Just a quick suggestion after this experience on SKA Apparently there is a way to assign a max speed to each service, which was developed for DCZ, so far the only place where we can see this new mechanic in place is DCZ (to differentiate tilting vs conventional), all the G6 services, to enforce the 25km/h shunting speed limit, and 80km/h loco max speed and on the expansion pack's IC service I suggest applying this feature to slow down freight trains on future routes, even just a standard 100km/h for loaded trains and 120km/h for empty trains without having to take into account anything else would be OK. UK's freight trains could be capped using the head codes as guides. I understand why this would be hard to implement on an old timetable, and I definitely didn't expect new journeys to fix that, but it's quite the immersion breaker and I would appreciate if that could be improved particularly if there are future SKA-like routes with parallel running. Slowing down freight trains could also prove an interesting method to create nice services if you are stuck behind one.
Having done a bit with freight on GWE, it is a bit of a nonsense that the speed limit shown both on the HUD and upcoming does not reflect the lower speed where differential limits apply and where the train itself is speed limited that should be the top limit too. For example a Class 4 Freightliner would be permitted maximum 75 MPH, a Class 6 60 MPH and a Class 7 45 MPH, subject to any lower track restrictions. In fact the same thing happens with passenger stock and locos generally. On Diesel Legends, maximum speed of the Class 52 Western is 90 MPH, so where line speed goes above this the limit shown on the HUD should still be pegged at 90.
These days it's harder for a driver to be more "flexible" with speed limits, But my dad used to work for British Rail and then EWS before retiring in 2000, Older diesels like the 47s, Westerns, Deltics etc were usually given a max speed 5 mph lower than what they could achieve as it was was rumoured BR management didn't want a repeat of the 1930s "Race to the North" scenarios by its drivers, Having Westerns reach 100 was quite common at one point, same for 47s, 40s, 45s etc etc. Edit: This was on Passenger services I meant to say, Freight was far far stricter.
Yes, I heard plenty of tales during my railway career! I don't suggest the traction should have an artificial speed cap imposed (other than that from any overspeed sensor fitted) but the HUD speed indicator should reflect the permitted top speed of the loco/unit.
Yeah I do think that, when possible if I'm driving a loco and I know the route and speed limit I'll follow the maximum speed the loco or working is permitted and not like speed but it would be nice if the game did that for us.
marcsharp2 Just as a clarification, that's what I meant, lowering of the speed limit. I talk about capping/slowing down trains mainly in the context of seeing the trains driven by AI (that only care about the HUD speed limit), as you can currently follow the correct speed limits regardless of what the HUD tells you, so this change would be mostly to make the AI traffic more realistic rather than enhancing the player experience if that makes sense
The only route which to my knowledge does that is Sand Patch, which allows light locos the higher speed and holds freight consists to the lower.
I don't see why they wouldn't implement a VMAX policy as standard on the trains which feeds into the HUD. That way the driver is shown what their maximum is (maybe as well as what line speed is) and should also tie into the "special speed limits" in the UK such as split passenger / freight speed limits, EP and MU limits etc Might be a bit of work to do but could be something for Adam's team to have a crack at making sure the limit markers are in place (ie track markers in the engine rather than the speed boards the player sees) and working, and then that each train has it's max set
I'm mixed on this. I appreciate the motivation for it, but can't help thinking... those trains don't have HUDs. If a dev team was gonna do work on something, why not make the real instruments visible and working? Just my personal opinion, but I'm trying to feel more like I'm driving a train, not driving my computer or my television. ( we don't need no steekin' HUDs ) The Boston Sprint has an extra instrument visible from the drivers position that tells the driver the "company approved speed limit." (MBTA in this case) The HUD continues to display the rail line limit. I thought that was a pretty good approach. ( a compromise? look at whichever one you want to) Having said that - if the real world routes did not have "thingies" in the tracks and the locos did not have sensors, those drivers had to drive sensibly based on their weight and capabilities. To me that is where the fun is. Hey just my $0.02 -- Have a great day.
A solution here would be nice indeed. I took a cab ride with the a.i. on ska. This guy was rushing a mixed freight in double traction 160kmh down the line.
1) the complaint has as much to do with AI train behavior as driving player trains 2) Any US loco has its Vmax prominently painted in the cab; the same with the class 66, and on German trains it’s there in the posted fine print. But that isn’t realky what we’re talking about; what we are tallking about are situational speed limits, different speeds applicable to specific consists. No instrument tells a Class 66 driver that he is limited to 60 or 75, he is supposed to know, based on what he is hauling. At the other end, ZS3 signals control a German driver’s speed, but the game ignores them
Exactly, my complaint was, in fact only related to AI traffic, as it's perfectly possible to follow the real speed limits in-game. That's also why I proposed a simplification (apart from some consists that use wagons that can run to 120km/h even if loaded - like the Sggrmss and the Laaers) just cap freight train to 100km/h and 120km/h for loaded and empty trains. Main reason being to avoid having a freight train pass you at 160km/h or more. I generally run without the HUD entirely or only with only the distance to next stop and next speed limit...
Putting a VMAX onto the vehicles, and the consist then limits at the lowest (can be done at scenario load time) would do this
