Train Simulator: Gatwick Express Class 442 'Wessex' EMU Add-On DLC

Overall this unit is ok, its very pleasing that it is in the game and that foremost is the main reason I would recommend it. The modelling is great and it fantastic to look at. Other then that the sounds are not impressive, quite standard (and recycled clearly) which then makes it a less of good experience to drive. But generally that is what is expected, to conclude its a fantastic addition to the game and for the Brighton Mainline route!

Very nice driving train and looks great love turning the fan on inside the cab to cool off the driver I like it very much.

It sounds like a Washing Machine, but the model is good, despite the SWT interior. I think everyone [b]and[/b] their dog should get this addon.

I bought this DLC over a year ago.. shortly after it came out. I remember seeing there was a lot of negative feedback on it. I can't say I remember why. I bought it for the achievements. If some of you follow my reviews, you may have seen others like that :) I do believe this was patched some while ago and that may account for why I found no major issues with it. The sounds seemed ok. I'm totally unfamiliar with UK trains in general as I live in the US. I can't say if the sounds were realistic or not because of that, however they seemed pretty good - if not amazing. The Class 442 runs on London to Brighton. This is not a route I had much experience on, so despite it's elderly nature, I had fun seeing a good part of it. I consider this a good route for it to run on. A couple of the scenarios were quite difficult. On one in particular the timing was off I believe. I was able to make it, but I had to restart the entire scenario over. Just because the first few timestops were made on time, does not mean the last couple are possible. While I consider this to be negative and will mark it as such in my list below, I did enjoy the challenge and the satisfaction of eventually making 1000 pts. This may be why it got some negative rep. I can imagine there would be some people who would say it was not possible... or just too difficult, however all scenarios do work.. 1000 pts is possible on all 3. + Reasonably good textures and sounds + All scenarios work and gold medals/1000 pts are achievable. + Scenarios seem realistic with the exception of the time table on one - see below. They're all fun though! + All achievements work. I'm not finished with the one for running 442 miles, but it shows progress, so reason to believe it won't work.) + Instrument lights and cab lights work well, as do wipers and gauges... all the things you'd expect. - Bird poo on the window. Was that really necessary? It annoyed me. Realistic? Probably... But unnecessary. - Dirty window in general where the wipers do not touch it. Yes, this is probably realistic, and a lot of DLC's do this, but I don't like it. Overall it's a pretty trivial matter though. - One scenario has odd timings. I believe they could be seen as faulty. The first three checks are fine. However if you are not substantially early to (I think) the 3rd check, you will not be able to make the 4th.

As a regular user of the units and knowing people who work on them I was very excited when this was announced. The modelling of the unit is superb. The general way it looks and feels is great however that's probably the only good thing about it. The sounds aren't realistic one bit and the same applies for the physics. Given that the units themselves are very sluggish on speed until 40mph it didn't feel like I was driving a 442 when it took off. Interior is South West Trains which isn't correct for the Gat-Ex era and the MLC is......empty bar the 1st class section. I'd still recommend the unit though simply as it fills the gap and provides a more "full" BML as Gatwick was rather empty without them. A shame about it's shortfalls but generally the unit is ok. If it's not too high on your list I'd wait for a sale and the eventual arrival of an Armstrong Powerhouse soundpack.

Sadly, I regret buying this. This model is good but it isn't good at all. The sounds a ALWAYS default recycled. Passenger view is okay with how to make a paper aeroplane but with SWT seats is wrong! It even has snow trees at the driver door wall. The doors well, some of it HAS the wrong animation. The inside of the MLC is NOT EVEN finished. The cab is okay but the throttle and reverser is from the 319. Dovetail Games, you ruined this unit. Sadly, I REALLY cannot recommend this even though I can solidly use it but sorry for people who like this unit. I can still use it in 'Steam Workshop' still. About 45% great. But the really good thing is that it has scrolling text on the destinations. But I could recommend this unit if using for better AI or player experience. Dovetail Games, please try again but not rushing another DLC like this... In the description: The World’s fastest electric multiple unit speeds into Train Simulator, perfect for recreating Gatwick Express services on the London-Brighton route. No, its not the 'world’s fastest electric multiple unit'. Its actully the 'world’s fastest third rail electric multiple unit' because it is not fast like the Javelin (Class 395) or ICE 1, 2, 3 and T, Eurostar, HST, Class 180, 390 or any other TGV or other trains that has speeds more than 108 MPH. Even for a mention, the JET train (not actully real), its the worlds fastest train than any other trains in Train Simulator.

