Hello, I am a UK based player who needs help on choosing DLC Last time I made a thread it was between WCMLS and WCMLos, (which I haven't chosen yet, but looking at my preferences it's probably going to be OS, but that's not what I'm here for) and I've been thinking on other dlcs to choose. They are: Midland mainline Cathcart circle Edinburgh 2 Glasgow For each dlc I have a significant amount of layers that can go on them, and for Cathcart and E2G, I can get their train DLC too. Notes: I'm on XSX, I like commuter and high speed services Posting your opinions in the thread would really help! Cheers
Cathcart is a stop start commuter route. Made better by the remaster, addition of the 380 (forms the bulk of services along with the 314) and the 158 (also has playable services to/from Shields Depot), 390 and 350 layers (particularly at Glasgow). Good route all around, although I don't play it much. Would still recommend though. Midland Mainline, more of a mainline route, but offers high speed and commuter services, with the HST and 158. Now a decent route, the Cargo Line packs make it busier. Again, don't play it often, but would again recommend. Depends on what you're looking for, really. Both routes are similar, yet each offer a different experience. If you want more freight (even as AI), I'd recommend Midland Mainline; Cathcart is more passenger-oriented. I can't speak for E2G, don't own the route.
As noted above, Cathcart is an electric bus service but the route is quite well made and the facelift brought some improvements. EtoG is okay ish as a route but the 385 is horrible to drive, both as the prototype (tiny, tiny cab window) and Rivet’s ghastly sound and physics. MML had a rough birth but SHG doubled down and fixed most of the issues. The VP185 and 158 are both wondrous to drive. Just suffers from being on the short side, a full length HST run from Nottingham or Derby to Leicester is over in less than half an hour. So if I had to do a “Desert Isle” ranking it would be… 1. MML 2. Cathcart And let EtoG go down with the ship/plane.
None of those are worth full price. Cathcart is probably the closest to that value, but only if you have the 380 DLC for the new timetable, however it’s then a £40ish route & it’s not worth that. E2G again, only really worth it if you have the 158 DLC, but at the £40 mark it’s far to much of an asking price. MML is pretty much only spoke of for the fact that it was a disaster when it released & has since been fixed, which isn’t really a selling point IMO. The other good part is the trains that come with it & whilst they’re good, the route is so short it’s borderline pointless. If you can get any of those routes on a decent sale (say 40%ish) then I’d say go for it on MML & Cathcart, if you like the gameplay they offer (CC being low speed, frequent stopping & MML being 50-100mph 20 min shuttle runs).
The work on MML by SHG has been an example for post release support and they've done a great job with it. As said with the cargo line packs there are things being released for them as well. And there are still updates being pushed for MML if I've read things right. Unfortunately I think E2G is the complete opposite end of the spectrum there won't be much if any more support for it going by Rivets history. Personally I'd go MML despite the length. But I know Cathcart is a solid route all beit slightly different.
Personally I would choose Cathcart with the 380. Cathcart is a nice route and with the 380 you get two nicely modelled trains which are different to drive. It's a nice network of routes where you get a few different variations in journey. It's very much a stop start route. I quite like Edinburgh to Glasgow I haven't seen anything glaringly bad in the route and the 385 is well modelled. The sounds are poor though and the route can be a bit boring. The 158 which is extra offers a nice alternative to drive although I believe in the period set is unrealistic. MML has indeed been transformed and you get three different end points. For me it is too short especially for the high speed services and virtually all the local services start and end away from the modelled route, something I don't like but it likely won't bother you.
Cathcart circle by far IMO. With all the layers it is one of the busiest/most varied stations outside of Germany, it is a full complete route from start point to end point (which happens to be the same station) and it has the 380 which is fantastic.
