When I got this route, I also noticed that you get 4 services on SEHS. As I remember, 2 of them are between Ebbsfleet International and London St. Pancras International, and other 2 are full runs between Ashford International and St. Pancras.
I would have honestly wanted something like the entire RER line A, which would need to include 2 double-decker trains which i have no idea what their names are, and one of its eastern termini, Marne-La-Vallee, is next to Disneyland Paris, so there would be some nice scenery (if DTG could be bothered), and it has an underground section between Vincennes/Nation and La Defànse (sorry if i mispelled that). Take the hint, Dovetail (and Focus entertainment)!
I got this route when it was free as well. While you may think it's a let down (your opinions, I won't judge you), I enjoy playing this route when I don't have much time free in my spare time. While yes, the measly 52 timetable services isn't very good, the route still feels busy(ish), with one or two services going past you throughout the journey. It's much better than the likes of Schnellfarstrecke Köln to Aachen and Cathcart Circle Line (it feels empty to me... please don't judge me, I'm very picky). I'm glad I got it for free, because if I got it at full price, I wouldn't be happy. Thankfully I've only counted 5 tiny areas of missing wires, compared to Haupstrecke München to Augsburg, which has missing wires between nearly every station!!! Thanks for the review, 12 minutes felt like 5 minutes today, and I'm looking forward to future reviews!
This route was made for high speed to fit the theme tsw2 when it released, nothing else. Plus, they had the sncf license. Making routes outside of sncf would have required other licenses. The scenery is like that because most of the route was autogenerated, more than usual I think. I remember they mentioned it during the Livestream and in an article. Dtg were basically showing off how well it worked on a longer route like this one. Not just a livery change from tsc to tsw. A lot more complicated.
I actually don't mind the route being linear, since there's a decent amount of stuff to do on every run. What I wish for is the route to be longer. As you said, I would've liked for the route to be extended to Lyon and included another two sets of trains to fill AI traffic at Marseilles and Lyon stations. The reason I don't mind linearity here is because it's not very intrusive. The experience of going 320kmh doesn't make me feel the linearity as much as say, Kassel-Wurzburg, where you're limited to 250 for most of the route.
This route was to me a far inferior remake of the TS classic version. While it was fun running the train at 320 Kph and the TGV Duplex train is great to drive and sounds accurate, the scenery was so lazily done it was ridiculous! Having previously lived in Aix-en-Provence, I know that the route in real life is far more scenic. Also, the grass textures used were wrong as in real life, the line is more arid and dry than it is in game. I remember the TS Classic version being more accurate than the TSW version. Other lines I used regularly in TSW like the Tees Valley Line and South Eastern High-speed are far more accurate.
I completely agree with you, as a French, this representation of our network isn't worth it. But even though the version on TS Classic is longer, it still feels a little boring and sometimes buggy (AI trains can run on the fast lines in Avignon with open doors on TS Classic). As of the stock it is better and more accurate to real life compared to the empty lack of interactivity TGV Reseau and Duplex stock on TS Classic (TGV Duplex in TS Classic has power notches which is completely incorrect, and you can't even open or close the main circuit breaker on the TGV Reseau, which is problematic in neutral sections and overhead power change while entering LGV section) I agree on the signals, especially when considering how more complex signals are compared to the 4 aspects UK signals, (but more simple than the German system) making this more permissive (allowing trains to cross red signals under certain conditions, shunting signals as well that are different, and you use them during the empty stock moves) The stretch of the route is too small for a train like this, but there's plenty other aspects of our rail network that can be focused on, like regional trains on scenic routes (like the line you mentioned at the beginning of the video), heritage railway lines, and also urban like routes like the Lyon's tram train (you mentioned the metro, and I think it's a nice idea), the Paris RER, and some underused countryside lines in the southwest or centre south of the country. Another line I have in my head would be the Narbonne to Cerbère line which offers some nice views of the sea and the Pyrenees mountains side by side. Also another thing I would like to see is metric gauge railway (Blanc-Argent line, railways in Corsica...) because we offer that as well, and we don't see that very often on DTG games It is sad to see that our network is underrepresented on Train Sim World, and even though SNCF in real life doesn't have the greatest reputation, the network it covers has so much to offer, in terms of scenery, rolling stock, especially with Alstom and former Bombardier (which made the AGC electric, diesel electric and bi-mode multiple units, the Francilien multiple unit (NAT or Z50000) and the Regio2N electric multiple unit) (that is very different to the usual German, English and American overused and overseen stock), and services because even though passenger trains are more present, there's still some freight runs, especially around Paris and the Eastern region (Alsace and Lorraine).
