Hi everyone! The Ultimate Expansion: Extending the Manchester Commuter to Crewe Since the release of the Manchester Commuter route, it has quickly become a staple of my simulation sessions, providing countless hours of engaging, high-fidelity gameplay. Navigating the busy corridors in and out of Manchester Piccadilly offers a fantastic mix of tight timetables and dense urban rail traffic. While the current route is undeniably solid and highly entertaining, there is an immense opportunity to take this experience to the next level. Extending the line down to Crewe Station would be an absolute game-changer for several reasons: 1. A Vital Upgrade for Avanti West Coast Services The current layout only scratches the surface of what the Avanti West Coast services have to offer. Realistic Long-Distance Operations: In reality, Crewe is a massive, iconic railway junction and a crucial stepping stone for high-speed services heading south toward London Euston. Express Running: Extending the tracks to Crewe would finally allow players to let the Class 390 Pendolino or Class 805 Evero stretch their legs, transitioning from dense suburban commuter lines to proper, high-speed main-line running. 2. Enhanced Network Complexity and Freight Variety Crewe is famous for being the beating heart of the UK rail network. Introducing it to the game would open up massive gameplay opportunities: The Crewe Bottleneck: Managing the complex track layouts and massive junctions approaching Crewe would introduce a whole new level of signaling and dispatching challenges. Freight Operations: Crewe is a major hub for freight traffic. An expansion would allow for a highly diverse mix of heavy container trains, engineering movements, and light locomotive runs alongside the standard passenger timetables. 3. Increased Replayability While the shuttle runs out of Manchester Piccadilly are great, a full-length run to Crewe adds a sense of journey and progression. It offers the perfect balance between stopping commuter services (like the Northern routes via Stockport or Wilmslow) and non-stop express services. Summary: The Manchester Commuter is an excellent foundation, but expanding the map to Crewe Station is the logical next step. It would unlock the true potential of the Avanti West Coast fleet, diversify freight and passenger operations, and deliver the definitive modern West Coast Main Line experience that virtual drivers have been waiting for. Places included in the extension - Chelford - Goostrey - Holmes Chapel - Sandbach - Crewe Crewe Station Basford Hall crewe - Crewe Depot - Basford Hall & Gresty Lane Freight and Shunting Class 90 or Class 88: Because Crewe is a legendary freight hub, adding an electric freight locomotive like the Class 90 or the bi-mode Class 88 (Stadler EuroLight) would provide intricate freight timetables to the massive Crewe Independent Lines. Timetable (2026) If you step onto the platforms at Manchester Piccadilly or Crewe today in 2026, the line is a buzzing hive of varied operators. Here is exactly what is running the tracks on this route: Express Services Avanti West Coast: The flagship operator heavily utilizes the newly refurbished Class 390 Pendolinos alongside the fully deployed Class 805 and Class 807 Evero fleets for high-speed runs down to London Euston. CrossCountry: Running the long-distance routes from Manchester down to the South West and South Coast, you'll see the unmistakable Class 220 / 221 Voyagers keeping up the pace. Commuter & Regional Services Northern Trains: Serving the local commuter lines and stopping services (via Stockport, Wilmslow, and Sandbach) using the classic electric Class 323 and modern Class 331 electric units, alongside Class 195 DMUs. Transport for Wales (TfW): Running crucial connections from Manchester through Crewe toward Chester, North Wales, and Cardiff, primarily utilizing their new flagship Class 197 fleet. Freight Operators DB Cargo, Freightliner, and Direct Rail Services (DRS): A massive variety of intermodal, engineering, and nuclear flask trains run daily into Crewe's yards, predominantly hauled by Class 66, Class 68, and Class 90 locomotives.
This, plus it would have to be very low price given the route was always supposed to go to Crewe in the first place. And at the end of the day I just have no faith that ATS can deliver a quality product which is why I refuse to buy either the MIA route or the Class 90.
I personally usually don't pay that close attention to bugs. But yeah It would be nice if they could solve this first.
Didn't they already rule out extending/finishing it to Crewe? As much as I'd like it to go to Crewe, I don't see it happening, unfortunately.
i’ll put the fact that this is clearly ai to one side because mac needs extending to crewe, however existing issues need fixing first
I would highly say we need this The route coverage should have continued to Crewe in the first place cutting it At Alderley Edge was just completely pathetic
