Hi guys today I’m gonna be suggesting a big Upgrade Suggestion for the GWE route in Tsw 3. The locos in this suggestion will be the Class 387, Class 800, and the Class 345. First I will be explaining the Class 387. The British Rail Class 387 Electrostar is a type of electric multiple unit passenger train built by Bombardier Transportation. They are part of the Electrostar family of trains. A total of 107 units were built, with the first train entering service with Thameslink in December 2014. The Class 387 in this Route will be for the Heathrow Express and GWR. This means the Heathrow Branch could open in this Suggestion for the Elizabeth line Class 345 and the Heathrow Express Class 387. This route could be extended to Didcot Parkway as the GWR Class 387 and 800 can stop there. The Class 387 for GWR will terminate at Didcot Parkway but the Class 800 will go further than Didcot Parkway to countinue towards Cornwall and Cardiff and other places. Each Carriage is 20.39 Metres long. The maximum speed of the Class 387 is 110mph (177 km/h). The Class 387 GWR and HX have a different livery. This is the GWR version of the Class 387. It is the second fastest train on the GWR network at speeds of 110mph. This is the Heathrow Express version of the Class 387. This has a purple and white livery. It only stops at Heathrow and Paddington to improve journey times to Heathrow Airport. Now let’s move onto the Class 800. The British Rail Class 800 – branded by Great Western Railway (GWR) as Intercity Express Train (IET), and London North Eastern Railway(LNER) as Azuma – is a type of bi-mode multiple unit train built by Hitachi Rail for GWR and LNER. The type uses electric motors powered from overhead electric wires for traction, but also has diesel generators to enable trains to operate on unelectrified track. It is a part of the Hitachi AT300 product family. The Class 800 is served by GWR on the GWE in real life. It will go as far as Didcot Parkway and when an AI driver takes it over at Didcot Parkway to countinue to Cornwall, Cardiff and other places. The Class 800 has IET door alarms as the Door Chime sound. The class 800s was built to replace the Class 43 HST units. The last ever Class 43 GWE Service was operated in 2019. The Class 43s still operate on GWR but only near the seaside. The Class 800 units actually run on the LNER aswell. It also didn’t just replace the Class 43, it also replaced the Class 180 units that were on the Hull Trains Network and the LNER class 91. The Class 180 still runs on the Grand Central railway and the Class 91 does still run on the LNER network. Class 91 units are still running normal service in the present. Each unit on the Class 800 would be 25.850 Metres long. The maximum speed of these units are 125mph (201km/h). The Class 800 GWR an electric unit. Some class 800s are diesel aswell sometimes. The Class 43 were all diesel units running on the GWE from 1976-2019. The Class 43s were all replaced on the GWE as diesel was not good for the environment. Now let’s move onto the Class 345. The British Rail Class 345 Aventra is a fleet of electric multiple unit passenger trains built by Bombardier Transportation for use on London's Elizabeth line. Part of Bombardier's Aventra family of trains, the contract for their delivery was awarded as part of the Crossrail project in February 2014. Each carriage on the Class 345 is 23.615 Metres long. The seats in these trains have a purple, pink, peach and white color on the seating maquette. The maximum speed of the Class 345 is 90mph (145km/h). This is the Class 345. It has a purple and white livery and there is a small TFL logo on the front of the train with a Black color at the front and back. This door chimes on the Class 345 has aventra door chimes. The Class 385 on Scotrail is not Aventra but has the Aventra door chimes. In the game the Class 345 would do services from Paddington to Reading and Heathrow Terminals. Both National rail platforms and Core Tunnel Platforms could be used in the route to do AI services that go further than Paddington to Shenfield and Abbey Wood. There would be a route from Heathrow Terminals to Abbey Wood but players would go as far as Paddington and Reading to Abbey Wood as far as Paddington for players. The Core Tunnel platforms at Paddington features Platform Screen Doors. Above the doors on the Screen door platform there is a timetable that will show how many minutes until the next train will arrive. It could come from Heathrow, Reading, Shenfield or Abbey Wood. The Trains arrive the Core Platforms every 5 minutes to improve the journey times. Now let’s move onto the route map.
This suggestion, although interesting, would require a complete rebuild starting from scratch as the current version (set in 2015) has only partial OHLE and requires diesel types to function. I would personally prefer the current version but with the branch lines included or a version predating 1992 when it was exclusively diesel worked (pre Heathrow Express era).
