Hello and welcome back to another edition of the TSW World Cup, everyone's favourite (maybe) festive forum game! As the number of routes in TSW continues to grow, we have now exceeded the limit on poll entries (25) for Europe and the UK, so both have been split into two threads. In Europe's case, this is split between North and South just to make things interesting. "South" is not geographical (hence why LGV Med. isn't here), but instead refers to the territory of Aldi Süd supermarkets. Because why wouldn't it? Let's take a look at the groups. Group A Semmeringbahn (AT) - 2024: 2nd Round (lost to Cathcart Circle Line (UK)) Bernina Line (CH) - 2024: 2nd Round (lost to Blackpool Branches (UK)) S-Bahn Zentralschweiz (Luzern - Sursee) (CH) - 2023: Group Stage (6 votes) - 2024: Group Stage (0 votes) Maintalbahn - 2023: Group Stage (6 votes) - 2024: Group Stage (11 votes) München - Augsburg - 2023: Quarter Final (lost to Blackpool Branches (UK)) - 2024: Group Stage (5 votes) Group B Mittenwaldbahn (AT*) - Debutant Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn - Debutant Frankfurt - Fulda - 2024: 2nd Round (lost to Brighton Mainline (UK)) Niddertalbahn - 2023: Quarter Final (lost to Brighton Mainline (UK)) - 2024: Semi Final (lost to Dresden - Riesa) Salzburg-Rosenheim (AT*) - 2024: Semi Final (lost to Blackpool-Branches (UK)) Group C Frankfurt S-Bahn (Debut!) - Debutant Linke Rheinstrecke - 2023: 2nd Round (lost to Niddertalbahn) - 2024: 2nd Round (lost to Salzburg - Rosenheim) Main Spessart Bahn - 2023: Quarter Final (lost to Midland Mainline (UK)) - 2024: Group Stage (7 votes) S-Bahn Vorarlberg (AT) - 2023: 2nd Round (lost to Köln-Aachen) - 2024: Group Stage (16 votes) Arosa Linie (CH) - 2023: Group Stage (0 votes) - 2024: Group Stage (3 votes) So, let's finish up here by taking a look at the format. Six routes (group winners + runners-up) qualify for the next round automatically. The third-places routes will enter a playoff against the second-places in the Northern section for a total of five routes, with two progressing. In Round 2 the 12 Routes will be split into two, unseeded, groups of 6 - north and south combined. The bottom two routes in each are then eliminated, leaving 8 routes in total. After that, the 8 routes will be split into 1v1 clashes (amongst each other) and enter a bracket with the other regions, until there are two routes left which will enter the Semi-Finals, finally going up against a UK/US route. Rules You are allocated three (3) votes in this poll. You do not have to use them all but it is requested that you use one per group as half the fun of this tournament is the group structure. There are blank options, if you want to spoil your ballot then use them if you want. They are there solely for spacing out the poll to make it more obvious where each group starts. You cannot change your vote after you submit it so choose wisely. This poll will be open for 48 hours (until roughly 10am UK time, Sunday 14th).
Keep track of results and future rounds in the TSWWC Master Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/the-tsw-world-cup-season-three.77086/page-6
