Summary: New Tidbits Of Info On Future Dlcs!

anything is possible. They did only include one variant from the 377 on BML and it east coast. It wouldn’t be the first time DTG uses substitute locos for a route. Can I see them using the 700/0 for both routes? Can I see them charging twice for the same loco……… I guess the answer is yes for both……

 

As I said before, I wouldn't be surprised if DTG couldn't fit all the 700 services into BML and decided that just making the 700/0 only would be a good excuse for it only adding a small number of services to BML.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the 700 comes out on SEHS. But is only able to layer on to BML with gen 9 or PC.

Like the 313 was.

 

If they want to be brave I suggest they should be looking at something like this Calder Valley Line Preston to Leeds Bridgehouse junction is where Diesel locomotive services must leave the Calder Valley Line for NTP Huddersfield line due to Bradford Interchange being a reversal point

 

I don't know why people are saying Preston to Blackpool isn't enough?

If they do both BP North and south, then you potentially have the mix of Diesel and Electric traction, with a fewer stations one way.

I'd be happy to see that, not everyone has the time to put in to long routes.

 

If they wanted to be even longer I suggest they should do Calder Valley Line Blackpool to Leeds City via Halifax Bradford Interchange. Hebden Bridge is where you must split off the Blackpool North via Preston from the Manchester Victoria train

 

But.... longer isn't always better, and my point was exactly the opposite of this.
I don't have the time to put aside on what would be around a 2 1/4 hr journey, so it would be a waste on their part, as I wouldn't even consider buying the route.

One of the things I love about CCL and E-G are the shorter services that are available, as I just squeeze in trips where time allows.

 

Personally BML is my favourite route so if the 700 is for SEHS only then that’s definitely disappointing. If I remember correctly then Joe has already done the 700 timetable so there isn’t much work for them to do. If optimisation is the issue, I personally think that the unnecessary layers should be removed like the GWR HST or the SE diverts. Thameslinks runs the most services on the BML (between Brighton and East Croydon) so it definitely, in my opinion, needs to be added.

 

Preston to Blackpool okay if, 1. It’s set in the diesel era, earlier the better and 2. They include the coastal tramway! I really have no interest driving a 319 across a flat relatively low speed route for a short distance.

 

The picture above is really from 1997? And which locomotive does it show exactly? Doesn't look like a regular line service.

But rest of your sample pictures show that after 1994 the old logos were replaced fairly quickly. Has already been mentioned several times.

In 1997, there will hardly have been any locomotives that wore the old logo. And that's what it's all about: The 628 of the Niddertalbahn, which runs before 1994, should get the new logo for the left Rhine route, because at that time no railcars drove around with it anymore. Old colors indeed, but with the new logo.

Likewise, the 103 around 1997, at which time the Rhine line was used, had neither the old logo as a metal sign or the aprons on the front.

But: Still, I'd rather have more AI, with signage that might not be entirely correct, than none.

But the assumption that many locomotives with the old logo were still running around in 1997 because of the transition is simply not correct.

 

I agree shorter routes can have their charmes too, but there's already a fair selection of those in TSW. I'm not always in the mood for a long run, but whenever I am, options are pretty much limited to a slow US freight train, or crawling along the West Somerset Railway at low speeds.

I'd be nice if TSW had at least a few long routes that'd be around 2 1/4 hr journey, and I yet have to see a proper intercity route of some decent length. But that doesn't mean every route needs to be long.

 

It would be nice to have a mixture of longer and short routes. This would be a short route even by TSW standards, even if adding the route to Blackpool South.

If there were routes with long distance services amongst locals then you could have short and longer services on one route. Or make a network out of the route like Cathcart so you aren't driving along the same line all the time.

Cathcart is one of my favourite routes, as it is immersive, okay Glasgow is quiet but you have three routes and feel like you are actually operating a complete service on a network. Not driving a HST for 25 minutes and giving up control.

 

Cathcart and similar routes would also be great if we had more than one save slot so you could leave it and do something else in the meantime, which of course would also mean service chaining on restoring a save game needs to work properly - I.e. not lose the objective markers and the top LH clock.

 

Well yes precisely, I was raising that point the other day. All routes could do with one each. But it would be nice to do a complete shift but not all at once. Some routes this doesn't work on as all trains go off map.

I am looking forward to the new MML but I imagine looking at the timetables that will be the same.

 

I get your point now and for Preston Blackpool which one can be it's Eastern End besides Preston? For me it's Blackburn or Hebden Bridge which will still allow Northern Rail trains running from Blackpool & Preston which are actually Calder Valley Line services playable to a part.