This is the Class 800 route to Didcot Parkway. It calls at Reading and Didcot Parkway only. Well sometimes they can stop at Slough most of the time. There are also class 800 routes that go to Cardiff Central, Cornwall and other places. Well the Class 387 Here is the Class 387 GWR to Didcot Parkway This route stops at Paddington, Slough, Maidenhead, Twyford, Reading, Tilehurst, Pangbourne, Goring & Streatley, Cholsey and Didcot Parkway. The GWR Class 387 only goes as far as Didcot Parkway and Paddington. There are actually AI Class 166 services that can be at West Ealing Platform 5 as the GWR shuttle from West Ealing to Greenford still runs the Class 166 units. This is the only Route for Heathrow Express. This is only operated by the Heathrow Express Class 387. The stations it stops at is Paddington, Heathrow and Heathrow Terminal 5. When the train goes past Hayes & Harlington it will turn left and go on a bridge and go into a tunnel that goes to Heathrow station. This is the Elizabeth line from Paddington to Heathrow Terminal 4. This uses the Elizabeth line Class 345s. The trains can also come from the Paddington Core Platforms Underneath the National rail station. This route stops at Both Paddington National rail and Core Platforms. This route stops at Paddington, Ealing Broadway, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and Heathrow Terminal 4. It will go into the same bridge and tunnel that the Heathrow Express goes on.
This is the Elizabeth Route from Paddington National rail and Core platforms to Heathrow Terminal 5. This route also has the Class 345 units. This route stops at Paddington, Ealing Broadway, Southall, Hayes & Harlington, Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 and Heathrow Terminal 5. This route also uses the Bridge and Tunnel after Hayes & Harlington. This is the Elizabeth line route from Paddington National Rail and Core Platforms. This route stops at all stations between Reading to Paddington. Thank you for reading this suggestion. Have a nice day and send your thoughts about this in the comments.
If I'm being honest I like that idea because The GWE route now is just boring as it's based off before the IETs Came and let's not forget the Underground AI they should make ai trains from Paddington to westbourne park
The Hst Castle sets don't operate on the London Paddington to Reading section unfortunately, they mainly operate Cardiff Central to Penzance via Bristol Temple Meads services.
Unfortunately Heathrow Airport won't allow the Heathrow branch to ever be included due to airport security reasons so there wouldn't really be much point in having a Hex 387.
Well it could be used as an AI only asset, and would really only need a reskin from the GWR 387 (even though yes there's a LOT of internal differences in the two and how they're fitted out, but I'm sure most people would forego a complete rebuild for the sake of seeing a properly liveried HEx 387 going by every 15 minutes)
I've never said this about Karan's but great suggestion. There are a few fact checky bits but the actual proposal ain't half bad, though I'd prefer a rebuild to the 80s a modern rebuild wouldn't be too bad.
I wouldn’t say it is “boring”, adding in IETs won’t make it any better. The issue with GWE is the line length, the route is is basically one stop when in reality the line extends a lot further
I know, it’s part of the UK, but technically speaking it goes across a border so that’s why I used the term
"Technically speaking" they don't cross an international border, even though they DO cross a border between countries. One of the stupidities of the UK I'm afraid
GWE in 2018 or 2019 could be intresting, showing the transition from HST to IET as well as the phase out of Networkers on certain routes in favour of 387s. 345s could still appear, albeit on Heathrow - Paddington runs, though a December 2019 timetable could also be done to have 345s out ot reading, with few changes needed.
Excellent idea however if you want to make it even longer you might as well extend this to Swindon 77 miles from London Paddington Station. Option 2 36 mi Reading to Paddington and 81 miles Reading to Bristol Temple Meads
They've clearly stated that they won't make extensions iirc. Requires full timetable rework, too costly. SEHS was an exception as it is Chatham-based-DTG's home "show off" route.
SEHS was also an exception because it was practically a rebuild. The existing section had a considerable amount of work done to overhaul it, and as it was going into a core DLC bundle, I guess Dovetail decided it was worth the extra effort and difficulty needed to make an extension. That, and a bit of bias to their home route, as you say.
There's three (!) versions of Chatham Main Line for TSC plus London - Faversham High Speed, one including Medway Valley and one Blackfriars to Dover and Ramsgate... We get to see Battersea Power Station in many different times, from wasteland to chique appartments built around it now. A flying pig would surely be a nice Mastery Reward ... "You got to be crazy / you gotta have a real need"
On the subject of borders, we occasionally walk the old M&SW line from Cricklade to South Cerney. Always joke with my missus going over the Thames bridge from Wiltshire into Gloucestershire and vv, remark to her we should have carried our passports! Would be a nice route to see in TSW, Andover to Cheltenham, not the most intensive service but worked by a curious mix of ex GWR and SR motive power.
So why on god's green earth did you think it made any sense to say "it'll be an international route"???
Because wales is still a different country, even though it’s in the uk, or what is wales the same country
Sigh... no need to go round and round. Everyone seems to know that Wales is a different country, but we agree the UK is one nation, so no international here When I moved from Cardiff to Gloucester (and then onto Kent) it wasn't an international move!
Same here. Moved from Swindon to Bridgend in 97 when SW&W moved their HQ including Control to Cardiff (Cardiff was way too expensive for housing), then back to Swindon in 2006 when I jumped ship to Network Rail. It was certainly a different culture living and working in Wales but international border - I think not. And the one, well actually two things I miss about Bridgend, is being 15 minutes drive from some lovely coastal walks and 30 minutes in the opposite direction some great hill scenery, including walking the old Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway and Glyncorrwg branches. If only we could get those in TSW!
