Cardiff City Network
Croeso i Gymru! Cardiff City Network is the first Welsh route to come to Train Sim World, along with a new, licensed operator in Transport for Wales, or TfW (Trafnidiaeth Cymru).
This urban network style route Add-on runs along separate branches with the TfW branded Class 150 DMU, along with the 1-car Class 153 ‘Sprinter’ which makes its debut in Train Sim World.
The Trains
Class 153 ‘Sprinter’
The Class 153 is new to Train Sim World and with these units being used frequently by a myriad of operators across the UK over the decades, there's the potential for players to make wider use of the unit in Free Roam.
Other route Add-ons where players may wish to run the 153 in Free Roam include:
- East Coast Main Line
- Midland Main Line
- West Cornwall Local
Though the eras of some routes won't be relevant for the 153, players may also wish to run it along:
- Peak Forest Railway
- WCML Preston-Carlisle
- Blackpool Branches
- Northern Trans-Pennine
With one example of the Class 153 also being used for Departmental workings, players could conceivably operate one along any modern era TSW route Add-on in Free Roam, or decide to take one along the West Somerset Railway, where other types of Sprinter have visited before.
A cacophony of Cummins engines await when you thrash these units in unison, it's impressive just how different sounding trains of a similar origin can be! Use formation designer at your own will, or simply spawn a bunch of trains and assemble them in a depot of your choosing, before embarking on your own sprinter sandwich tour - just remember your speed limits - the 158 may be able to do 90mph, but the poor 153 behind you won't be having a fun time!
The unit is compatible with other DMU trains in the game, including other members of the Sprinter family. It can be coupled and used with Class 150/170/158/142 and other Class 153s.
Coupling procedures can vary between units and this was covered by Matt and Jamie in the Preview Stream.
The unique nature of their creation from a 2-car unit means that the cab ends differ quite significantly in size. The original cab end is bigger, with a small cab positioned where the connection would have been to its paired unit. The result is an asymmetrical layout, notable from the outside with the position of the exterior doors.
The Class 153 will have working suspension animations, driveshaft animations and brake pad animations and comes in two variants: a Class 153/3 full PRM-compliant railcar and the Class 153/9 ‘lite’ PRM-compliant railcar.
Class 150/2 ‘Sprinter’
More familiar to Train Sim World players will be the Class 150 DMU, seen previously in the West Cornwall Local Add-on.
In addition to its new paint job in TfW livery, the Class 150 has had significant changes to the exterior and interior model as well as the suspension animations, driveshaft animations and brake pad animations also seen on the Class 153.
The full list of changes to the model are as follows:
Exterior
- Re-liveried to the TfW livery, plus many other texture improvements
- Modified antenna to reflect the 150/2 version
- New Door controls
- Electronic destination board
- New headlight design
Cab
- Numerous control changes and component modifications to the cab
- Addition of GSM-R Radio
- Addition of TPWS Controls
- Lighting updates
- Texture changes to reflect new cab variant
Passenger interior
- Passenger compartments retextured to reflect TfW branding, labels and information signs.
- Many model modifications to reflect new layout such as additional plug sockets, bike racks, and new bathrooms, and other changes.
- New interior door controls
- Additional guard panels at rear doors
- New furniture and seating layout
- New door animations to match new audio recordings
The Route
Much of Cardiff’s modern-day railway network owes itself to the rich history of South Wales coal mining. Lucrative efforts to harvest the Earth’s black gold necessitated the use of railway lines through the valleys, and as such, many lines began spurring out from the soon-to-be Welsh capital and linking down to the docks.
With the passage of time, and a growing populous, the scene became much more passenger-orientated and today, the city area is known as the “Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes” – an urban network of lines operated by Transport for Wales.
This route Add-on features multiple branches and 19 stations stemming from the heart of the city and two principal stations: Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street.
These branches are:
- The Coryton Line, terminating at Coryton
- The Merthyr Line, as far as Radyr
- The City line, terminating at Radyr
- The Butetown branch line, terminating at Cardiff Bay
- The Penarth branch, terminating at Penarth
These branch lines all intersect and connect with one another around Cardiff’s periphery, with iconic landmarks such as the Principality Stadium prominently placed next to the railway line. Canton Depot also features, hosting the trains included and providing ECS gameplay on top of the passenger timetable.
Each of the stations are adorned with TfW’s branding, including bilingual signage in English and Welsh, which emphasises the pride and passion with which the Welsh language is spoken and used within the capital city.
Timetable, Scenarios and Gameplay
With separate branch lines, Canton Depot and two trains to operate, there’s plenty of gameplay to get busy with and around 500 playable services.
This includes services along each of the branch lines:
- Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay
- Cardiff Central to Penarth / Cogan
- Cardiff Queen Street / Central to Coryton.
- Services to Radyr along both Merthyr and City Lines
- ECS shunts around Cardiff Central
Services representative of TfW rolling stock not featured in the Add-on are included, using the Class 150 and 153, such as those run by Class 197s, 231s and Class 67 locomotives in real life. Some of these services run out of the map via Cogan south of the city or Heath High Level north of the city, representing Barry Island – Rhymney services.
Some Class 150 and Class 153 services will also feature Conductor Mode, with functioning Guard panels similar to other British rolling stock.
Additional service layers
Players with other British Add-ons in their collection will be able to see a variety of static and AI rolling stock around route. Playable RHTT services from Radyr to Cardiff Central and again later in the day from Coryton to Heath low level are also available.
The AI traffic will include:
- Flying Scotsman railtour
- Class 66 freight services from West Coast Main Line South
- GWR HST services from Great Western Express arriving and departing Cardiff to out of the map locations such as Bristol, London and Swansea.
- Static stock will also be seen Canton Depot.
A note for players on 8th generation consoles:
After reviewing performance we've amended the timetable to provide a suitable experience for those on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. This timetable will not feature any additional service layers outside of the playable 150 and 153 services.
Scenarios and Gameplay
There are 5 Scenarios, called: Welsh Translation, Branch Line Breakdowns, Snow Storms and St David's Day Celebration. St David's Day was of course celebrated recently, on 1st March!
Collectibles will include the standard Route Maps as well as unique references to wider Welsh culture.
Leeks act as a nod to our one and only Leek-master JD, reference to a national emblem of Wales, stemming from legendary soldiers allied to King Cadwaladr of Gwynedd.
Welsh Cakes, which are a local delicacy formed of sweet bread with fat and dried fruit.
And Lovespoons, traditionally presented in Wales as a gift of romantic intent.
Train Sim World 5: Cardiff City Network route Add-on is out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £29.99/€35.99/$39.99
If you missed the preview stream, you can catch up with Jamie and Matt over on YouTube and Twitch