The Cardiff City Network features 20 miles of track in a complex jumble of lines in and around the Welsh capital, from Radur & Coryton to the north and Cogan, Penarth & Cardiff Bay to the south. A pretty route featuring varied scenery, the overpass from Cardiff Central to Cardiff Queens St. station is a real feature, a steep 2% slope, The route runs through an impressively dense and busy city centre out into the countryside in several directions.
The featured train units are the Class 150/2 TFW, the slightly newer Class 153 TFW, with a couple of layers for the RHTT Class 66 DB and a disappointingly brief, single shunt for the High Speed Train EMT. The153's diesel engine is good and smoky, slow to accelerate but with responsive brakes. The 150/2 is smooth to drive and perfectly suited to the Cardiff City Network's demands. As with most of TSW5's routes, there are plenty of other, non-playable or AI trains on the route and I even saw a GWR Class 166 at Cardiff Central.
I had a few problems with AI trains stopping at red lights forever and coupled units not responding as they should (keeping their brakes locked on). Replaying the service/scenario from a save point or the very start usually solved this problem though. I haven't revisited to check since a recent update but I believe these issues were fixed.
The scenery is of a high standard, the stations look busy and populated and several have working lifts, although as in real life, I find the stairs quicker.
Apart from anything else, Cardiff City Network is the first route for TSW set in Wales, and I actually found it educational. I mean, who knew "Gwybodaeth" means Information, or "Perygl "means Danger? Thanks to the bilingual signs I now do!
Many thanks to Dovetail Games and Indigo Pearl for the review code.