Midland Mainline Review (remade) ~ Train Sim World 4

Screw Rivet Games and their ridiculous Bernina Line DLC! Instead, I'm going to talk about something that's actually worth my time.
This is my updated review on the Midland Mainline - Leicester to Derby and Nottingham add-on (made by Skyhook Games). It was originally released in April 2023, and has already gone through two major updates. The route itself is in a Y-shape with a total length of only a measly 37 miles, and it only includes the East Midlands Trains Class 158 and Class 43 HST (aka Intercity 125). There's a few other problems besides the lack of motive power.

[@monoonyx]

One thing that I think Dovetail really should look into is linking parts of DLC together, this is something that should've been immediately apparent when East Coastway was released and it for whatever reason wasn't and still isn't connected to the Brighton Mainline DLC, with an additional bit of track connecting Lewes and Wivelsfield. Same could and should be done here connecting Nottingham and Grantham linking the MML and ECML, with 158s running from Derby to Peterborough. I would say at no extra cost but we all know if it does happen we'll have to pay.

[@claimediraq9715]

They say it’s due to a memory limitation, routes can apparently only be so long/include so many services before running into memory issues. Whether that’s true or just an excuse is another question.

[@AB-mw8oz]

@@claimediraq9715 That's undoubtedly true for the Xbox One and PS4 consoles. And unfortunately they make routes for those consoles, despite the fact PC can run significantly more and the Series X/PS5 could do far, far more than the last gen consoles. The last gen consoles are seriously holding back the game (along with general laziness from the devs)

[@AnAutisticGamer]

Apparently it’s got something to do with its game engines, about how the bigger the route the more unstable it becomes when making it or something along those lines, so while it’s possible to make big networks TSC, right now it’s very unlikely to do the same in TSW4

[@Atrail_Mckinley4786]

​@@claimediraq9715I find that hard to believe. DTG can just optimize the route.

[@MrShadowTvMan]

The best we can do is route hopping -Dovetail Games 2024

[@railsandrollercoasters]

Alright, fair play and credit to Skyhook. This route is obviously based in around 2017-2018, and certainly isn't later than mid-2019, as that was when the East Midlands Trains company went defunct and was replaced by East Midlands Railway. However, at least with this, they have gone back and updated a previous route, to make it as realistic to the time period as possible, rather than just following their status quo and releasing god awful 'gaMePlaY pACkS' which are just payware reskins.

[@railsandrollercoasters]

I do however completely agree with the fact that there is no decent HST run on this route, as it is far too short. GWE has the same problem, so the HST just ends up being an AI layer for routes such as West Somerset Railway (for the GWE HST), East Coast Main Line and Southeastern High Speed, specifically at St Pancras

[@TB76Returns]

It is certainly improved, I will admit, but it really could do with the 156 and 222, I agree. Props to Skyhook for actually showing some love for this route...

[@DC4260Productions]

If only Dovetail could do the same for their routes.

[@TB76Returns]

@@DC4260Productions I concur

[@IDKovers]

I have a soft spot in my heart for East Midlands Parkway, having used it in many a travel assignment

[@jamesnicolson6833]

I think if they are going to release a UK route they need a Niddertalbahn style slow speed scenery route. I’d take a look at my local route the Esk Valley Line from Middlesbrough to Whitby which would include a Class 156 and 158 in Northern livery

[@JoeK25301]

With this DLC, it should have been longer in distance and they should have included the Manton Branch Line to Kettering, via Corby and having a route that can kill 'two birds with one stone'. I believe the developer should have included the Class 222 with the Class 43 and 158.

[@supersprinter1564]

I live on this route and its so unrealistic its un playable

[@Gideonsmythe]

To answer your question, the only preserved "Peak" authorised for mainline running is 45118.

[@Trainspottinkid]

Still waiting for a class 222 meridian I love those

[@ElmtreeLine]

My gripe with the route is that it should have included the north section up to Sheffield, its just too short for a decent HST run.

[@DoctorDelorian]

Looking forward to your "Rivet Rant" when you do finally get round to doing the Berninalinie DLC.

[@DC4260Productions]

I'm afraid I won't be making a dedicated video on that add-on. It's just not worth my time, nor is it even close to being worth $56.99 (NZD). But I do want to make an updated Rivet rant in general, making focusing on the RG add-ons I've actually got.

