Does anyone else think that northern Transpennine should get redeveloped to train sim world 4 standards. Most of the fields are empty and look like plastic, and even on the line side there isn’t much detail apart from duplicated piles of sleepers, overall I think it just needs a boost. Another suggestion is to make a new timetable which included all the diesels and units from the 80s, similar to that of the Blackpool branches. Something else could be a new loco to get people interested in this route again.
I'd second this. NTP is a great route - conceptually and in terms of the operations, especially in weather as the hills can be a real struggle (sometimes, even impossible...) and it would be rather fun in a Pacer- could also make further use of the Class 150. Big Yes! From me.
One. Word. Answer. Yes! And to subsidise the refurbishment dev time add either a Class 25 or one of the famous Trans Pennine Class 124 DMU's.
NTP is still one of my favourite routes to drive. Its not up to date anymore, also it never had a timetable update. But this route definetly deserves a new Shot. Here my personal wishlist, DTG you will get my money: 1) Extending the short part to healy mills 2) We need a class 56 dlc 3) TSW4 lighting update 4) entirely new timetable incl. heavy freight version. 5) Including the cl.20, cl.37, cl.31, all the TVL wagons etc. 6) A.i Traffic in timetable
It would be great to see it done, but they’d need to fix the signalling and I’m not sure they know how. There are several locations where a distant at clear can be followed by a home signal at danger. I suspect if it was an easy fix, they would have done it by now.
Yes to all of this! Doing all these points would make a perfect remaster for NTP! I'd also like Tees Valley to receive some love as well
A BIG YES from me. I always like to play this route but since others have been released it’s kind of falling behind.
A resounding yes from me. It is such an atmospheric route but having just loaded it up after a run on the new Cathcart route, it reminded me how poor the lighting is on these early routes. A sunny summers day feels like dawn or dusk. I would love to see a revised timetable c/w all the train reporting numbers and the class 31 and 3 car 101 made available. As said above if it came with some DLC like the Cathcart route then it would subsidise the development costs. A class 25 or another DMU would be great.
If I could pick any route for TOD4 and/or a timetable route it would be this. It’s a magnificent route but is showing its age more than most.
Of course NTP should get a refurbishment it is a great route and personally my favorite. However if NTP gets a refurbishment we'll need a Calder valley route with an Br class 110 set in the same era to create an perfect network.
Yes for me also. It just fits my era. Those pictures are awesome. Reminds me of many a time sneaking around Tinsley depot as a youngster
If NTP ever got touched again, I'd immensely enjoy an official steam timetable for it, like these amazing videos document:
Surely this is on someone's list in DTG towers to do. Taking a Peak over those hills is an experience I could do, and have done, over and over again, so having the scenery look even better would be great.
Yes please. But I think it has been said by one of the Devs before that Northern Transpennine needs a complete signalling overhaul before any other meaningful upgrade can exist. It is quite an old route now.
It should but I doubt it will. The latest full PIS GsMr Moths, pianos/lifts, one handle extravaganza will be development priority....
I suspect the only way a reworded NTP route will come about if it is a passion project like the WSR. I can't see DTG putting any effort in to it as apparently BR blue is not profitable enough for them. I would like to hear how well Blackpool sold in comparison with some of the modern routes.
Blackpool has clearly sold well enough that JT have deemed more BR Blue content worth their time. I remember Ed saying some time ago on the forums that he would like to go back and revisit NTP, but that he was unlikely to get the time to do so anytime soon.
I don’t know whether the “TSW Tracker” site is reliable or what data source it’s based on, but under its measure of “DLCs by recent activity” which measures usage on a 2-week rolling basis, Blackpool Branches usually seems to be the top route by some distance. SEHS is the only other route which comes close.
I will also agree one hundred procent here that NTP should get an update and a new timetable while there at it ,a great tsw route that deserves it,gets a big thumbs up from me
That can't be, surely Edinburgh Glasgow is the top seller followed by Gospel Oak, one handle to rule them all.....
Yes Blackpool must have sold well as, as you say JT wouldn't be building another BR period route. NTP always seems popular so I find it hard to believe BR blue doesn't sell. I do remember seeing some discussion regarding a new timetable. Hopefully DTG will see the JT routes doing well and change their stance, we know Matt is fond of the BR period and trains from that period.
I wonder if BPO got more popular when it was bundled up with TSW4, I certainly didn't want to buy TSW4 when it came out but caved in when I knew I needed it for BPO to run. I agree on the apparently popular BR era but we have been starved of content almost between Tees Valley and BPO although Steam was tried and quietly dropped....
With so many iconic classes around during the BR Blue era, I find it impossible to believe that it would be a low seller. It is more likely that, if it did sell in low volumes, this is because of the limited amount of stock available at the time, as well as lack of follow up dlc and a very basic timetable. If DTG were to remaster it then I'm sure it would be very well received, especially if a few dlc were created to fill the route. JT have proved this point beyond any reasonable doubt with BPO and their upcoming project.
I'm not convinced on the whole "BR doesn't sell" thing, I also can't see how modern content (while fine) is more appealing that thrashing a old Diesel in an era that you can't just go outside and experience anymore. While the modern stuff does make life easier, and you can understand why it replaced what came before it in real life. In the context of TSW, the more modern something is, the less engaging the gameplay is in general, whereas you've got to do more with older stock and actually be more aware of braking distances, signals, etc. The BR Class 101 is the best multiple unit in the game to drive because of this. As for steam traction, that wasn't even given a fair chance. Poor choice of first route, lack of physics updates and fixes, no sign of promised manual firing feature, a scenic second route that went from nowhere to nowhere rather than Manchester to Derby, and so on. DTG gave it a similar treatment of "Steam doesn't sell", avoiding the reality that it's not steam's fault but actually the end result of their products instead... That's another topic though. If NTP and TVL were brought up to similar standards seen in BPO, they'd very likely explode in popularity. Both routes are really showing their age. As for WCL, bin it and have a competent dev remake it from scratch.
Speaking of remastering TVL and NTP, they could make it worth their time by doing what they’ve done for Cathcart. Bring out a new loco/unit and sell it alongside the remaster. They could even bundle the new unit with a new timetable, which again they’ve just done with Cathcart. I’d love to see Darlington more alive with intercity and mainline services passing through like you see at Preston.
Yes after they’ve redone London Overground class 378 and 410 East London, Lee Valley and North London lines for TSW! There’s a good selection of Northern and Scottish routes in this game, JT bringing yet another one. We need some balance now. We’ve only got 13 miles on the LO!
Oh they can do the North London Line providing they go back to 1977, reopen Broad Street for Class 501 services and throw in a Class 105 Cravens DMU for Camden Road to North Woolwich. I can just see the apoplexy now of the DTG on staff one handle fans reading this!
