Activities

These time tables take into account the passengers comfort, energy and rolling stock savings: in the real world, you never use max acceleration or emergency brakes to stop at stations!

You can maybe save a few minutes on the run by pushing the TGV to its limits. Following the beta test, it appeared that most players find tiresome to wait for 3 minutes in stations, so the waiting time is shorter in the activities I have designed. Of course, nothing prevents you from developing a totally realistic activity.

Default activities

To run default activities, you need the latest version of Edouard Staniczek's freeware TGV Duplex (Projets ESK) or Clem Tillier's TGV Pack (Train Simulator Speedworks).

These activities are designed to become familiar with the route. They use only TGVs and traffic is very simplified, but paths can be used as a starting point to create more complex activities.

Before you start, please read the FAQ which contains important information about TGV driving and, of course, the Signals page.

Standard activities

Activity	Distance	Time	Notes
Marseille-Nimes direct	140 km	40 min
Marseille-Nimes standard	140 km	45 min
Marseille-Valence direct	230 km	50 min
Marseille-Valence standard	230 km	55 min
Nimes-Marseille direct	140 km	40 min
Nimes-Marseille standard	140 km	45 min
Nimes-Valence	170 km	40 min
Valence-Marseille direct	230 km	50 min
Valence-Marseille standard	230 km	60 min
Valence-Nimes	170 km	40 min

Additional activities

Activity	Distance	Time	Notes
Marseille-Nimes special	140 km	60 min	Snow, uses 3.0 signal features
Nimes-Marseille special	140 km	60 min	Night, uses 3.0 signal features
Marseille-Valence special	230 km	50 min	Summer Thalys service
Valence-Marseille special	230 km	50 min	Summer Thalys service

Introductory train ride

When you start MSTS, choose "Introductory ride" and select LGVMed 3.0 in the list.

Notes to activity writers

How to update your activities from versions 1.0-2.1 to 3.0

Due to a lot of changes in track layout, LGVMed 1.0-2.1 activities are not compatible with 3.0.

If you are an activity writer and would like to update your activities to LGVMed 3.0, here is the method I use to update my own activities:

Although it's not recommended for activity users, if you're a writer and your activity comes as a .apk file, unpack it to LGVMed 3.0, answering no to any overwrite request. This will prevent the alteration of new 3.0 paths. If your activity is not packaged, then copy the needed files from the Activities, Paths, Services and Traffic folders to the corresponding folders in LGVMed 3.0, still answering no to any overwrite request.
Open the activity editor. If no error message appears, save the activity, the update is done! Otherwise, please read the following points.
Take note of your timetables before you modify any path. Don't forget the traffic elements timetables, particularly the start times, as they are often key parameters in activities.
Recreate the broken paths. There are two methods: if your path has only a few broken (red) points, you can usually restore the path by moving the red points on switches. You can also delete the red points and directly move the red line on switches that you want included in your new path (click anywhere on the red line and move it on a switch). If this method fails, you can suppress the starting point and recreate the whole path. In some cases that's more simple.
Restore the player timetable and the traffic elements start times.
Save your activity, test it, update complete.

How to write LGVMed 3.0 activities using TGV AI traffic

When you want a traffic TGV to run at high speed, create a service using the "_AI" consist instead of the standard consist. You can still use standard consists in areas where you want slow traffic, or if you want to simulate an engine problem.
In your high speed traffic service window, set the performance at 100%.
If your AI TGV stops at stations, don't try to compute the traffic element time table, because if the distance between stations is too large, MSTS will not be able to do it and you will have to cancel the operation (these AI TGVs run too fast for MSTS J). To have an idea of the time it takes an AI TGV to go from station to station, use the "VCR" features of the activity editor.
The starting point of your traffic path can have a great impact on traffic performance, as there are cases where MSTS picks up a bad initial speed limitation (for example, 160 instead of 300) and keeps this initial speed limitation for the whole path. If you create a traffic path, use an AI consist set at 100% and the traffic is still slow, try to find another starting point for your path.
Default paths should not be modified because they are used by default activities and are shared between activities writers. If your activity uses default paths, be careful not to overwrite 3.0 paths with 1.0-2.1 paths, as some of them are different.

Other tips for activity writers

The Marseille St Charles station documentation describes the structure of the station, gives details about possible track connections and indicates which type of train uses which track for arrival and departure.
From Marseille St Charles to the Marseilles tunnel, trains can run on both tracks and both directions, like on the real route. This can be exploited in activities.
On the LGV, switches have been added or corrected at Marseille, Avignon, Nimes and Lapalud, offering new (real world) path possibilities.
The Senas, Piolenc and Allan SEI are now treated as stations and can be included in timetables for special activities.