"Malheureusement, c'est un peu de déception" I don't think I could of summed it up better in my rating video. Again, I only picked this up for free as a result of the offer.
Or they could have had The TGV Duplex in the Ouigo Turquoise with red striping. In regards to the signalling on the classic lines in France they use a practice similar to Britain's AWS. It's called RSO or Repeticion Signal Optique but unlike Britain's AWS a clear signal doesn't give an audible indication.
While the marseile to Aix-en-Provence part is kinda mid the terrain scales and liminalness of the scenery north of it aswell as racing at such high speeds leads to an experience rarely captured bc one truely feels like ABSOLUTELY nowhere like one is in a mix of desert and prairie , and not sure if its my mind just tripping but so empty and basic scenery , while not rly applying on that one motorway near the north otherwise makes the mind fill in the gaps , or it might be just me tripping or smth
We really need route other UK, Germany and USA, France was lucky to have something else but they just made a remake which cost way too much than it should cost In France there are really nice route that they could have put in the game but we have to believe that Dovetail only thinks about money and not about the pleasure of the players
I got this route when it was free. (I'm suprised DTG decided to give away something for free) I wouldn't have bought it if it was free because the services are too linear and it is way too short for a high speed route. Not to mention the scenery in certain parts of the route are terrible
When I got this route, I also noticed that you get 4 services on SEHS. As I remember, 2 of them are between Ebbsfleet International and London St. Pancras International, and other 2 are full runs between Ashford International and St. Pancras.
I would have honestly wanted something like the entire RER line A, which would need to include 2 double-decker trains which i have no idea what their names are, and one of its eastern termini, Marne-La-Vallee, is next to Disneyland Paris, so there would be some nice scenery (if DTG could be bothered), and it has an underground section between Vincennes/Nation and La Defànse (sorry if i mispelled that). Take the hint, Dovetail (and Focus entertainment)!
I got this route when it was free as well. While you may think it's a let down (your opinions, I won't judge you), I enjoy playing this route when I don't have much time free in my spare time.
While yes, the measly 52 timetable services isn't very good, the route still feels busy(ish), with one or two services going past you throughout the journey. It's much better than the likes of Schnellfarstrecke Köln to Aachen and Cathcart Circle Line (it feels empty to me... please don't judge me, I'm very picky).
I'm glad I got it for free, because if I got it at full price, I wouldn't be happy. Thankfully I've only counted 5 tiny areas of missing wires, compared to Haupstrecke München to Augsburg, which has missing wires between nearly every station!!!
Thanks for the review, 12 minutes felt like 5 minutes today, and I'm looking forward to future reviews!
This route was made for high speed to fit the theme tsw2 when it released, nothing else. Plus, they had the sncf license. Making routes outside of sncf would have required other licenses.
The scenery is like that because most of the route was autogenerated, more than usual I think. I remember they mentioned it during the Livestream and in an article. Dtg were basically showing off how well it worked on a longer route like this one.
Not just a livery change from tsc to tsw. A lot more complicated.
I actually don't mind the route being linear, since there's a decent amount of stuff to do on every run. What I wish for is the route to be longer. As you said, I would've liked for the route to be extended to Lyon and included another two sets of trains to fill AI traffic at Marseilles and Lyon stations. The reason I don't mind linearity here is because it's not very intrusive. The experience of going 320kmh doesn't make me feel the linearity as much as say, Kassel-Wurzburg, where you're limited to 250 for most of the route.
This route was to me a far inferior remake of the TS classic version. While it was fun running the train at 320 Kph and the TGV Duplex train is great to drive and sounds accurate, the scenery was so lazily done it was ridiculous! Having previously lived in Aix-en-Provence, I know that the route in real life is far more scenic. Also, the grass textures used were wrong as in real life, the line is more arid and dry than it is in game. I remember the TS Classic version being more accurate than the TSW version. Other lines I used regularly in TSW like the Tees Valley Line and South Eastern High-speed are far more accurate.
