Author: homealonesimon

Interested in Transport and Currency (UK)

TRAIN SIM WORLD 4 – COMING SOON!

Introducing: Austria! The seventh nation to be part of the Train Sim World.

The S-Bahn Vorarlberg Line winds through the Alps to the Austria-Germany border courtesy of national operator ÖBB, also new to Train Sim World. Big mountains and stunning scenery are the order of the day, as are a plethora of station stops on both the main line and the branch line that heads in the direction of the border with Switzerland.

Making the journey is ÖBB’s 4024 Talent (or the Talbot Leichter Nahverkehrs-Triebwagen) EMU. Variants of this unit are well accustomed to real-life service throughout Europe and even over the Atlantic in Canada but the 4024 is specific to Austria.

With new traction, a new operator and new signalling to learn, this addition to the Train Sim World map is the start of a journey through Austria. Who knows where it might take us further down the line…

Antelope Valley Line: Los Angeles – Lancaster

The challenge of operating through the varied terrain of California continues!

On the other side of the Atlantic, the power of American diesel can be harnessed with Metrolink’s F125. Yep – you guessed it – this marks yet another new operator in-game, familiar to those in and around California taking passengers out from Los Angeles to the wider suburbs and counties.

The Antelope Valley Line runs out of Los Angeles Union Station, the largest railroad passenger terminal in the Western United States. After powering through urban LA, the line heads north to Lancaster, California and through areas that have seen dramatic changes since the late 1800s, including the impact of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

Along the way players will recognise locations synonymous with Hollywood movies such as the LA River and even get involved in the action as part of one of the many in-game scenarios.

East Coast Main Line: Peterborough – Doncaster

The East Coast Main Line is one of Britain’s most important routes, guiding trains of all shapes and sizes out from London and up through to Edinburgh in Scotland. The stretch between Peterborough and Doncaster, famed for its record-breaking location at Stoke Bank, continues to provide thrilling high speeds for LNER’s Class 801 Azuma which brings a sleek, modern new train to Train Sim World 4.

Along the way lie three more big station stopping points at Grantham, Newark Northgate and Retford. Near Newark, trains will traverse the last remaining flat crossing in Britain at Newark Flat Crossing, where the Nottingham to Lincoln Line intersects with the East Coast Main Line.

LNER are another new operator to Train Sim World, with the Class 801 ‘Azuma’ being their flagship train. This overhead EMU, complete in-game with a small diesel engine for depot moves and emergencies, represents contemporary traction along the ECML and a train that British travellers, commuters and railfans will have long been waiting for

https://youtu.be/40Mb5s4SsX0.

re-order & Early Access: Play from September 21st!

Train Sim World 4 will release for Windows PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles on Tuesday September 26th.

Players that already own the previous version of Nahverkehr Dresden – Riesa can take advantage of the upgrades by purchasing any edition of Train Sim World 4.

It can be pre-ordered digitally from today on Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation® Store, and Microsoft Store:

  • Standard Edition (£39.99/€44.99/$49.99)
  • Deluxe Edition (£52.99/€64.99/$69.99)
  • Special Edition (£89.99/€104.99/$109.99)

It can be pre-ordered with a discount of up to 25% on selected platforms, with Deluxe and Special Editions granting 5-day Early Access and bonus decals for Livery Editor. A downloadable Soundtrack is also available with pre-orders on Steam.

Steam players that have Train Sim World 3 will be entitled to a loyalty discount and a pre-order discount, totalling 25% off.

This bog was made by simon schofield

OFFICIAL SCHOOL BUS EXTENSION IS COMING AT THE END OF AUGUST!

Fellow Bus Drivers!

With the Official School Bus Extension for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop you can look forward to get behind the wheel of officially licensed school buses of the renowned US-based manufacturer Blue Bird and to perform school trips for the first time in the history of the series. The release of the DLC is planned for August 30, 2023!

Here’s a quick tl;dr:

  • Extends the main game by a number of new features!
  • Includes three officially licensed school buses from the US-based bus manufacturer Blue Bird: an All American FE, an All American RE and a Blue Bird Vision school bus.
  • Numerous new missions including a new mission type: school trips!
  • Coming to the digital stores on August 30, 2023!
  • Alternatively, also available as part of the Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Season Pass.
  • Playable live on site at this year’s gamescom 2023 in Cologne!

What’s inside?

In line with the start of the new school year, bus lovers can now look forward to numerous new challenges with Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension! The DLC for Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop not only expands the main game with school buses, but also introduces school trips as a new mission type on both maps included in the main game. The task here is to pick up pupils at various points in the city and to transport them in time to different school buildings that have also been newly integrated into the cityscapes – and collect them again after school to drive them safely back to their home stops.

