I think the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to Bedford would be a great addition to Train Sim World 5. It’s a key part of the UK rail network, offering a mix of express services, commuter trains, and freight, making it a really interesting and varied route to drive. Starting at St Pancras, you’ve got one of the most well-known stations in the country, with services heading out through busy commuter towns like St Albans and Luton before reaching Bedford. Thameslink services were handled by the Class 319 before it was replaced, and it would be amazing to have it in the game. It’s got that classic EMU feel, and driving it under the wires would be a brilliant experience. Then there’s the East Midlands Trains Class 222, which would be perfect for the fast intercity runs. Freight is also a big part of the route, with Class 66s regularly running through, adding more variety. One of the biggest reasons this route would work so well is the timetable. This section of the MML is packed with services, meaning there’d always be something happening. Whether you’re stopping at busy commuter stations, running non-stop express services, or hauling freight, there’s a lot of variety to keep things interesting. The infrastructure is also really engaging, with speed changes, different signaling setups, and a mix of modern and older station designs. Visually, it’s a great route too. You start off in the dense urban environment of London, then move through suburban areas before reaching the open countryside towards Bedford. It’s got a bit of everything, and with changing lighting and weather, it could look incredible in-game. this route has so much potential. A good mix of rolling stock, an intensive timetable, and some great scenery would make it one of the best UK routes in Train Sim World 5. Route Map: London St Pancras - Bedford Principal Stations on the Route: The MML: London St Pancras - Bedford features 16 stations some FCC or east Midlands railway stations (not sure about that) well here are some main stations on the route. London St Pancras International – The starting point, an iconic station with a mix of high-speed, commuter, and international services. St Albans City – One of the busiest stations on the route outside London, serving commuters from Hertfordshire. Luton – A major stop for both Thameslink and East Midlands Railway services. Bedford – The northernmost station on the route, a major hub for Thameslink and EMR services. Here's a list of all the stations Bedford Flitwick Harlington Leagrave Luton Luton Airport Parkway Harpenden St Albans Radlett Elstree & Borehamwood Mill Hill Broadway Hendon Cricklewood West Hampstead Thameslink Kentish town London St Pancras ( had to start at Bedford) + Also the route ends at lower level St Pancras station + Also St Pancras upper level wont be included, it will come with the class 222 which will be put as a separate add on Drivers driving the Class 319 or other AI Layers like Thameslink or FCC services will stop at the lower level St Pancras station Passenger & Freight Depots Passenger Depots: Bedford Depot – A key location for servicing and maintaining Thameslink and other regional trains. Luton Depot – Services trains running on the Thameslink network, particularly for maintenance and storage of trains running through Luton and surrounding areas. St Albans Depot – Serves as a depot for maintenance of Thameslink and other regional services operating on the route. London St Pancras International (Low-Level) – Though primarily a station, it also accommodates trains at the low-level platforms, with maintenance and servicing facilities for Thameslink units. Freight Depots: Bedford Freight Yard – A major freight yard serving the area, handling goods transported via the Midland Main Line and other connected routes. Luton Freight Yard – Serves freight operations on the line, handling goods between the Midlands, London, and the southeast. Harlington Freight Yard – An important freight yard on the route, providing services for goods transport between London and the Midlands. North London Freight Terminal – While technically not directly on the route, this freight terminal is connected by the Thameslink network and handles freight services running through the London area. Rolling Stock Class 319 or in Thameslink livery Class 66 Class 222 (separate add on) With the east Midlands trains livery (2013) Scenarios And Timetables Class 319 Scenario/ Timetable 1 Difficulty: 3/4 Time: depends Trains included: Class 319 You start at Bedford Station and then make your way to St Pancras making 16 stations along the way but there is heavy traffic at Kentish town station so you will have to wait for a long time but then the traffic Clears out and then you make your way to St Pancras station. Scenario/ Timetable 2 Difficulty 1/4 Time: depends Trains included: Class 319 You start at London St Pancras station and you have to take passengers to Luton Airport Parkway so they can catch their flight you drop the first passengers off and then go to Bedford. Class 66 Scenario/ Timetable 1 Difficulty 2/4 Time: depends Trains included: Class 66 You start at Bedford Freight yard and then haul a couple of wagons to Luton Freight yard and then you uncouple them and then take another set of wagons and take the train back to Bedford Freight yard. Scenario/ Timetable 2 Difficulty 2/4 Time: depends Trains included: Class 66 You start at Luton Freight yard and unfortunately there is a Broken down class 319 at West Hampstead Thameslink station now you have to take the class 66 to West Hampstead Thameslink station and couple to the class 319 and take it back to St Albans Depot. Class 222 (Separate add on) Scenario/Timetable 1 Difficulty 1/4 Time: depends Trains included: Class 222 You start at Bedford and you have to drive the class 222 non stop to St Pancras international passing every station. AI Layers Midland Main Line Class 43 Class 158 Class 66 (EWS) London Commuter Class 377 redesigned in FCC livery Class 387 redesigned in Thameslink livery Southeastern Highspeed Class 395 Class 700/0 East Coastway Class 377 Cardiff City Network Class 153 redesigned in London Midland City livery Also the class 222 can also be an AI Layer for the Midland Mainline, also it can be repainted in Avanti West coast livery in the WCML south route to represent the class 221s, and can be redesigned in cross country livery to represent the class 220s in the GWE route. You can also route hop to the Southeastern Highspeed route at St Pancras international station but you have to own the class 222 for that since it's on the upper level Why DTG should consider this route come to TSW5 I think DTG should consider the MML: London St Pancras (Low-Level) route - Bedford come to TSW5 because it offers a great mix of fast and slower services, which would keep things interesting. Whether you’re driving the classic Class 319 FCC trains or handling freight with the Class 66, there’s always something to do. This route gives you a good balance of high-speed sections and the challenge of managing multiple stops at busy stations like Luton and St Albans. Each station has its own feel, so no two runs would ever be the same. With the modern infrastructure and the classic rolling stock, the driving experience would be immersive and rewarding. The route’s scenery also offers a lot of variety, from the urban sprawl of London to the more relaxed countryside around Bedford. The attention to detail and realism would make it feel like you’re really running an important part of the UK rail network. It’s a busy, interesting route that would be fun to drive and full of challenges, making it a perfect fit for Train Sim World 5. Overall Overall, the Bedford to London St Pancras International (Low-Level) route would be an excellent addition to Train Sim World 5. With its mix of fast and slow services, iconic trains like the Class 319, and the challenge of managing a busy timetable, it has everything needed to create an engaging and immersive experience. The variety of stations, along with the stunning scenery, would make every journey feel unique. Whether you're a fan of commuter services or freight operations, this route has something for everyone. It’s a key part of the UK rail network, and bringing it to the game would add a whole new level of realism and fun.
This is a great idea because this was a time where there was quite a lot of variety on the Thameslink services, as opposed to it being just 700s nowadays.
This would be good, but would like it in the transition era with both 319s and 700s. Not sure why the 700 would be AI only in your layer list though - should/could be drivable
Because 700s weren't that common when 319s were still in service cuz the route takes place in kinda the year 2011 but even thou in the route even though it's an ai layer its still driveable, if DTG considers it,
