The Waterloo to Reading line currently runs between Waterloo and Reading via Barnes, Richmond, Twickenham, Staines, Ascot, Bracknell and Wokingham with branches to Hounslow, Kingston/Shepperton, Windsor, Chertsey and Aldershot. The route stretched 43 miles from Waterloo to Reading and runs on Third Rail DC traction equipment. The time period for this route would be set between 2009 and 2012. Trains: This line would use: Class 450s Class 455s Class 458/0s (Class 458s were rebuilt into Class 458/5s between 2013 and 2016, however the /5s may also be included as a separate DLC) With the recent announcement of the Class 700, that could be reused for a Class 707 model as a separate DLC. What parts should the TSW3 addon include? The LAMP process. With the release of the April 2023 roadmap, details of the LAMP selection process have also been released, so I decided to see what factors would fit into the LAMP categories. Licensing: Considering that licensing for East Midlands Trains, which was operated by Stagecoach, was obtained. It may also be easier for South West Trains licensing, another former Stagecoach franchise, to be granted. Anticipation: This route is an original line for TSW and Train Simulator Classic. Currently in TSW3, the only stations that exist on the Waterloo-Reading line are Reading, Clapham Junction, and Queenstown Road (without any assets). I myself, would anticipate the route because, well firstly it is a route I grew up living next to, and secondly because of the variety of services that run out of the Biggest station in the UK and the busiest, being Waterloo and Clapham Junction respectively. Mix: The line provides a variety of stopping, semifast, freight and special services. Freight trains can be seen running between Clapham Junction/Old or New Kew Junction towards Staines and via the Addlestone line. Realtime Trains should show this in more detail with the timetables then I have. A number of steam and diesel railtours also use the line. An example being the Belmond British Pullman, which has some services run from London Victoria, via Clapham, Barnes, Brentford, Hounslow, Staines and towards Chertsey. Passenger services are the most common, with a variety of stopping patterns for trains on fast services. During the peak, there are up to 8 trains per hour each way that call at all stations between Barnes at London Waterloo, 4 head to Hounslow, of which 2 continue to Addlestone, 2 continue towards Twickenham and back to Waterloo. 4 trains continue to Richmond and Twickenham, 2 return to Waterloo via Kingston, and another 2 head to Hounslow and complete the loop back to Waterloo via Brentford. Remember, the timetables would show this better than I have. Prominence: This line does have a few landmarks, an example being Twickenham Stadium, albeit a 5-10 bus ride from the station, the route sees large passenger flows and special rugby services around the Twickenham area when there is a matchday.
Theres also the possibility for the Hounslow Loop and Windsor/Weybridge branches to be included if Dovetail don’t go the cheap option should they consider this route.