I only picked this up cause it was free glad I didn't pay for it not worth the money at all I agree with you though its not a good route imo
Some players do like high speed routes with little to do. Not for everyone for sure.
I completely agree with you, as a French, this representation of our network isn't worth it. But even though the version on TS Classic is longer, it still feels a little boring and sometimes buggy (AI trains can run on the fast lines in Avignon with open doors on TS Classic).
As of the stock it is better and more accurate to real life compared to the empty lack of interactivity TGV Reseau and Duplex stock on TS Classic (TGV Duplex in TS Classic has power notches which is completely incorrect, and you can't even open or close the main circuit breaker on the TGV Reseau, which is problematic in neutral sections and overhead power change while entering LGV section)
I agree on the signals, especially when considering how more complex signals are compared to the 4 aspects UK signals, (but more simple than the German system) making this more permissive (allowing trains to cross red signals under certain conditions, shunting signals as well that are different, and you use them during the empty stock moves)
The stretch of the route is too small for a train like this, but there's plenty other aspects of our rail network that can be focused on, like regional trains on scenic routes (like the line you mentioned at the beginning of the video), heritage railway lines, and also urban like routes like the Lyon's tram train (you mentioned the metro, and I think it's a nice idea), the Paris RER, and some underused countryside lines in the southwest or centre south of the country. Another line I have in my head would be the Narbonne to Cerbère line which offers some nice views of the sea and the Pyrenees mountains side by side.
Also another thing I would like to see is metric gauge railway (Blanc-Argent line, railways in Corsica...) because we offer that as well, and we don't see that very often on DTG games
It is sad to see that our network is underrepresented on Train Sim World, and even though SNCF in real life doesn't have the greatest reputation, the network it covers has so much to offer, in terms of scenery, rolling stock, especially with Alstom and former Bombardier (which made the AGC electric, diesel electric and bi-mode multiple units, the Francilien multiple unit (NAT or Z50000) and the Regio2N electric multiple unit) (that is very different to the usual German, English and American overused and overseen stock), and services because even though passenger trains are more present, there's still some freight runs, especially around Paris and the Eastern region (Alsace and Lorraine).
Probleme de licence avec la SNCF: toujours la France ce type de probleme.
"Malheureusement, c'est un peu de déception" I don't think I could of summed it up better in my rating video. Again, I only picked this up for free as a result of the offer.
Or they could have had The TGV Duplex in the Ouigo Turquoise with red striping. In regards to the signalling on the classic lines in France they use a practice similar to Britain's AWS. It's called RSO or Repeticion Signal Optique but unlike Britain's AWS a clear signal doesn't give an audible indication.
Still holding out hope for a new French route, preferably with regional trains instead of high speed ones
Same only got it because it was free
While the marseile to Aix-en-Provence part is kinda mid the terrain scales and liminalness of the scenery north of it aswell as racing at such high speeds leads to an experience rarely captured bc one truely feels like ABSOLUTELY nowhere like one is in a mix of desert and prairie , and not sure if its my mind just tripping but so empty and basic scenery , while not rly applying on that one motorway near the north otherwise makes the mind fill in the gaps , or it might be just me tripping or smth
Great video! They should extend the line to Paris.
Or London...
We really need route other UK, Germany and USA, France was lucky to have something else but they just made a remake which cost way too much than it should cost In France there are really nice route that they could have put in the game but we have to believe that Dovetail only thinks about money and not about the pleasure of the players
They should do a eurostar route. That would be far more interesting to drive.
Technically, the UK section of Eurostar is already represented in the South Eastern High-speed add-on without Eurostar services, sadly.
I got this route when it was free. (I'm suprised DTG decided to give away something for free) I wouldn't have bought it if it was free because the services are too linear and it is way too short for a high speed route. Not to mention the scenery in certain parts of the route are terrible
Yes too short. It is not worth to buy it. unless at a few euros.
To help myself up the grades I use the speed limiters
lamo i just downloaded this cuz it was free
I was disappointed with this route. Plenty of speed but actually nothing to do.