Few routes from TSW2020 are as good as East Coastway and it is testament that it took until BML and the SEHS Remaster for it to be beaten - in terms of the UK. For those unfamiliar, the East Coastway route in TSW runs from Brighton, eastward to Eastbourne, with a branch line to Seaford. The route comes with an earlier version of the Class 66 - identical to the GWE version, without the DB Livery option - and the Class 377 - without all of the upgrades introduced with Brighton Mainline. The route has one loco DLC: The BR Class 313 'PEP' EMU, which offers substitution, primarily on Brighton-Seaford and Brighton-Lewes services. Service patterns are: Brighton <-> L.W. Depot Brighton <-> Eastbourne Brighton <-> Lewes Brighton <-> Seaford With a variation in stopping patterns. Freight consists of a few (very, few) runs from Newhaven, on the Seaford Line, to Lewes. Why ECW? East Coastway, is a classic. It introduced EMUs to TSW' UK scene, it's a route never seen in TSC, and it's a route with a lot to do, as shown. But it has flaws. The Class 377 and Class 66 are drastically inferior to their newer versions on the BML (377) and SEHS/ECML (66) routes. The Timetable also pales in comparison to that of Brighton Mainline; with a very direct comparison being available at Brighton. Likewise, services from London Victoria that join the line at Lewes, bound for Seaford, are absent. Bar two, for some reason. Lighting is very poor in certain situations, especially night as the TSW2020 lighting is still used - in which night is quite bright. During the daytime, ECW has an awful bloom effect, which at times can make your entire train look like a comically large lamp. Changes The fundamental upgrades that ECW needs are relatively obvious. Timetable: Services - Add missing London Victoria via Lewes services to the Seaford Branch - Modify as required for the Class 313 - [Possibly] Gatwick Express depot services at Brighton Depot. Although, these are playable on BML anyway. Layers - BML Class 387 at Brighton and LW Depot - Thameslink Class 700 at Brighton I know the 700s seen here should be 12 cars. But Wrong Thameslink is better than No Thameslink, no? - GWR Class 166 at Brighton Exact same services as BML General - Offer ability to substitute Class 387 services (for the player only), as were seen in COVID times. (Because, why not?) - Throw in some RHTT/ROG Action Route Trains - Upgrade the 377 to match BML Standards in Sounds, PIS, etc. - Upgrade the 66 to match SEHS/ECML standards Scenery - Improve, if feasible, distant scenery on hills to the north, and some station areas. Lighting - Bring up to TOD4 (TSW3/4) standards - Get rid of the bloom, please Misc - Bring over TSW4 features Conclusion Well, I think I've said all there is to be said. ECW is a magnificent route and I feel, personally, it deserves to be overhauled to today's standards. I would mention an extension but I like to keep suggestions realistic. Thanks for reading.
I don't think an extension is unrealistic. Both heading West from Lewes to Haywards Heath, and East from Eastbourne to Ore is within reason. Extending the route, much like the situation encountered with SEHS, would better justify a route upgrade/overhaul. The Victoria to Seaford services you mention should actually be to Eastbourne/Ore. They run every half an hour alternating between Eastbourne and Ore as their final destinations, each with a differing stopping pattern to call at smaller stations with an hourly frequency such as Cooksbridge and Plumpton. The direct Seaford to Victoria services only run in peak times. Nowadays the Class 377/3 subclass commonly runs Coastway services, especially to Seaford. This would be a good inclusion as it would allow 3-car substitution with the Class 313, avoiding the need for a separate timetable as per the original ECW.
yes they should keep all routes the same on the Coastway, "BUT" add more lines from eastbourne and not just have it as final destination from brighton, from eastbourne they should carry on a route to ashford int via ore, with ashford int being final stop but game shouldn't end it should let you carry on back through onto london via ore stopping at hastings/bexhill and such other stations along the way..... also london being final stop then game should stop and tell you how many points ect??????
I think an extension would be good as well as a route overhaul and remastering. Hastings and ore would be brilliant so you can do a full end to end service. Or even down the west coastway maybe. I don't mind but yes, east coastway does need work.
Yeah would like to see this through to Ore to make a good little network. The shuttle services to Hove would be good too.
I believe this is the same issue as GWE.... This is wat Matt already written and confirmed in livestreams routes from this time period are not on the list for an extension or upgrade. If I'm right the way how this routes are created are fundamentaly different than later routes so to extend this route they have to build them from scratch. It's the same with Aschaffenburg on the Maintalbahn they rebuild Aschaffenburg from scratch due to this issue.
We know. And I think that is what the suggestion is asking for. Shame dtg don't want to do that but I can kinda see why.
For me the route would be improved by opening up a few more paths and giving us access to the existing portals. We can make a new timetable ourselves (I'm thinking of playing around with this route now that I know how to make timetables). However, especially from a scenario creation point of view, the lack of access to Brighton station / sidings, the lack of access at Lewes and the inability to get to the carriage sidings at Eastbourne really clobber game-play and immersion. So if a full rebuild is out of the question then why not a couple of small tweaks? DTG must still have the source files.
I would be quite happy just seeing the route brought up to current levels. I don’t think DTG will do this as it would cost money that they would be unlikely to make back. Would be a good project for someone to do to learn he tools though in the same way that the upcoming WSR improvements have been done.
I remember how excited I was for this route when it was announced around 2020. I also remember feeling completely disappointed upon realizing it was only half the route and thought, what a missed opportunity. I played East Coastway a lot and it was enjoyable, but it always felt lacking knowing it was one of DTG's partial routes of which there are many on TSC. If they do ever bring out the other half, I hope it goes all the way to Ashford International to make use of the Marshlink and the Class 171 Turbostar. I am not holding my breath.
I have bought it only recently in one of many sales, and playing it relatively often - for some reason I love it when a train goes across some junction thats kinda like a triangle - like, you are going through the stops, and then a section with a sharper turn, and you go through junction with its many switches, you have to slow down in advance, pass, and then bam you blast forth (Vorarlberg has such a section too... dunno, am I the only one who loves the sound of train/wheels going through junctions/switches? ) more mileage, I like
GWE is in dire need of the branch lines, both freight and passenger, between Paddington and Reading. If Class 165/1 and Class 180 dmus were also added, the variety would be much improved with different service types available. Extension to Oxford and Newbury on the mainline would really round things off but this might be a bit too ambitious. The route itself is good but a few tweaks here and there would be nice.
no reason why this can’t happen, although an ecw overhaul is less requested than bml it’d still be just as good
This is indeed one route where a rework should include an extension. Most certainly along the coast to Ore and if time permits also Lewes up to Haywards Heath. Obviously that would be a paid update but we have already seen that in principle with LIRR so not unprecedented.
