Hello, Is there any article that explains how substitutions work in TSW? I'm currently playing Main Spessart Bahn in Journey Mode (TSW5 on PC from MS Store). For the freight services, I mostly get the original 185.2 that came with the route. But sometimes I got the Rosenheim 185 (which cannot go backwards). Right now, I'm driving a Vectron in DB red, and I've seen the Railpool Vectron pulling AI consists. So, how is it possible for an older route to use traction from newer routes? Thanks.
No article, so you'll have to settle for community guesses instead. My guess is that if a train is identical in length and performance, it can be substituted automatically (for example, all 185s are the same, as are all Vectrons). However, 422s and 423s need to be manually replaced because they have different lengths and possibly door heights or have different power outputs, so need testing to see if they can still fit on platforms and keep to the timetable. Again, I don't know how much of what I said is true (probably very little) so...
Substitution is different from layering, although they are often confused. A layer is a group of services, which don't exist if that layer is inactive. Layers have to be built into the timetable, so layers for newer trains don't exist on older routes unless it has been overhauled. Substitution occurs when the game, or the user, replaces the default train on an existing service with a similar train which is present in your collection (regardless of release date). Simplified, each train comes with a list of "can sub fors" attached. In the case of MUs, they have to be the same length and of similar performance; in the case of locos they should be of similar performance but sometimes aren't (like a 143 subbing for a 146 on a service that goes faster than 120)
Thank you for your replies. I know that layering is a different beast altogether, and it definitely requires a route update. Meanwhile, some of these services on MSB used to be challenging, but seem to be a breeze for the Vectron. However, there seems to be no logic in when and where substitutions work: there seem to be exclusions for each individual service. As an example, on service 88119 Gemunden to Aschaffenburg, I can't get the Vectron, no matter how many times I restart it. I was offered three types of 185s and the 187, but not the Vectron. Must have restarted it 25+ times, no sign of Vectron. Next, on service 88102 Gemunden to Aschaffenburg, I got the Vectron after a few restarts. Come to think on it: the 88119 was a heavier consist, with two leading locos, while 88102 is slightly lighter, with a single loco. Maybe that's the difference?