 

Absolutely agree with you here - Thameslink and the Class 700 is as much synonymous with the modern Brighton Mainline as the Southern Electrostars, so it has to be included with London Commuter otherwise what's the point.

Moreover, while the Brighton-bound Thameslink services (from Bedford and Cambridge) are important to have for obvious reasons, I'd argue that having the inclusion of Peterborough and Bedford service starting from Three Bridges (Horsham in real life) and Gatwick, respectively is an absolute must because they offer a completely new variety to timetable mode as they would serve new stations such as Horley, Salfords and Earlswood, plus more of a 24/7 timetable too. I'd even be happy if it was just the 700/0 - but obviously would prefer the 700/1, or ideally both.

 

If it was a RRX Desiro HC the reason might be because the RRX license is hard to get from what I've heard.

It would have been nice to have another Rhein Ruhr route.

 

i would’ve preferred hazel grove - blackpool north, like BML with loads of services

 

Now we have:
BNSF - SD70ACe BNSF (separate from bundle 2)
DBBR403 - ICE3 with "new" exclusive LGBTQWERTYUIOP+ livery (separate from bundle 2)
RailOGBR - BR Class 37/7 Rail Operation Group (separate from bundle 2)
LocoBundle2 - Pack with ICE3 "Pride", ICE1 "Klimaschützer", SD70 ACe BNSF, Class 37/7 ROG
WCSS - West Cornwall Summer Steam (or smth like that)

 

Absolutely agree. It feels like the 700 getting added to BML is a must at this point. And you're right, it should be a 700/1. It would add such a huge variety of new stopping patterns (e.g. does anything even stop at Balcombe on the current timetable?).

If it's waiting on an optimisation pass, then take the "quick route" of dropping the 375 and HST layers and release initially only for Gen 9 and PC, then make best efforts on optimisation and release for Gen 8.

 

I think the problem with removing layers is that some people might complain London Victoria has empty stations. The 375 uses up several platforms. They could remove the 465 instead but idk how people would react.

 

Well someone will be upset whatever they do.

Personally if it meant removing say the 465 layer to get the 700 in then I would be all for it. There are some stations on the route which don't have any services stopping there.

There are the "diverted" 375 services which are a nice touch but I would happily lose in favour of the 700.

 

I just want it to have any kind of Northern train tbh. That’d open so many doors for the north of England.

 

Indeed, it's actually amazing to think how much more new variety and enjoyment such an already epic route/timetable would be gained with the addition of the 700, so fingers crossed - plus a win-win with it for SEHS too. In regards to Balcombe, nothing serves here with the current London Commuter timetable.

Much agreed if it means having the 700 - this is the utmost priority for London Commuter. As you say, the 700 would serve a handful of new stations, has more of a 24/7 timetable etc. Though, on the contrary, if DTG communicated on a potential timeframe for an optimisation pass, then I'd prefer to wait longer if it meant keeping more existing services.

 

I'm very concerned that only the 700/0 specifically is listed there. BML in my opinion needs the 700 a lot more than SEHS. There are a lot of unnecessary layers on BML I would happily see culled to make way for it. Not just the HST but also the 313 and the 09 for what that's worth. I could even do without the Southeastern traffic at Victoria. Even on PS5 the game lags like hell in Victoria. At the very least get rid of the 375s that run between Redhill and East Croydon. They're rare in real life like the HSTs.

Preston to Blackpool doesn't sound like a very exciting route. You can bet people on these forums will be complaining about it being yet another one train, point A to Point B route. Not to mention another grand station with just one little multiple unit to populate it.

Assuming it's modern, we could see the 331 as the new train, and maybe skyhook's upcoming 158 could layer onto it to represent the York services? I believe 195s are now the norm for that route, but the 158s could be a better fit if the route is set in 2019, like a lot of modern routes seem to be.

 

Agree on the 09 and the HST, but absolutely not the 313. It’s a mainstay in Brighton and the route would suffer for its removal.

 

Not gonna lie I forgot they appeared as AI at Brighton, I was thinking more about the depot runs. I think that shows how much presence they actually have there. I guess I'd rather have them there than the 375s and/ or the 465s. Victoria is still pretty busy for TSW without them and it would be nice to have the game actually running smoothly there.

