Following this author’s particular enthusiasm over the addition of the Cross-City Line in Train Sim World 3, developer Dovetail is following up with an expansion of the midlands, this time with East Midlands Railway. The latest route being added to the game spans the 38-miles between Derby and Leicester, including its supposedly “scenic” power station, which looks like it’s been lifted straight out of some kind of industrial dystopian horror movie.

You’ll be commandeering the Class 43 HST as well as the Class 158, so expect some variety in the timetables you’ll be tasked with completing. Of note, the latter locos were actually manufactured at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in the early 90s, so there’s a little bit of extra home grown appeal built into this expansion pack.

Skyhook Games has built the DLC, and lead developer Tom Foster explained: “The Class 158 was built from the chassis up for Midland Main Line. Every loco is a unique beast, and it was important for us to get the details right. Not just the visuals, but the feel, too. However, we have strived to make the loco accessible not just to the superfans [of Train Sim World], but also the casual enjoyers too. We hope you love playing it, as much as you do riding them!”

We’ve actually travelled on this specific route dozens of times, so while we’re not as intimately familiar with it as Birmingham New Street and its various surrounding stops, we should be able to recognise many of the stations. The add-on’s due out on 18th April, and will include all the usual content, including a full timetable, scenarios, and several sets of collectibles to complete.