TSW You deserve trains and routes from Spain. It is time for the game to include content from the RENFE rail network. I think many Spanish fans of the franchise are looking forward to it.It would be great to see the Ave train "flying" through Spanish landscapes.
Excellent idea and for DTG if they wanted an AVE Route first then Perpignan-Barcelona basically it gives LGV Mediterranean Line Avignon-Marsellie the AVE S100 being 08:06 Marseille Saint Charles to Madrid Atocha via Barcelona Sants and Perpignan. Also The 200 series Duplex can now run to Barcelona if retrofitted to use ETCS or otherwise the newer 800 series can run.
I'd love to see a Spanish route, but I'm not a fan of dedicated high speed routes. I'd prefer a commuter line.
I really agree Spain would be a great country for TSW to go to, as it's got probably one of the most fantastically eclectic rail systems in Europe. Broad gauge, standard gauge and narrow gauge are all in widespread use, some trains are able to switch between broad and standard gauge tracks, as well as utilizing different forms of traction, and the geography in Spain is really interesting. I think that a pure AVE route is not the best option though, it would be almost identical to the LGV Mediteranee, which is a long route but cuts through the geography with only 3 stops, the AVE utilizes standard gauge only so would miss out on one of the Spanish rail networks most interesting features, and the AVE has a less frequent service pattern than the TGV. A good option might be the Valencia-Castellon section of the Mediterranean Corridor, as it offers some variation of high/low speed services and introduces a cool new feature: Dual gauge rails. The line is adapted for use of both Iberian broad gauge trains and AVE standard gauge trains, meaning it would be possible to introduce Cercanias commuter trains with around a 1hr journey time, as well as Euromed Talgo S-130 trains for non-stop services, and the AVE S-100 service. It would simultaneously be the first Spanish route, first broad gauge route, and first dual gauge route in the game. Might even be possible to add in the Cercanias branch to Caudiel. Rolling stock options: Class 447 (electric traction/broad gauge) for commuter services between Valencia Norte and Castellon de la Plana Class 592 (diesel traction/broad gauge) for services between Valencia Norte and Caudiel Class S-130 (electric traction/variable gauge) for Euromed services between Valencia-Joaquin Sorolla and Castellon de la Plana Class S-100 (electric traction/standard gauge) for Ave services between Valencia-Joaquin Sorolla and Castellon de la Plana.
How do the trains change gauge? Do they need to go into a workshop or can it be done by the driver in station?
This is how Talgo do it, it can be done at around 10mph without stopping or disembarking passengers. In fact I think in that pictures of the S-130 I posted above the small shed behind it is where it changes gauge. The axles Talgos use are patented though so other trains use a different system. I was on CAF class 120 last year that changed gauges from standard to broad guage outside Valladolid and it also did it in a small shed as opposed to a station, if you skip to 2 mins in the video below you can see it in action. From memory though it went veeeeery slow.
I agree with you on that one remember some 1.66m tracks around Barcelona area have 1.435m tracks installed making those Dual Gauge for 1.435m RENFE Class 252 25kv 50hz ETCS ASFA 3kv DC and French 1.5kv DC KVB VACMA basically the Barcelona Perpignan Freight services via LGV Perpignan-Barcelona. That route gives you the Le Soler Freight Yard and gives LGV Mediterranean Line Avignon-Marsellie the S100 which always leaves Marseille Saint Charles at 08:06. If a French DLC associated with LGV Perpignan-Barcelona is linked to this route what will happen to the freight yard is that the RENFE Class 252 25kv 50hz ETCS ASFA 3kv DC and French 1.5kv DC KVB VACMA 1.435 tracks gauge is separated from the standard gauge renfe Freight train and replaced by a BB26000 or if Germany bound a BB37000 towards the Final Destination.
I think the R1 from Rodalies de Catalunya would be great, it goes by the coastline and it would be beautifull, also include the R2 Nord for freight and MD faster services, and even do Portbou or Cerbere or even Perpignan. ideas for trains. 5.184 × 3.456 UT447 230 × 173Civia (465) 3.984 × 2.656 449 640 × 426 253 400 × 267 Transfesa 335 640 × 304 AVE 103 640 × 304 AVE 100 1.920 × 1.080 TVG from LVG Marseille-Avignon LGV line 770 × 420 Eurodual
