Long single track runs through remote or at least hilly scenery. Which is why I would like to see something from the Highlands or West Highlands preferably in the Class 26/27/37 loco hauled era. Or Salisbury to Exeter in the halycon transition period when both Class 33’s and 50’s ran over the line. Or something like the Cambrian/Cambrian Coast or the Central Wales line with Class 120 Cross Country DMU’s.
I prefer scenic and commuter routes, scenic for relaxing and the nice views and commuter for the more busy gameplay.
4 track fast line & slow lines where there's plenty of expresses, local's and freight giving the opportunity for overtaking and being looped
with bypasses, branches, network... aka routes with multiple possible routings - London Commuter, Frankfurt S-Bahn, SE Highspeed, Morristown, new NEC... of course LIRR and such... and with variety of services, ranging from all-stoppers to long distance... I generally prefer sth like limited stops (or regional express as it is often called around here) that skips some stops but not all, giving you ample room to stretch the loco's/MU's legs but with enough stops of course if there is variety in speeds, changing tracks, maybe a power changeover... all of it is nice
My preference is slow or high speed commuter routes. I’m still waiting for the day for when they add the Portsmouth direct link, with the 444, 450 and 455/8. To this day this route is still one of my most played in TSC.
Rugged rural and mountain routes, preferably dual track with loco- hauled freight and passenger. Sand Patch Grade is still my favorite and I hope someday it will see the Capitol Limited. Also would love to see vintage E and F series locos on that or a similar route.
I´m a fan of routes with an industrial, gritty feel and especially historic routes but I personally don´t like to drive freight trains myself, more like early mornin´ commuter trains and shunting through industrial areas, something like that. The other thing I really like, are routes with a coastel setting, maybe with some bigger harbours, to have lots of shunting operations.
I can't say yet but when I get Cardiff city it will probably be my favourite but right now though I love East Coastway
For me, I'm mostly drawn to freight focused routes, or at least routes with a lot of freight, as for scenery a mix of both to be honest leaning more towards rural tho.
Commuter with branches (I'm putting this in bold because I think it's important) with several types of services together especially regional express trains I love driving them and see and overtake the local trains, a bit like the razmatus' post wrote Although I would add that in my case, + trains that can travel at high speed (100-160 km) and in EMU I also like DMUs, but I prefer electric ones.
I like high speed long distance runs, but long routes with all-station stops are great too. Freight sends me to sleep. My top 3 routes: 1. WCML Preston - Carlisle (Class 86 & 87 tap changers ftw!) 2. Blackpool Branches (Class 101 and Class 142) 3. Tees Valley Line (Full length class 101 runs)
I prefer heavily detailed US freight routes based in farmland with slower speed single track spurs that have a few industries to switch out. I also don't mind the larger routes if they are super detailed, but that is hard to find since there is not a real Editor in TSW.
I love routes with both express and commuter options (mainlines really), but I also do quite like routes such as the overground ones, dense commuter ones.
Usually like to expand beyond my comfort zone, but if I had to choose: - Medium-length, scenic routes, single track (diesel) that allow you to enjoy a peaceful run. - Busy mainlines, but focused on particular locations (really love riverbanks, like LFR). Liberec-Stara Paka has been that latest gem I've taken advantage of. An incredible route
which reminds me, I also tend to like those routes more which have realistic endpoints... like that some services on them are whole, as IRL... I mean, I can live even with partial routes, but when a service is truly complete, it just feels better (tho I am aware of the game's and development limitations) as for Liberec - Stara Paka, even tho not all services are complete (since many go further, like to Pardubice and such), many are indeed complete and those that arent still take a significant amount of time, like you feel you have done some good work and got somewhere, and not just gotten a quick glimpse (cant wait for more Czech content)
I like high speed routes best. Love going at speed. But they must be long enough and still have variety. Unfortunately, only Preston-Carlisle truly scratches that (SEHS as well to an extent but it's more a commuter route than a high speed one).
I like slower German routes (i.e between Bingen and Koblenz on LFR or the entirety of RSN) that focus on alot of freight. Preferably semi modern (2005 ish) and a massive freight yard for shunting is what I really like!
you reminded me that I also enjoy Riviera Line a lot... there is the hilly and winding section with lower speeds, and then you get onto the coast and flats and you can blast at 100 mph, which is not technically highspeed, but as anyone who has ever ridden a train as a passenger at that speed would testify, it's a blazing speed IRL also, a quick thought detour to Liberec - Stara Paka, which has some of the best implementations of perception of speed... like, I remember riding a tram or even local trains, when it goes like 80 kph it already feels kinda fast, and this route captures that
I quite like main line routes with a decent amount of traction/ stopping patterns (though not WCML as thats been done to death). I like 4-track routes where you overtake other trains.
Don’t mind as long as you’re doing end-to-end runs. I can’t stand just doing a small bit of a service (ECML, for example). Unless it feels like you’ve actually gone somewhere like WCMLOS or Riviera Line.
Tough one for me because I like routes that have a variety of things to do, but generally lean to commuter & regional style routes because it gives me more to do other than maintain speed for a long stretch!
Time goes faster too when you're focused on stopping everywhere and watching the signal changes! It's why I still like Brighton Mainline, even though by today's standards its a bit dated, still has a busy timetable which keeps me coming back
The Southern Region main lines out of London are some of my favourites to travel on with all the variety and overtaking, and despite the horrific scenery in places, the BML has been the only route that has captured that. Once blurred textures and all that are sorted I'd like to see the Southeastern main line from Charing Cross to Hastings or Ashford International, and the South West Main Line from Waterloo to Southampton Central, but at this rate I feel there's a better chance of there being a Stourbridge Shuttle route.
Also a good opportunity to finally add the missing 465 variants too if we're going back to Southeastern territory, having just a /9 just doesn't cut it And a 375/8 so we can finally finish off all these 375 variants lol
The 465/9 could also do with a bit of touching up such as fixing that horrible flange sound and making the front destination screen look a bit better as currently it looks nothing like the real thing. As well as the 375/8 we'd also need the 375/7 which is basically a 375/6 without a pantograph.
My mind would automatically turn to Swiss mainline routes, but that's a wish. As of current, my preferred routes are German mixed services routes that don't stick out, basically think of Rapid Transit. Not sure why, but I quite enjoy the dullness of it. It's not trying to impress you with scenery.
Personally I’ve always enjoyed commuter-style routes that offer both express and stop-and-go services. Routes that typically begin in an urban area and end in a rural one. Morristown and LIRR are my go to’s and good examples. Manchester Airport with all layers is a good route i run sometimes. (Hoping to pick up NEC:MNR sometime)
I honestly can't say I prefer one style of route or another. I like both high speed express routes and commuter routes. I will say I have a preference for UK routes, though.
