Hello folks, and welcome to February.
The days are getting longer, spring is around the corner, and – perhaps most excitingly of all – we have a wide range of improvements and quality of life changes releasing today as part of a large core update, which includes an Open Beta for Formation Designer for Steam players.
You can expect to see improvements for Blackpool Branches, Maintalbahn, Centro Regional Railway Class 323, and many more!
Get a cup of your favourite beverage, because this is a long read.
Core
- Mods created for Add-ons now work in the same way that Core mods do.
- General improvement to brightness on PIS screens to be more visible/readable during both day and night.
- Fixed an issue where service names would extend outside of the Debriefing UI screens
- Fixed an issue where medals for completed Timetables, Scenarios, and Training modules didn’t display correctly on the main menu.
- Fixes to Journey Mode continue option so that the option is consistently offered and works as intended.
- Fixed a crash with Xbox S/X on Scenario Planner with multiple add-ons installed
- Resuming a saved game using Classic Controls will no longer lock the screen.
- Minor memory performance improvements.
- Minor core performance improvements to slightly improve boot time and maintain stability, especially when in large freight yards and on larger routes.
- Various NPC passenger model improvements and fixes.
- Various localisation changes.
Minimal HUD
- Added option to disable Traction Lock icon
- The Clock will now correctly be visible when standing
- Minimal Hud will no longer display 44kmh before actual gameplay starts
Photo Mode
- Added autofocus toggle
- Fixed various issues with camera collisions when orbiting.
Free Roam
- Fixed an issue with the SD70ACe display screens so that the brakes can be cut in correctly, allowing the loco to be started.
- Fixed an issue preventing the MRCE and Dispolok 182 from moving.
- Fixed an issue where the DB BR 185.5 wouldn’t move after spawning.
- Fixed an issue where the Class 47 and 52 wouldn’t take power after spawning.
- Fixed an issue where the BR 146 wouldn’t take power after spawning.
- Fixed an issue where the BR 182, 185, 187 wouldn’t take power after spawning.
- Fixed an issue on the Bakerloo Line where players were unable to set destination path for the full length of the route.
Livery Designer
- Improvement to ensure created liveries are appearing correctly in gameplay
- Fixed an issue with the loco model not appearing when copying liveries.
- Fixed an issue where deleted liveries would continue to appear in UI options
Scoring
- Adjustments to scoring thresholds to make achieving a Platinum medal possible across many services and scenarios, and more in line with expectations (90% of maximum possible score).
- Added player assist notification to alert what systems need to be turned on to award the safety system bonus.
- Fixed an issue on the Scoring Breakdown where the added score was inconsistent to the total score awarded.
- Fixed an issue where the speeding penalty was not being correctly applied.
- Fixed an issue where activating Safety systems mid way through a route would award 0 points in the scoring breakdown.
- Fixed an issue where wiper penalties were being applied without it raining due to weather settings.
Known Scoring Issues
We are aware of some existing issues with scoring which we intended to resolve in this patch but weren’t able to include, so we’d like to highlight these for you:
- Antelope Valley ‘EMD F125 Training Introduction’ – Unable to achieve platinum
- Vorarlberg 'Pick Up' scenario – Unable to achieve platinum
- Antelope Valley (Services/Scenarios) – Too easy to achieve platinum without safety systems enabled
- Maintalbahn 'Getting the Cold Shoulder' scenario – Too easy to achieve platinum without safety systems enabled
- [PS4] Score for using safety systems is set to 0 if you enable them after starting a scenario
Blackpool Branches
- Passengers no longer appear at Lichfield Trent Valley in the scenario "Engineering a Shunt", as this station has engineering work going on.
- Moved markers at Salwick Goods Loop to be more forgiving to players
- Moved stop location at Blackpool North to accomodate longer locomotives
- Fixes timing errors on services 2J56, 2J54 and 2J52 where instructions were an hour early
- Fixes to locomotives spawning in buffers if they were too long which caused derailments in multiple services
- Made the Class 31 drivable on the 3-coach-consist and the Mineral wagons on freight services
- Fixed Numbering so each class 142 livery displays correct numbers for the era
- Fixed an issue where Service 2J52 would cause a derailment upon launch.
Class 142
- Fixed an issue with AI getting stuck trying to open doors
- Implemented a manual Gear Hold switch in the cab of the 142
Class 47
- Changed font on vehicle numbering to the correct type
- Fixed an issue on the Class 47 service 0Z25 where the player spawns at a faraway station
Midland Main Line
- Fixed various spelling mistakes on signage and in text.
- Reduced number of high-rise buildings around Loughborough, Long Eaton and Derby stations to better represent the area.
- Removed a signal box from a yard behind Spondon station.
- Fixed various posters at Derby station to resolve flickering textures.
