Class 03 locomotive update is now ready! Many thanks to all beta testers!

The new locomotive has a 5-speed gearbox and three different brake systems. All the built-in routes have been updated with some coal traffic and light loco movements. Rescue runs now also use the 03 if the broken train is near the depot.

Freight trains have a brake van at the rear to assist in slowing down the train, since the wagons do not have brakes that could be operated while the train is running. An AI guard in the brake van operates the van's handbrake automatically. When using simple controls, the guard will directly respond to the control setting. Under realistic controls the AI has a mind of its own and will use the brake when suitable. The AI can't be turned off.

Note the new keys to operate the handbrake (default: [H] to apply, [Y] to release) and the loco air brake in the 03 (default: [F] to apply, [R] to release). Unlike the vacuum brake, the loco air brake has no lap position: braking force is proportional to how much you turn the handle (handbrake works the same way).

Remember to use the Class 03 filter at the bottom of the service selection screen to easily find services hauled by the 03.



Scenery

• Fixed bridge support placement in some bridges
  
• Fixed gap between trackbed and bridge side in some curved bridges
  
• Fixed platform furniture orientation on some island platforms
  
• Fixed switch rails not moving properly after restarting sim

User interface

• Fixed camera being fully zoomed in when starting sim
  
• Fixed HUD helper positioning when using GUI zooming
  
• Fixed simple controls slider in some trains
  
• Fixed doors sometimes being open in service screen train picture
  
• Changed view menu popup to open only if RMB is held for less than one second
  
• Changed view menu popup to close if it's already open when pressing view menu key or RMB
  
• Added station skipping advice to service screen stopping info
  
• Clarified wording of some signaller messages to remove ambiguity
  
• Reduced vehicle vibration in some camera views

Traffic

• Fixed signaller to properly remove a terminated train under some circumstances, preventing deadlocks
  
• Fixed signaller clearing conflicting train paths in some locations like north of Eastle Harley
  
• Fixed signaller to properly clear signal after train changes direction at a station (fixes rural roundtrip service in workshop "Track construction" timetable for Westfords)
  
• Fixed signaller to properly hold signal at danger at some junctions until train has reduced speed (loaded coal train approaching Haverford West triangle)
  
• Fixed starting time of first Haverford West ECS so that it's at the station before the first passenger service starts
  
• Fixed some rescue scenario starting problems

Physics

• Fixed Class 127 wheels crawling and squealing during engine start-up
  
• Fixed incorrect head movement under potato quality
  
• Made physics more robust especially in collisions and other corner cases
  
• Smoothed out some sudden movements or jostling in train/camera springs
  
• Reduced air drag to make the trains run more prototypically at higher speeds
  
• Changed speedometer to show axle speed instead of the true speed of the train in order to correctly show wheelslip

Timetable editor

• Added freight train type to timetable editor and run menu filters
  
• Added slider for choosing the loading percentage of a freight train in timetable editor
  
• Added slider for adjusting AI braking behaviour in timetable editor
  
• Fixed possible crash in timetable editor when the stopping place of an order no longer exists
  
• Fixed station name tag highlighting
  
• Fixed timetables made for workshop routes disappearing from timetable list

Route editor

• Fixed scenery being out of date in driving sim compared to route editor
  
• Fixed route editor speed limit removal to remove all instances of the same limit in the same location
  
• Fixed automatic speed limit generation in route editor
  
• Fixed embankment gaps being incorrectly applied throughout the whole track when splitting a track
  
• Fixed embankment gaps to not let track sink under ground

Other

• Fixed possible error when trying to submit stuff to the workshop
  
• Fixed several crashes in the menus and driving sim
  
• Fixed missing ambience sound in some external views
  
• Added guard whistle sounds (useful for 03 which doesn't have a buzzer)

The next update is ready soon so it's time to find a new picture for the main menu! If you're interested in a small competition, use the beta version to post one or more screenshots featuring the new Class 03 locomotive (and possibly other trains too in the same image).

