It’s pretty obvious that a big chunk of the community wants NEC New York back but with better start and end points, well, the inspiration has already been made in TS2022, the New York - New Haven route, entirely remade for TSW2. It’s 75 miles long which is a realistic amount for TSW, it includes both Grand Central and Penn, this is where layers from Long Island Railroad and Harlem Line can appear and make the timetable extra busy. Plus, it has new and improved end points with several more opportunities for layers from various freight routes. Personally I think it should use the Boston Sprinter ACS-64 and amfleets, with the GP38 paint job from the original route, GP40, SW1000R, and Amfleet Cab Car all being able to be added if you owned the dlcs from TSW 2020; the GP40 would also appear on Sand Patch Grade with its layers and scenarios. The route itself would be a separate purchase since it has a drastic upgrade, but original owners could get a discount. Of course the GP40 and SW1000 would count as preserved collection. Sure all of this would take a hell of a lot of work, but it will definitely be worth it and open the gate to several new dlcs, essentially making an American London Commuter. i think including locomotives would be like Naverker Dresden where rolling stock that has already been made would automatically come with some new rolling stock, some likely candidates would be as follows MTA P32 Metro North M8 Amtrak Acela (I already made a suggestion for this for Boston Sprinter so it would most likely be a layer) And the NJ Transit ALP-46
That means bringing in the M8 Metro-North Equivalent to the BML Class 387/2 London Commuter. Since it has 4 tracks this is a perfect place to test M8 vs 387/2 BML. Interestingly threeway race M8 Metro-North vs 387/2 vs Hamburg 474.3 490
What about making a vintage version of the route with New Haven EP5s and E33s? That would be amazing. PRR or (maybe Conrail) on the NEC would be great, too. GG1s and E44s need to be added to the game, as well as perhaps a vintage Amtrak NEC pack with an AEM-7, HHP-8, and E60C.
NEC NY Amtrak Legends 2000-2022 pack AEM-7 Acela Express and HHP-8. Even better next generation Commuter and Amtrak NJ Transit NEC Morris & Essex Lines NJCL Alstom Bombardier MLV II power car with MLV Is as trailers ALP-45DP 4535 Comet IV & V and upwards Tier IV Metro-North Siemens Charger Dual Mode Amtrak Avelia Liberty. Avelia Liberty and Acela Express can layer to Boston-Providence.
Another thing is the route can also be extended to Newark airport for cab car services and to make it more like the original. All of this would make it probably more expensive than normal also considering that it includes a large section of Harlem line but it will sure as hell be worth it
I’m thinking the Harlem line part would terminate at Wakefield as it diverges a little before and layers from the Harlem line can be driven up to it, it would also cut the cost a little which may be enough for the extension to Newark
Best option is merging the two so that you get a bundle called NYC Commuter Rail pack Harlem Line and NEC Newark New Haven. In the German speaking parts of Europe this will be called Nahverkehr NYC Harlem und NEC Newark New Haven.
I like this idea quite a bit and actually think it's not that crazy. Being able to re-use a LOT of assets could potentially keep dev costs down to a reasonable level. Not sure how viable a new NJT train would be if the route starts at NYP, but it could layer in from a different section of NJT route if/when that ever happens. Honestly thought we would have had an Acela Express DLC for Boston already as it's such a fan-favorite, but if it were to be included in a route DLC, that could explain its absence...
That could work, route extensions rarely happen but it could be a good idea to manage the price and work done
I honestly think the Acela makes more sense as a BP dlc as it includes the 150mph section. But it would definitely be a layer, also NJT would probably work better as a layer from another route like you said, but it would feel pretty empty without it going to Newark, especially at sunny side yard
Another thing is the freight yards south of Penn Station could have ai services from Sand Patch Grade. Some switching could also be possible as drive able services for freight down there as it was left absent in tsw2020
Upon playing the route on TS2022 a little more, I noticed the Harlem line part ends at Wakefield, this is halfway through the line so that may be short enough to include without the extension if you own the Harlem Line route, but I still think a pack of all routes bought and merged into one giant route is a cool idea, it’s just highly unlikely unfortunately
