So the timetable mode layers are causing big troubles to console editions of the game, and potentially could diminish the ambition of the content creation teams in future content thus effecting all players if the problem isn't solved. To summarise the problem; Traffic and variety heavy routes like Munich to Augsberg can only handle a certain number of additional timetable layers dependant on other DLC on top of the base timetable mode before performance is effected. This hits seemingly exclusively hard on consoles. The current proposed solution being worked on is to create a system by which layers can be enabled and disabled by player preference. This isn't wholly satisfying as it means choosing a lack of dense traffic where there should be. This can heavily effect the overall experience of chaotic inner/inter city rail lines. So to solve these problems my proposal is to have more services in the base timetable mode, which DLC can then be substituted in to. This will mean prioritising the presence of traffic over exacting realism at the base level, with additional DLC substituting in to make the content increasingly more realistic. This should reduce the amount of layered services, increasing performance, and meaning no sacrifices need to be made in terms of experienced traffic density. It also can solve another problem of a potentially problematic bare bones base timetable, environment, and experience of a highly varied route without many additional DLCs (that may not even exist yet, for while, or ever, like in the case of LIRR, NEC, Rapid Transit, and Koln-Aachen). For example: The strategy when dealing with Munich to Augsberg would be that the ICE3 and 423 would do all their current base layer services, but also the 423 would perform any other RE/RB services. Then that would mean all of MSB and HRRs passenger services just have to substitute in to the timetable rather than layering in. So as you own more of the additional DLC, the content gets more and more realistic, without costing density at an early stage. This leaves just MSB and RRO layering in their occasional freight services. Potentially you might include a single freight locomotive and rolling stock to perform all freight movements as well to increase the base level timetable traffic but I'm just keeping it to what was included in what for now.