Even if you don't post any images, please browse the community screenshots to upvote your favourite ones. The screenshot that has the most upvotes by next weekend will become the new main menu picture and the author gets their name in the credits. (Downvotes don't count)

Tips

• The easiest way to post a screenshot is to use Steam's built-in functionality, usually the F12 key
  
• Use the maximum resolution that your system supports
  
• Hide the timetable by pressing F2
  
• Disable all other overlays on the screen by opening "Driving settings" via the ESC menu, and unticking all tutorials
  
• Choose the highest graphics level from the bottom of the "Graphics settings" screen (via the ESC menu)
  
• Use the free roaming camera mode to position the camera
  
• Use the pause key to stop all trains while finding a good position for the camera
  
• Sunlight is most pleasing between 7-10 in the morning and 15-18 in the afternoon

To participate, open your Steam client and right-click on the game, then select Properties from the pop-up menu. From the properties window go to the Betas tab and choose beta from the drop-down menu (no password required). The beta version has automatic error reporting (more information when you start the game).

The main new feature is obviously the Class 03 diesel locomotive with a 5-speed gearbox and three different brake systems. All the built-in routes have also been updated with some coal traffic and light loco movements. Rescue runs now also use the 03 if the broken train is near the depot.

Freight trains have a brake van at the rear to assist in slowing down the train, as the mineral wagons do not have brakes that could be operated while the train is running. An AI guard in the brake van operates the van's handbrake automatically. When using simple controls, the guard will directly respond to the control setting. Under realistic controls the AI has a mind of its own and will use the brake when suitable. The AI can't be turned off in this version.

Take note of the new keys to operate the handbrake (default: [H] to apply, [Y] to release) and the loco air brake in the 03 (default: [F] to apply, [R] to release). Unlike the vacuum brake, the loco air brake has no lap position: braking force is proportional to how much you turn the handle (handbrake works the same way).

Remember to use the Class 03 filter at the bottom of the service selection screen to easily find services hauled by the 03.

Route and timetable creators: please don't publish routes or timetables made with the beta version to the workshop until the official version is released, because they might not work for those who are using the old version.

Other changes

• Adjusted head movement
  
• Reduced vehicle vibration in some camera views
  
• Added guard whistle sounds (useful for 03 which doesn't have a buzzer)
  
• Added freight train type to timetable editor and run menu filters
  
• Added slider for choosing the loading percentage of a freight train in timetable editor
  
• Added slider for adjusting AI braking behaviour in timetable editor
  
• Made physics more robust especially in collisions and other corner cases
  
• Fixed Class 127 wheels crawling and squealing during engine start-up
  
• Fixed route editor speed limit removal to remove all instances of the same limit in the same location
  
• Fixed automatic speed limit generation in route editor
  
• Fixed possible crash in timetable editor when the stopping place of an order no longer exists
  
• Fixed incorrect head movement under potato quality
  
• Fixed missing ambience sound in some external views
  
• Fixed doors sometimes being open in service screen train picture
  
• Removed extra joint sound being played when a train is spawned
  
• Other small fixes and optimisations

Known beta issues

• Class 112 engine revs too early in first gear
  
• Class 03 cab vacuum brake handle rod moves incorrectly when moving the handles
  
• Class 03 cab horn levers move simultaneously when sounding the horn even though only one should
  
• Class 03 and brake van cab windows are opaque under potato graphics settings
  
• Simple controls direction may be opposite of what it's supposed to be when in brake van
  
• Target speed tutorial may show incorrect direction

There will be at least one more beta to fix the known issues and a number of other problems related to signalling, route editor and platform furniture.

https://youtu.be/2pt_5gkfDi8

Beta-testing to start as soon as I've added a couple of missing features, fixed a few bugs and added some runs for the 03!

Graphics are now ready but physics and AI still require some small adjustments. Working on the sounds next...

Work in progress shots of the next update! Class 03 hauling a short freight train with 16ton mineral wagons and a 20ton brake van. Models by Paul Harper. The next beta is still a few weeks away

The first version of the route editor is finally here! You can use the editor to create routes similar to the existing ones (UK theme, semaphore signals). Since the scenery features are still quite limited, the editor is best suited for creating urban and suburban routes. It's not yet possible to customise the signals, the appearance of the track, or use your own scenery items (3D-models).

The existing routes have also been updated with new scenery and improvements in trackwork. The old "Full route" is now called "North Landen", the second full route is "Westfords", and the demo route is called "Mountain pass".

The next update after this one is planned to include new trains and quite likely won't take as many months to develop as this one.