This train has been a long time in coming. And now it's out, I don't know what to say; although I will type quite a lot. Sounds: Dovetail Games has always had a problem making good sounds for trains. This is why people like Armstrong Powerhouse survive; they provide good quality stuff to cover over the trash that DTG churn out. This train is no exception. With it's 455 default sounds and immediate cut off during coasting, I can't say anything good about the sounds. Apart from the fact that this train has sounds. Which is more than can be said for the 303. I was told that the 455 sounds were "WIP sounds" which either means they were lying or this is an expensive beta. That will never be fixed. Except by giving £5 to people whose job it is to clear up the mess left by DTG. Model: The model is very good. While it does look like the train has just come out of the depot, it's pretty good. But wait! There's a floor missing from the MBC (middle coach). See? They can screw even the most basic things up. Interior: The train is based in 2015, when 442's are with Gatwick Express. What appears to have happened is that the interior people are in a time warp and so still think it is 2005 and so have given the train a South West Trains interior. Really? Did anyone at DTG say: "Just one thing: why have you given this train a SWT interior?" Sometimes I don't get DTG and this is one of them. No 442's have been with SWT since 2007. So why give a train made in 2015 based in 2015 a 2005 interior? That's just failing for failing's sake. Cab: It's OK. But there are problems. Although a signal bell sounds, you can't reply to it as there is no option to do so. Even the signal button in cab is disabled. Do you get the idea? Oh, and there is bird exrement on the side window. Which can only be seen from the in-cab view, not from anywhere else. In many ways, this is an analogy for DTG; it looks good, but then several bir-brained idiots come and deficate all over it and it ends up rubbish. Another analogy is that this train is a polished turd. No matter how good it looks, no matter how polished, it is still a turd. To sum up: While the train looks amazing, everything else about it is a huge let down. Buy it on sale and then get the sound pack from AP when they release it. Felix Note: This is [b][i][u]NOT[/u][/i][/b] the worlds fastest EMU. This is the worlds fastest [b][i][u]3rd rail[/u][/i][/b] EMU. This train is not faster than the TGV or Class 390 or Class 387 or Class 373 etc. COME ON DTG! DO YOUR SODDING RESEARCH!

I thought i'd write this review to balance some of the other reviews that have come before. You will read in others about many, many failings with this DLC and it's true that when it was released, it had to be one of if not THE most disappointing effort from them in recent times. However, as of Feb 2016, most of the major issues have now been fixed. The interior has received re-coloured seats, they're not a good match but at least they are the same style as the real ones instead of the SWT interior we were originally given, the brake gauges now work properly, the cab end doors have had their animation changed so they slide instead of popping out and miracle of miracles, [u]the MBC coach now has a floor[/u] so the equipment underneath isn't hanging in mid air!!!!! It's still not perfect, while doing the interior, they left in the end coach murals that were applied in the SWT days, the air hoses don't show as being coupled up when you connect two consists together and the sounds are still the same. However, this last point is not a deal breaker for me, they may be reused sounds but the train itself is powered by reused motors from old slamdoor stock so it's only natural it will sound similar. I will admit to not even having ridden on one of these but I certainly have been on the older stock that their running gear is based on and they do all sound pretty similar. Overall though, no southern region layout is complete without these distinctive units and if you wait for one of the very frequent sales. I think it's now worthy of recommendation. It's interesting to note, that these units were not very well put together or reliable when new, it took a while for all the bugs to get worked out by the SWT engineers. After all the bugs had been worked out however, they have gone on to be some of the most reliable units operating in the UK today. I wonder if DTG are trying to be 'too' accurate by giving us a faulty model to start with and then fixing it up later on? :p

Several problems with this because its been rushed (as usual with content) 1. The sound are a country mile inaccurate 2. the guards van is completely wrong and needs to be completely remoddled 3. The running numbers are wrong the 442 only goes up to 442424 and i got 442430 on a earlier run 4. the equipment boxes under the guards car ain't attached to anything they're just hanging in midair 5. the passenger view has a glitch where a snowy background on the wall between the seating and doors are need i say more wish i hadn't bothered buying it if your looking for a slick model don't buy this one because you'll just be fustrated in the lack of quaility Msg to dovetail !!!!!MAKE SOMETHING DECENT & TAKE YOUR TIME AND DONT RUSH ADDON CONTENT!!!!! For a more detailed view visit my blog on it at: http://dtgarrg.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/class-442-what-mess.html BAAAADDD!!!

The Sounds as always, are ill-recycled. Perhaps worse than usual here. The passenger view is not only ugly here, but outdated and completely wrong. The brake gauge seems to go the wrong way round the dial when application is applied. And some of the doors have the wrong animation. I like the train itself, I really do. But I look for accuracy alongside realism/driving, and I am increasingly running out of tolerance for them to make such (and the same) errors without any thought of improvement for next time. For now, I can't really recommend this in such a state in terms of accuracy there. *EDIT: The MBC doesn't even have a floor, so that first line of this review is now null and void. Update: 04/02/2016 - Most of these have been 'fixed', but given that the update was almost totally unecessary as these inaccuracies should never have been present in the first place, my review as it is still stands. 14/05/2016 - Armstrong Powerhouse have provided a vastly superior sound fix for the Class 442, with a few extra helpful bits for my scenario creation. However, this review is to reflect the state of the addon as supplied by DTG, therefore my verdict still stands.