Agreeable. Whilst there are four separate countries, they are all considered one country under a collective name.
Define "international border", one of you... Not really a nation either, it's a Sovereign State made up of 4/3 (depending on who you ask) countries, that are also nations in themselves.
A border between two nations I think this is similar to the argument people make about counties in the UK In the end the government of the nation is that of the UK, there are no border checks or controls, even the language doesn't change (England doesn't have an official language, but in Wales English and Welsh both are)
A border is a geographical, or political separation of two countries, now tell me are wales and Scotland part of England as one big country?
Let me ask again, might want to stick your reading glasses on for this one: Define "international border" I think there's such a differing national identity between the countries of Great Britain that they certainly are nations in their own right. Only Greater London and Northern Ireland identify, in their majorities, as "British". The rest of England identified as English, Scotland as Scottish, Welsh as Welsh. There's also cultural differences among the many similarities.
I think you need to define "nation" for this conversation to have any sense to it I would define nation as a people who have a combined history, culture or language That's as opposed to a country which is an arbitrary area of land outlined by humans I would also take your statement of "Only Greater London and Northern Ireland identify, in their majorities, as "British". The rest of England identified as English" as utter rot. Go to Cornwall and say that. or certain areas of Norfolk. Even the Forrest of Dean in Gloucestershire had it's own language and identity... But it's not what people THINK that matters for this, only what is defined as the national border according to international law. And that has the UK as a nation (else we go back to what do people think constitutes a country and that's not a resolvable point as everyone thinks slightly differently)
Nope. Border can just mean the boundary of an area or the edge of it. Counties have borders. Municipalities have borders. Boroughs have borders. Doesn't have to be a country In some ways no, in other ways yes, if you define Britain as a country or the UK as a country those constituent countries are part of those larger countries
My statement was based on the English & Welsh Census. In Cornwall, 89,000 people chose Cornish as their National Identity - 80,000 exclusively, 9,000 alongside British. Norfolk and Gloucestershire weren't options. Cornwall, as far as counties of England go, is probably the closest to being a nation. Perhaps Yorkshire is up there. So for them to have 89/566 thousand choosing Cornish as an identity says a lot. As for the idea that the nations of the UK are separate: Language - Wales, England, Scotland and Cornwall have their own languages. Scotland has two. Common People - Scotland's population is predominantly Celtic. Either Britonnic Scots or the Gaelic (Celtic) Scots - with many coming here during the Irish Famine. England's population is largely Anglo-Saxon Germanic, however there are significant Britonnic, Carribbean, Celtic and European populations. Many descend, of course, from the Normans, France, the Dutch, etc. Cornwall's native population is a Britonnic (Celtic) one. Wales' population is, natively, also a Britonnic/Celtic one. Northern Ireland's native population are Gaelic Irish, however in modern times this has changed into Ulster-Scots and Ulster-English, due to the plantations. An Identity - The English, Scots and Welsh all know what it means to be from their own area. They have their own symbols (i.e. flags) and such. Culture - Similarly, there are considerable differences in the cultures of the nations. They have differing takes that are, quite often, only noticeable when you look at them for a while. At the surface they look the same. And so forth. Scotland, Wales and England are nations. Northern Ireland is a confusing mess and Cornwall is on the verge of extinction, culturally, anyway.
Sorry, the data from that census has been proven to be skewed. If you look at the census for a few times before they listed the national identities differently, and usually the person completing the census will pick the topmost option which applies to them unless they have a specific identity or aversion to that top identifier. If you mean Wales is a language, Gaelic is a language etc then yes, but there are also languages spoken within regions that would apply similarly. That you're choosing to pick those listed on an official census, or those recognised by the country (again, arbitrary region)... so what? I have no doubt there are more than two languages spoken in Scotland, even if only two are recognised in some form of government document (which again I would doubt) On this I really do doubt as to your sincerity... I was born in Cardiff. If I go to Newport I am hated because I am from Cardiff. Similarly if I go to Swansea they think we're scum. If I go to North Wales they would see all of those as almost a different nation. The use of the Welsh language in South Wales was almost zero until the Assembly decided to push it in the 90s, now it's up to about 25% of people who can recognise it let alone speak it. North Wales has never not had people who speak it as their primary language. "Knowing what it means to be from their own area" is literally a local phenomenon. 10 - 15 miles tops, so trying to say the welsh have a country wide identity is basically nonsense. And don't get me started on the English. The only thing shared countrywide is football hooliganism and rampant alcoholism. There's more shared between a Kentishman and a banana than a Kentishman and a Yorkshireman (though to be honest a Kentishman isn't from Kent, and Yorkshire only exists on paper...) Northern Ireland is a mess? Odd statement And Cornwall is a county, nothing's changed there... so not sure why you'd say it's extinct or anywhere near it
Nothing unusual there then lol... TO be honest the OP has been done to death anyway. Good to have something else to talk about