See below for a full list of fixes and improvements included in this version:

• Start the route editor from the main menu either by right-clicking an existing route or by clicking the "Route editor" button in the route list.
  
• Use the free roam key [8] and the map key [9] to switch between 3D and 2D views. Try right-clicking on things or empty space to do stuff. The editor is divided into infrastructure (tracks, signals etc.) and scenery modes which you can switch from the right-click popup menu.
  
• Don't forget to save often [CTRL+S] if you're doing any serious route building with the editor.
  
• It's ok to save a copy of an existing route made by Lapioware and continue from there, making your own version of it and uploading it to Steam workshop.
  
• The editor may pause or stutter when scenery is reloading in 3D-mode. In 2D-mode pausing should not occur.
  
• See full guide

• Added up/down buttons for reordering items in listings (e.g. service orders)
  
• Added preview image (thumbnail) support for timetables when submitting to workshop
  
• Fixed possible "file not found" error when trying to submit stuff to workshop
  
• Fixed lagging
  
• Fixed crash when adding a new service with an ID that's already in use
  
• Fixed train length tooltip when adding a new service
  
• Removed nonsense tooltips in listings like orders for a service template
  
• Removed formation length check for non-stop orders so you should now be able to route a six-car 126 via the slow line in the second full route (now called "Westfords").
  
• Improved name tag positioning in 2D editor view

• Added configurable terrain resolution. Using a higher resolution will reduce the blocky appearance of the terrain but the terrain tiles are slower to appear as you move around in the world. The lowest setting corresponds to the old version.
  
• Added configurable 3D drawing range (try a lower setting for higher frame rate or a higher setting for better views in mountainous routes)
  
• Added randomised cloud coverage.
  
• Added faster SSAO algorithm for exterior views.
  
• Added new building models for scenery.
  
• Improved lighting.
  
• Improved shadow quality and drawing distance.
  
• Improved bridges
  
• Disabled sky reflections by default because they were causing problems on many systems (things turning dark occasionally). You can re-enable them from the graphics settings.
  
• Removed graphics options to disable roads or housing because they were a mostly useless and unnecessary complication
  
• Fixed passenger seat clipping in classes 117 and 127

• Added simple/realistic controls choice to quick start
  
• Added automatically generated route map to service selection screen
  
• Added user interface zooming setting, useful to those who have a very low or high screen resolution
  
• Added simple/realistic controls activation toggles to key configuration and reordered the key groups
  
• Fixed key configuration saving when using AZERTY or some other non-QWERTY keyboard
  
• Fixed same timetable appearing twice in the timetable list

• Optimisations: the routes load faster and there is less stutter while running, though your frame rate may still be lower than before because of the more dense scenery in many areas.
  
• Improved memory usage to reduce "out of memory" crashes
  
• Fixed AI trains being always late under some circumstances.
  
• Moved stopping markers onto platforms. They're more difficult to spot but the old position next to the track was not prototypical.
  
• Made it possible to move the camera forward in the driver's seat to see gauges better
  
• Fixed curve superelevation to be smoother
  
• Fixed bug where signal would show danger even if in reality it's clear
  
• Fixed a possible crash when trying to start a service in some routes
  

Many of you have noticed that there are new routes in the workshop available for subscription. Something that wasn't clearly mentioned before is that the routes work in the beta test version only! Trying to use them in the current version will crash the game when you try to open any of the (old) routes.

If the game crashes upon opening a route you can fix it either by:
1) unsubscribing from the routes in the workshop, or,
2) downloading the new beta test version by opening your Steam client and right-clicking on the game, then selecting Properties from the pop-up menu. From the properties window go to the Betas tab and choose the beta from the drop-down menu (no password required).

Apologies for the inconvenience!

To participate in the testing, please open your Steam client and right-click on the game, then select Properties from the pop-up menu. From the properties window go to the Betas tab and choose the beta from the drop-down menu (no password required).

• Start the route editor from the main menu either by right-clicking an existing route or by clicking the "Route editor" button in the route list. The second option starts the editor with an unsaved minimalist route template which you can clear by removing the track nodes (=the small squares) if you want to start from scratch.
  
