both the town center and the vibrant fishing port area. Gioia Tauro The station serves the town near the Port of Gioia Tauro, one of the largest container ports in the Mediterranean, making it a critical freight and passenger junction. Rosarno An inland station serving the agricultural center of the Gioia Tauro Plain.
Excellent idea for the German routes Vogelfluglinie Lübeck-Puttgarden would be the match for this one because you need a shunter to put trains onto the ferry.
