34 people found this review helpful
5 people found this review funny
Recommended
0.0 hrs last two weeks / 0.0 hrs on record
Posted: Nov 2, 2015 @ 9:06am
Updated: Nov 2, 2015 @ 9:11am

I have very conflicting opinions about this route. First of all, the detail of this route is absolutely spectacular, so much that in order to add anymore detail you'd need to add a spec of dirt onto the platforms and trains to make it better. OHLE is by far the best in the game because it is accurate, it's very easy to use, and it looks like UK Standard Catenary. The 3D track and highly detailed scenery is such that everything had to be a custom made asset in order to simply make it look realistic and detailed to the point where somebody like me could take up the hobby of comparing it to the real world images. Neutral sections are also a great addtion which I am wanting to be implemented in all routes. If something like ECML London to Peterborough can be powered all by one power station along the seventy-six miles even though realistically there should be four or five neutral sections along the route, then no wonder my energy bills are extortionately high.

Unfortunately the new train that comes with it, the Class 350, doesn't live up to the standards. While it does have great new features, they don't make it one of the best trains. Firstly, onboard announcements that work depending on where you're going in a scenario are one great thing, but they nothing like Julie Berry at all who is heard on London Midland services formed of Class 350s. Instead it's the voice of a monotone woman who sounds like she's severely dehydrated and suffering from a sore throat, but it's a nice addition at least. Passenger views being implemented into the cab view are great because you can hear the AWS from the passenger view. While it might seem unrealistic to hear the AWS sounds from the passenger view, how often does a train's emergency constantly apply because the driver couldn't hear the cab sounds because he or she was sitting in the passenger view? The alternative isn't any better, in fact it's worse. But the train just looks like it's made of rubber, and I've seen more detail and authenticity in the Bachmann Class 350 model (no product placement intended) and while it's not a bad train, the DPSimulation reskin by Rfletcher is much better for my liking.

So the route is good, the train is okay, so what really can put people off with this route? LINEAR JOURNEYS. This route runs the 60+ miles from Stafford to Rugby and Daventry and can literally be traversed on the fast lines in about half an hour. It's nice for a beginner, but this route is so boring in the long run that you eventually see more variety in watching paint dry, though I'm sure that might take longer than half and hour so don't quote me on that one. I always thought that the last WCML route that should've been done was Trent Valley simply because it was so linear and short. I would've went with Preston to Birmingham or Birmingham to London, cause they're long and allow far greater journey opportunities (especially the latter with Watford DC lines and it's stopping service patterns).

Overall, I would add this route to your collection, but only during the sales and if like me you want to use it's assets for your own personal workshop routes. Don't try anything for commercial purposes though, cause Thomson have imposed a EULA against third party enhancements and other people making profit off their work. The lighting enhancement pack is really the only thing I'd be wanting to put on this route, but really it's Thomson's product, they're within their rights to impose this EULA. Thanks for reading.
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