Three new buses

In the course of the new missions, you can choose from three new iconic Blue Bird school buses:

  • Blue Bird All American FE: A 40-feet front engine school bus consisting of 2 axles, 2 doors and a total capacity of up to 89 passengers.
  • Blue Bird All American RE: A rear engine school bus featuring a capacity of 89 passengers, 2 axles, 2 doors and a total length of 40-feet.
  • Blue Bird Vision: A total of 83 passengers fit into this 40-feet gasoline school bus, with 2 axles and 2 doors.

Coming August 30, 2023

The Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Official School Bus Extension will become available for 12.99 EUR / 12.99 USD (SRP) as a DLC on the digital stores on August 30, 2023.

Alternatively, the DLC is also available as part of the Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – Season Pass. The Season Pass is available at a lucrative bundle price of 24.99 EUR / 24.99 USD (SRP) and includes the already released Ebusco Bus Pack, the soon to be released Official School Bus Extension as well as the upcoming Thomas Built Buses Bus Pack and the Official Tram Extension which is planned to be released at the end of the year.

Check out the shop for details!

And not to forget: Visitors of this year’s gamescom 2023 in Cologne, Germany will get the unique opportunity to get a sneek peak and try out the Official School Bus Extension live on site at the astragon Entertainment booth in Hall 6.1 / B-060 from August 23 to August 27, 2023!

Your Bus Simulator team

This is my favourite bus to drive on bus simulator 21 and this blog was created by Simon Schofield

Cats are Us

I did a excursion to the cat shelter the other day, only to be introduced to a cat called gizmo. Unfortunately, poor Gizmo has behaviour problems, appearing not to like being cuddled or stroked. Furthermore, he has a heart problem, even though he is only 1.5 years old. It was a shame, but best all round for all us. Further updates coming

Poppy the friend i love the most

Today I am feeling a little down in the dumps following the demise of my elderly cat, Poppy. He had been one of two cats in my family over the years and is, therefore, greatly missed by myself and my brother. Here in a photo of him on the last time I was with him at the vet. RIP Poppy

On the upside I am applying to the rescue centre for a cat called Gizmo.

This blog was created by Simon Schofield

Thameslink class 700

I have just completed my new design for this new kit. Hope you all like comments welcome.

here is a bit of history

The British Rail Class 700 is an electric multiple unit passenger train from the Desiro City family built by Siemens Mobility. It is capable of operating on 25 kV 50 Hz AC from overhead wires or 750 V DC from third rail. 115 trainsets were built between 2014 and 2018, for use on the Thameslink network, as part of the Thameslink Programme in the United Kingdom. As of 2021, they are operated by Govia Thameslink Railway.

In 2011, the consortium Cross London Trains (XLT) consisting of Siemens Project Ventures, 3i Infrastructure, and Innisfree was announced as preferred bidder with Siemens Mobility to manufacture the trains. The decision was politically controversial as the trains were to be built in Germany, while the competing consortium led by Bombardier Transportation had a UK train factory. Both the procurement process and final close of contract were significantly delayed, resulting in the expected first delivery date moving from 2012 to 2016. The £1.6 billion contract to manufacture and provide service depots for the trains was finalised in June 2013. The first train was delivered in late July 2015.

A fleet of 60 eight-car and 55 twelve-car trains entered service between Spring 2016 and 2019. Having replaced Class 319s, 377s, and 387s, Class 700s are the only trains operated on the Thameslink network. Each train is able to reach 100 mph (160 km/h) and carry 1,146 passengers in an 8-car train, and 1,754 passengers in a 12-car train. Maintenance depots have been built at Hornsey and Three Bridges.

Introduction into service

The first train arrived in the UK by the end of July 2015, and was delivered to the Three Bridges depot. The first test run on the Brighton Main Line took place in December 2015.

The first train in service was unit 700108 forming the 1002 Brighton to London Bridge service on 20 June 2016. By 18 September 2017, Class 700s replaced all Class 319, 377, and 387 units previously in use on the network. All units were accepted by Thameslink by summer 2018, and by the end of 2019 all were in passenger service.

The Class 700 fleet, at 60 eight-car and 55 twelve-car units, is over double the size of the old Thameslink fleet. This increase has been used not only to enhance capacity, but also to expand the Thameslink network.

On 6 November 2017, Class 700s started on the Great Northern route with the first, 700128, operating the 0656 Peterborough to London Kings Cross service. The Great Northern route has since been partially incorporated in the Thameslink network after through services through the Canal Tunnels began on 26 February 2018. On this route, Class 700s replaced parts of the Class 365 fleet.

On 11 December 2017, Class 700s took over peak-time services from London Bridge to Littlehampton and weekday-only services from London Bridge to Horsham from Southern with the former starting from Bedford instead of London Bridge.

From 21 May 2018, Class 700s also entered service on the new Rainham to Luton service, having replaced the Southeastern Class 465s from Gillingham to London Charing Cross. The Class 465s are now being used to enhance capacity on other routes.

Class 700s are still due to enter service on a planned new service between Cambridge and Maidstone East but a date for this has not yet been confirmed.

This is my new train that i created for my tsw3

This blog was created by Simon Schofield