[@narskip]

Really do love these. it's about the thing i look forward to in this franchise anymore :/

[@nathanhughes248]

There was,a issue when playing one of the 158 services where it spawns you at a random station on foot

[@Trainspottinkid]

STILL WAITING FOR A 222 I LOVE THOSE

[@TERRYBARTLETTRAILMAN28]

I get where you are coming from and there's also the Christmas steam excursions with the West Cornwall steam railtour pack and also a railtour with Flying Scotsman as well

[@danimonte7088]

im not from the UK so correct me if im wrong, but arent Class 66's like everywhere, same thing for EWS?

[@DC4260Productions]

The Class 66 is very common, yes (480 of them were built between 1998 and 2015), but there are still a lot more freight engines in the country (e.g. Classes 57, 59, 60, 67, 68, 70 and 88). DTG have resold that same old EWS Class 66 about five or six times now, and there's so many more variants that the now-outdated EWS, which is now called DB Cargo UK (I believe). If they're just going to keep rehashing the 66, the least they could do is add a new livery every once in a while.

[@danimonte7088]

@@DC4260Productions yeaj true, man is love hsving a 58 or a 60 running around

[@AnAutisticGamer]

@@DC4260Productionsthey probably only use the EWS livery cause they don’t have permission to use the other company liveries the 66 is used is, EWS is easy cause they technically don’t exist anymore.

[@samhartnett8700]

@@AnAutisticGamerWell, they could just make an EWS Class 60 or something

[@declangaming24]

​@@AnAutisticGamer they do they are owned by DB so they pretty much don't have to keep asking the reason there mostly in EWS livery is DB haven't branded all there trains into the red livery depicted in GWE I personally think they should include the DB 66s with the EWS livery but just with DB branding.

[@NHZS]

The 2 surviving parts of the GCR are currently being rejoined using donations from the public to create the uks longest preserved mainline heritage railway, you should take a look online it really is quite a project.

[@supersprinter1564]

I don't see how it's going to work as the nottingham section is single track and the station needs to be reversed to get in to the station basically meaning no 2 trains on the nottingham section at any given time

[@LincolnshireTrainSpotter225]

In free roam i was able to drive a light loco through to Toton, theres buggy scenery, a huge white box covering lots of track and buggy signals and points/junctions. Very unusal section of the route to explore, I recommend it if possible on PC

[@Trainspottinkid]

I did that on my ps5 it was odd

[@holytrucker2153]

love hearing you moan about dovetail

[@joshuamorriss6782]

Id like to see the Nottingham to chesterfield via alfreton

[@JillValentineLF]

I wish they added the class 221 cross country. They should also add the WCM Avanti west coast from Preston to Crewe. Which would be cool.

[@DC4260Productions]

I wouldn't mind seeing an Avanti 390 in the game (since it could also be used as Ai on the WCML tracks seen from the Bakerloo Line), but my preferred section of the WCML is Preston to Carlisle plus the Morecambe and Windermere branches.

[@JillValentineLF]

@@DC4260Productions I agree but I think Dovetail are a little tight with them long type routes, but I wish.

[@DC4260Productions]

If the Avanti license did expire, then it's bizarre seeing the WCML South route still for sale on Steam, unless you're just referring to DTG removing the Avanti logo from the Livery Designer.

[@intercity234]

I think the class 222 would be better for this route as the class 221 only operates at Derby on this route wheras the 222 can be seen throughout the MML. Agree with you on the WCML escpiaclly since Preston has allready been modeled for the Blackpool to Ormskirk route. Although I think I'd perfer the northen section over shap.

[@loganmorritt194]

Would u say 21 quid is a reasonable price for this

[@esteban_pnc]

Good job !

[@DXR8007NZR]

Hey, now they need the NZR Midland Mainline 😂

[@MasterXboxPlayerredvsbluefan5]

One year anniversary

[@Grumpy_Englishman]

What is worse than dtg the dtg ambassadors

[@AhmearClayIombo-dj6di]

Nice

[@RandomUsername3040]

gameplaypack i'm not buying it £9.99 is too much but still Good review

[@declangaming24]

Yeah don't buy it

[@rageplayer20]

I normally don't correct pronunciation, but you mispronounced my home city, lol. It's pronounced 'lesta' Nevermind, you pronounced it properly after the 1st few ones lol

[@oo0Spyder0oo]

Well he’s from NZ so why would you expect him to not speak in his own accent? Six sounds like sex and sex sounds like six, just accept people from different countries pronounce words differently.

[@HyperBlueWolf]

"Parkway" literally means "In the middle of nowhere" ... All stations with "Parkway" in the name are a barren wasteland.