**This is entirely a speculation thread at this moment, for the purpose of entertainment/hype** So for those of you that aren't aware, today DTG announced that the Class 700 is coming to Train Simulator/TS1, which is a surprise.. We have two routes which the 700 could work on in TSW 2 - that is the Brighton Mainline Route as well as South Eastern High Speed. For SEHS, the 700s would work the 'North Kent Line' services, between Gravesend and Rainham. BML has been 'future proofed' in its timetable, thanks to Joe. This means that the missing Thameslink Class 700 services should be able to be slotted into the existing timetable with relative ease. It would, of course, make the existing BML TT, which is busy, even busier! Here is a typical scene at Gatwick Airport. By this picture, you can see how much more busier the line will be:
Definitely need a 700 for TSW at some point, but I really hope they take their time to make a new model rather than reusing the MKS one from TS. It has so many inaccuracies that really don't belong in a TSW product.
This is great news, I would think it is first in line for loco DLC for BML. As long as it doesn't break anything to put another train into the route of course!
to show how common they are, here's my photo of them occupying all 4 tracks at salfords (could have been perfect without that lamp post haha)
"Reusing the one from TS" isn't possible. TS and TSW locos are utterly different, right down to the ground; those in TSW were built from scratch, even if they parallel rolling stock in TS.
Not entirely true. They can port over the 3D model and modify it. I believe that's what they did with the BR155, and it's certainly happened the other way (TSW to TS).
Could someone explain to me what is so special about the Class 700. To me, a non-British, this Train looks like a normal EMU like the Class 375,377. I would like to know what is so special about this EMU that it feels like it is on everyone's Wishlist.
This loco has been and/or a thameslink route has been requested for both TS and TSW for years now and finally having it come is big. The loco has had licensing issues for years aswell, likely why this has taken so long to come, so similar to BNSF, Dovetail have done the impossible
In simple terms it’s just ‘another’ modern EMU but when you look into it, it’s quite a lot different. First of all, you’ve got superior cab views thanks to its singular, wide window design. The cab itself looks very spacious and modern looking, with several computer screens - almost like a spaceship. The interior is basic but very spacious. You can walk through the entire train with ease, thanks to no corridor doors. It also means you can see the train twist and bend around corners, which is pretty impressive looking. Finally, it’s the first time we’ve seen anything Thameslink related from DTG, so it’d be something ‘different’ in terms of branding.
I think the biggest difference is that in a class 700, you can actually see where you are going and dont have the little window which grants you a glimpse onto the route like the electrostars. But as you can see on the pictures it would add quite a few additional services and is very Common on the route, it would use the unused stations, which there are a lot of on BML even if its so busy. So i can understand why its wanted and to be fair it looks very different from a electrostar, so it would give the route some variety.
It's less the train itself and more the Thameslink route, but also the Class 700's abundence on the London - Brighton route, and South London in general. The pink lines are Thameslink (dashed lines indicate limited services - only a couple of trains per day) - all Thameslink services are ran with Class 700s. All routes run 2 trains per hour off-peak, and for London-Brighton, they are: Bedford - Brighton Cambridge - Brighton Bedford - Gatwick via Redhill Peterborough - Horsham via Redhill plus the peak-only Bedford - Littlehampton and Bedford - East Grinstead services. That's a lot of extra services for BML.
I'd rather ditch the 387s in BML and use the 700 if it's going to cause memory problems. Option to turn off to maximise memory would be good
Its not just the emu it self, it runs on sehs, and it makes the timetable of the southern part in l2b busier. Thameslink is a substantial part like the gatwick services, so i think they exist but are blocked now.
Well maybe not plastic rubbish exactly then, would be nice to have something you can actually see out the front!
It would add some variety to the London to Brighton route amongst the electrostars. It would be nice to see it released. I think it looks quite attractive, and I don't often think that of modern trains. The interior doesn't appear particularly inviting however! I suspect DTG will want to add Thameslink to the London to Brighton route.
Agree, but I don't think BML could handle any additional trains if anything the timetable needs thinning out to reduce the possibility of standoffs and stand a better than even chance of resuming a saved game. Not been on one, but the seats look even worse than a Knotweed. (Hitachi 800!).
I'm not fussed on it personally, I much rather the look of the Aventras or the 80x. They're called 'ironing board seats' for a reason.
If it's available for TSC then I have no doubt it'll be in TSW. One concern is that if the 700 takes on "it's proper services" for Gravesend to Rainham, this does kind of orphan the 465, so maybe they need to do some "inner urban North Kent" action, maybe Orpington to Victoria or the NKL from Gravesend towards CHX?
A model can be reused from one to the other, it just needs additional work and textures and scripting obviously has to be redone. See Steam locos for Crewe - Liverpool.
Yes please!! Bring on the Class 700 in TSW. Especially needed for bringing BML more to life south of Purley.
In my opinion, they could take the 387 off the London to Brighton services and leave them just doing the Gatwick Express services.
Well, yes, but the graphics are really a much lesser - don't want quite to say "trivial" - part. The "mathematical model," the physics, is where the work is. And of course, even with the 3D model, although the TS version can form the basis, it has to be re-rendered with a much higher polygon count.
for anyone else wondering: https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-simulator/articles/article/discover-the-desiro
They aren't though, else it would be impossible to port either way. All TSW locos are actually lower poly than a number of TS1 DLCs, things like the SS AC44 or Smokebox Big Boy both have >1m polys, which is miles beyond anything for TSW.
It is quite nice to know that DTG has an official Thameslink Class 700 now. Every new operator increases the possibilities for this game. If the Class 700 were to ever come to TSW, wouldn’t it be best to give it its own Thameslink route, and then update Southeastern High Speed and Brighton Mainline to give Thameslink layers?
Because it has already been future proofed not to mention thameslink paths are in Secnario planner, Class 700s are likely on the horizon at some point
Hopefully, this is coming to TSW 2 by this year, since we are already getting an update on the timetable from Joe. Hopefully, it won't be long, but we also really do need more American Passenger, Commuter Trains as well as A High-Speed commuter trains.
Well, there goes the rumour that Thameslink and the Desiro City can't be licensed. Hopefully not too long to wait for a TSW equivalent.
It does seem a bit flaky. The GWR class 166 seems to be causing some problems. I haven't been on one either but that photo of the interior doesn't make me feel like I should hurry to do so.
Another reason for thameslink at l2b are the 3 stations between redhill and gatwick. I think they are operated by thameslink only.
yeah earlswood, salfords and balcombe all have absolutely no service in game, and horley has just one. probably worth noting that all but balcombe are served by peak time southern services
So Far i only see its for TS2021/22 according to what Nat said in this article. https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/ts2022-discover-the-desiro.51329/
As someone who travels on this train every day to work in real life I can tell you that it is a real pain in the a*** to ride on, literally! Ironing board seats, clinical interiors that feel like you are in some sort of hospital ward and bumpy suspension is not what I call comfortable travelling. Real 'modern plastic' and I like modern trains! Still, would make a nice addition to the BML and Southeastern High Speed and was disappointed to see it announced for TS and not TSW2 where it would be more warmly received.
obviously this train is not in the class of a 121 but adding a LOCO to any UK route should be welcome. Seeing how long this Steam route is going to take I wonder if they will think about adding another Loco to a UK route? I could think of loads!
~8tph between East Croydon and Gatwick? The line living up to it's true potential? Potential use on SEHS - although that could somewhat devalue the 465? Sign me up. There is a roadmap tommorow, so here's hoping.