• Use the free roam key [8] and the map key [9] to switch between 3D and 2D views. Try right-clicking on things or empty space to do stuff, the same way as you'd do in the timetable editor. The editor is divided into infrastructure (=tracks, signals etc.) and scenery modes which you can switch from the right-click popup menu.
  
• In some editing modes you can hold down the left shift key for alternative behaviour: for example, when creating a siding you can snap and align the siding to follow the main track.
  
• Don't forget to save often [CTRL+S] if you're doing any serious route building with the editor. It's also a good idea to make backups of your route directory.
  
• You can use the editor to create routes similar to the existing ones (UK, semaphore signals). Since the scenery features are still quite limited, the editor is best suited for creating urban and suburban routes. It's not yet possible to customise the signals, the appearance of the track, or use your own scenery items (3D-models).
  
• It's ok to save a copy of the existing routes and continue from there, making your own version of them and uploading them to the workshop.
  
• The editor may hang or stutter when opening the editing popup menu and making changes to the tracks or scenery in 3D-mode. In 2D-mode the hangs should be less noticeable. It seems this can't be solved easily so the fix will have to be postponed to a later update.
  
• More comprehensive quick start guide to be added in a couple of days.

• Added configurable terrain resolution. A higher resolution will reduce the blocky appearance of the terrain but the terrain tiles are slower to appear as you move around in the world. The terrain in the old sim version corresponds to the lowest setting.
  
• Added randomised cloud coverage.
  
• Added faster SSAO algorithm for exterior views.
  
• Improved lighting.
  
• Improved shadow quality and drawing distance.
  
• Disabled sky reflections by default because they were causing problems on many systems (things turning dark occasionally). You can re-enable them from the graphics settings.

• Optimisations: the routes should load faster and there should be less stutter while running, though your FPS may still be lower than before because of the more dense scenery in many areas. The program now occupies less hard drive space thanks to the new terrain system. Timetable editor lags no more.
  
• Removed formation length check for non-stop orders so you should now be able to route a six-car 126 via the slow line in the second full route (now called "Fords of the west").
  
• Fixed AI trains being always late under some circumstances.
  
• Moved stopping markers onto platforms. They're more difficult to spot but the old position next to the track was not prototypical.

• The existing three routes may still have some track layout, signalling and scenery problems. The suburban route in the first full route (now called "North of Landen") has some terrain problems. Not all of the services in the timetables work.
  
• The nodes in the route editor's 3D-mode often have the mouse clicking point slightly above or below the actual node which makes it hard to "hit" them. In 2D-mode they should be ok.
  
• Bridge supports look bad in curves and sloped bridges. There may be bridge side elements in the middle of the road at elevated road intersections. There may be some terrain rubble or sawtooth edge next to the bridges.
  
• Buildings may overlap roads or each other at oblique road intersections.
  
• Roads may become broken when you add, move, rotate or otherwise change the street grids. There's an option to repair a street grid but it might not always work. The curves at the corners of the grids may also become distorted when changing the grids. You don't need to worry about these as long as the placement, rotation and size of the grids are ok, as they will be fixed later automatically.
  
• Fences are still completely missing.
  
• Route map images from service selection screen are missing.
  
• Turnout and crossing check rails, moving points and sounds when running over them are still missing.
  
• Some short curves have excessive superelevation making the train shake too much.
  
• AI drivers won't sound the horn when approaching level crossings.
  
• Workshop thumbnail images are missing (for both timetables and routes).
  
• When you save a new timetable, it might not appear in the timetable list until the program is restarted.
  
• The scenery may be slightly visible through the train cab and other objects under potato graphics quality.
  
• Stuff that has been reported or requested earlier: key configuration saving for non-qwerty keyboards, leaning forward to see the speedometer in 117/122/127, some reversing manoeuvres not working, GUI scaling/zooming.

All the problems and missing features will be fixed before the official release so there will be at least one more beta version. The fixes will be automatically retrofitted to all routes so you don't have to worry about them if you start creating routes with this version already. More discussion

More progress on the route editor, this is how scenery editing works now (no audio, video sped up by 30%):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=booAZfdtU6c

The main principle of the first version is to allow easy and fast creation of vast areas of scenery at the expense of details. More detailed control and features will be added in future updates.

The scenery features proved to be very hard to program correctly and there's still plenty of code to fix and old one to remove, but the first beta version should be ready for testing before the end of the year