 

Totally agree. The 313 is a vital and imo loved layer in and around Brighton. Which I appreciate even more now they're being withdrawn Wonder if theres any way of adding some ROG layers similar to the video british ace posted with a 37 taking a rake up to be scrapped? (although unsure of the route they followed but definitely went through three bridges)

 

It could also be, that its just there to troll us

 

They are also operated in Baden-Württemberg as Yellow colours as DB Baureihe 462 maybe they are trying to bring in Stuttgart Hbf or Mannheim Karlsruhe Hauptbahnhof Offenburg/Straßburg Hbf (Elaß-Lothringen) present day (Karlsruhe-Strasbourg Ville/Offenbourg) which has them in service.

 

Or maybe whoever made it simply put in one too many zeros. It's likely very early days with everything listed so there's plenty of time for things to change.

 

The 09 isn’t a layer, it’s a static asset and puts no load on the dispatcher

 

Does it still count as a static asset because you can still drive it? The full loco is still loaded in you just can't change the points and do anything with it.

 

Since it can't go anywhere, the dispatcher ignores it, just like the static wagons sitting on sidings

 

Surely to add the 700 there will be no need to remove any layers at all from BML on PC and gen 9?
The route could do with a little further optimisation scenery-wise though.

 

I do wish they could figure out and fix whatever causes the brutal framerate drop around Croydon

 

Matt said several optimization passes have to be made first before a 700 can run. If it got added, it causes crashes at the moment. He didn't specify a platform so it's probably not optimized well enough on next gen either.

 

I'm fairly certain that has no impact on memory usage though. The 09 still takes up memory.

 

Precious little. It only exists when the Brighton station tile is loaded - which means never at the same time as a 700.

 

Maybe BML could get a TSW3 upgrade like Boston Sprinter just did. It would make sense given how popular the route is.

 

I would think that very likely indeed; they wouldn’t launch the 700 without having BML get the same TSW3 treatment as BOS did for the Acela, for example.

 

I'd sure hope not- that would be a huge mistake IMO.

BML needs TOD4, and so far it seems like that requires a paid DLC- hence the 700.

Should be the easiest money they've ever made!

 

700s run all the way to Brighton.

 

I do agree with your concerns. However, I'd certainly accept just a 700/0 for every Thameslink service even if unrealistic as a compromise for BML - and would hope a /1 would be added later. Regarding SEHS, with the route getting a loco DLC imminently with the ROG Class 37, I'd be surprised if SEHS was to get another exclusive loco so soon with the 700. As you say, the Class 700 is definitely needed as priority for London Commuter first!

 

Correct and for them they might as well make Riesa-Dresden ICE-T. Remember a 2021-2022 discussion on Class 700 mentions ICE-T Dresden and Acela Express Boston Providence. If they were to combine Class 700 ICE-T & Acela Express and Home routes BML Riesa-Dresden & NEC Boston-Providence then DTG can make this bundle TSW 3 Rush Hour Train pack which includes ICE-T Riesa Dresden Class 700 Boston & Acela Express Boston providence the same price as RHTT Dispolok 182. A more expensive option might be Class 700 BML Riesa-Dresden ICE-T & Boston Providence Acela Express and Base Game routes complete with Expansion Pack 2 Class 37/7 375/9 white ICE 3 Trainbow & SD70ACE BNSF called TSW 3 Rush Hour Deluxe bundle

 

Yup, think I'd agree with this one. Get a /0 in for all 700 services initially, as long as the /1 was a definite.

And yes, my comment about dropping certainly layers might make the world feel a little emptier, but the huge amount of services that would become available with the 700 more than makes up for it. Plus, there's always scope for things to come back as any further optimisations are found. Personally, I'm very "pro-drop", in that I'd happily see the 465, 375 (both the Vic traffic and playable East Croydon - Redhill services), HST, and 09 removed completely in the first instance, to make way for the 700/0 and 700/1s, but I know that may be hard to stomach for some people.

 

It’s a moot point to my mind. Given that BML released with these layers, they’re not going to be taken away again. Too much danger of upsetting people who might have bought BML specifically because of these layers, you never know. The only way to ‘drop’ the layers would be to ship an alternative timetable, which DTG won’t do since they’re not going to keep up with (and test!) two distinct timetables unless absolutely necessary. Our only hope for a 700 on BML is that enough optimisation happens for another layer to be green-lit, I reckon.

 

I think that's why it's a good idea that dtg develop a system where we can disable certain layers so that everyone is happy.

 

If they create a 700/1 variant for BML they will only need enough memory for one set, the rest is down to ai traffic and fps. If they make another optimisation pass on the route itself, both should be feasible on all platforms except perhaps gen 8.

 

The most problematic section of the route is the London Victoria area I thought. And the Thameslink doesn't go all the way there.

As I said before it may end up like the 313 was and will have SEHS as the base route and only on 9th gen and PC will it layer onto BML.