Class 158
- Gangways and cab/gangway doors will now behave as expected on 4-car formations.
Bernina Line
- Adjustments to fog variables to improve visuals and fine-tunability to fit the scenery better. (Valleys will have less dense fog, hills will have more dense fog)
- Carriages coupled behind Allegra EMU will correctly have new rain effects on the windows.
- Passengers should now be lit by the interior passenger lights
Birmingham Cross City
- Fixed no passengers spawning at Kings Norton or Gravelly Hill.
- Fixed an issue where Kings Norton and Lichfield City didn’t show on the PIS
WMR Class 323
- Fixed an issue with headlight emissions
EWS Class 66
- Tweaks to textures (Exterior body made redder, window glass glare reduced, and head/tail/marker bulb textures made more yellow tinted)
Centro Regional Railway Class 323
- AWS and DVD audio now plays out of the PlayStation controller.
- Fixed duplicate Journey Mode services.
- Player can now interact with the MCBs in the PTS.
- Player can now interact with the guard panels in the PTS.
- Fixed a crash while loading the 'Misty Morning Start' scenario
- Corrected introduction text on the 'Misty Morning Start' scenario
- Fix incorrect AI headlight setup on the ‘Regional Rescue’ scenario when the player passes an AI service at 12:09.
- Fixed assets with no texture in the "Engineering a Shunt" scenario
- Fixed destination marker to correctly display ‘Four Oaks’ on the ‘Regional Speed Restriction’ scenario.
- Fixed an issue causing text messages to appear in the wrong location on the ‘Regional Speed Restriction’ scenario.
- Fixed Four Oaks unloading not completing when late, and tail lights being on for the player consist.
- Shifted Hunslet interactable in cab so the TPWS isolation can be accessed more easily.
- Removed texture seam on Hunslet and fixes issue with incorrect lighting.
- Added difficulty tags for all scenarios.
- Added emergency indicators in scenario D.
- Altered emergency indicator flash rate and increased emissives.
- Fixed an issue with headlight emissions.
- Fixed a texture issue on the PTS.
- In Livery Editor, artefacts no longer appear when using decals and a green trim around. windows no longer appears.
Antelope Valley
- Fixed an issue where cars/vehicles can drive through trains on multiple crossings instead of stopping between Lancaster and Palmdale.
- Fixed an issue across multiple services where players couldn’t achieve Platinum medals
Metrolink Rotem cars
- Will now correctly use air as appropriate
- Fixed an issue with the brake application audio hiss not playing
- Doors should correctly operate down the entire consist when paired with Bi Level cars
- Fixed a texture issue where the blue ribbon on the fireman side was flickering constantly.
- Reduced the volume of passenger door beep audio inside the cab.
- Fixed an audio artefact in the running sounds.
Metrolink F125
- Air valve will now open when the horn presses
- Fixed various texture issues where labels are flickering constantly.
Maintalbahn
- Fixed a texture issue causing some buses to have vibrant emissive windows
- Fixed an issue where Service 44882 would cause a derailment upon launch.
- Fixed an issue during the 'On Your Bike' scenario where the ‘Close doors’ objective was automatically completed, regardless of door status.
- Score breakdown is no longer missing in the debrief screen for the 'Filling Up' scenario
- Fixed an issue with floating platform signs at Aschaffenburg station.
BR 642
- Parking brake buttons will now correctly apply the brakes.
- ‘Konfiguration’ screen now displays the correct vehicle number ‘641 001’.
- PIS will display the correct information after reloading from a save.
- Player will no longer be able to climb up through a passenger door if it is closed.
- Fixed an issue where the "Federspeicher" message on the left displays didn’t disappear
- Fixed issue where moving the throttle would incorrectly reset the SIFA
Vorarlberg
- Fixed an issue on service REX1 [5599] which was blocked and incompletable
Cargo Line Vol. 1 – Petroleum
- Adjustments to ensure wheels of the TEA are aligned correctly, rotate as expected and sit on the rails correctly.
Flying Scotsman
- Fixed an issue in tutorials and scenarios where players couldn’t achieve Platinum medals.
Sand Patch Grade
- Fixed an issue on the ‘Train Brakes Theory’ tutorial where the "Set Auto Brake" objective would not clear.
Hauptstrecke Hamburg-Lübeck
- Fixed a missing medal showing in the debriefing screen for the route introduction
Nahverkehr Dresden
- Fixed an issue where certain textures appear blurred on Xbox One and PS4 consoles.
Great Western Express
BR Class 43 HST
- Upgraded windows to include new TSW4 rain effects
- Fixed an issue where the front wipers wouldn’t clear rain from windows
- Adjusted the bogie position and ride height of the HST so the bogie is in the right place