Downloads

Before installing new activities, please read carefully:

Before installing, you must read the readme.txt file included in the archive and follow the instructions.
These activities may require you to download new rolling stock models from other web sites (the list of models and sites can usually be found in the readme.txt file). You must get these models before trying to install activities. If you don't do this, you will have error messages when you start Train Simulator (if this is happening, you can, in most cases, answer "continue" to these messages and download the missing models later).

LGVMed 3.0 activities

Storm on the LGV

Archive	LGVStorm.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	TGV Duplex
Distance	230 km
Duration	1 h 05 min
Difficulty	High
Description	A storm between Valence and Marseille has been announced... Violent lateral winds will require you to reduce the speed of your TGV on some sections of the route. Be on your guard, as many unexpected things can happen under such unusual conditions.

TGV Race

Archive	TGVRace.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	TGV Duplex
Distance	210 km
Duration	50 min
Difficulty	High
Description	This activity occurs just before the opening of LGVMed in June 2001. As you're a skilled driver, you have been chosen to race against another TGV from Aix-en-Provence to Valence, to test the new route features.

Marseille-L'Estaque (TER)

Archive	LGVM3A01.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	Additional freeware rolling stock required, see the readme file
Distance	30 km
Duration	55 min
Difficulty	High
Description	Drive a low priority regional train (TER) from Marseille to L'Estaque, then return to Marseille. Realistic operation and traffic.

SEI Inspection

Archive	LGVM3A02.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	Additional freeware rolling stock required, see the readme file
Distance	230 km
Duration	1 h 50 min
Difficulty	High
Description	Using two BB22200, drive a technical staff and its equipment from Valence to Marseille, stopping at SEIs for inspection. Do your best to reach SEIs in time and complete shunting operations without disturbing TGV traffic.

LGVMed 3.0 activities on external sites

You can download other LGVMed 3.0 activities from the following websites:

Swift Transport (requires registration)

LGVMed 2.1 activities

Warning: 2.x activities are NOT compatible with LGVMed 3.0.

September Rain Part 1

Archive	LGVSR01.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	TGV Reseau
Distance	10 km
Duration	15 min
Difficulty	Medium
Description	Assemble two TGV units and prepare them for a run to Avignon. Requires Train Simulator Speedworks TGV Pack 1 v2 for the coupling/uncoupling capabilities.

September Rain Part 2

Archive	LGVSR02.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	TGV Reseau, BB67300, RIO PACA
Distance	140 km
Duration	55 min
Difficulty	Medium
Description	Go from Marseilles to Avignon under bad weather conditions and heavy traffic. The activity ends at Nimes where you will uncouple your TGV units, park the rear one and drive the leading unit to the depot. Requires Train Simulator Speedworks TGV Pack 1 v2 and additional freeware rolling stock.

LGVMed 2.0 activities

Broken couplers

Author	Edouard Staniczek
e-mail	edouard.staniczek@club-internet.fr
Archive	Couplers.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	TGV Duplex
Distance	230 km
Duration	1 h 05 min
Difficulty	High
Description	A few kilometers passed Avignon, the double TGV preceding yours breaks its couplers. You will have to go around the rear unit stopped on the main track and rescue the leading unit parked some kilometers further.

Lack of power

Author	Edouard Staniczek
e-mail	edouard.staniczek@club-internet.fr
Archive	Power_lack.zip
Language	English, French
Rolling stock	TGV Duplex
Distance	230 km
Duration	1 h 05 min
Difficulty	High
Description	The TGV preceding yours has power problems. The dispatcher will give you 3 chances to pass it before it reaches Valence. Will you succeed?

LGVMed 1.0-1.1 activities

Warning: 1.x activities are NOT compatible with newer versions.

Wolfgang W. Plenz's V1.1 Activity Pack (1.1)

Author: Wolfgang W. Plenz

e-mail: engineer@primrose-country.de

Archive: TGVPack.zip

A pack of 6 great LGVMed activities.

The first four were already available on V1.0 and have been completely redesigned for V1.1.

For a description of these activities, see: http://webdottrainsim.tripod.com/msts536.htm.

Wolfgang has also made a "light version" of his pack, with only freeware rolling stock: TGVlight.zip

TGV rescue (1.0)

Author: Jeremy Briat

e-mail: jbriat@wanadoo.fr

Archive: http://jbriat.free.fr/lgvmed/secoursTGV.zip

A TGV is stopped on the Ventabren viaduct, due to power supply problems. You must rescue it, using two 67000 diesel locomotives starting at Marseilles Blancarde depot. On your way back, you must drop the passengers at Aix-en-Provence TGV station and then return the TGV to the depot.

Tips for this activity:

Remember the 67000 diesel locomotives have a 120 km/h speed limitation.
As you are approaching the TGV, you will have to stop in front of a red signal. To pass this signal, you must obtain an authorization (use the Tab key).
Be very careful for the coupling operation or your adventure may end under the viaduct!
To avoid the 25 km/h speed limitation on your way back, you will have to push the TGV to the next signal. Stop when you have the signal in front of you, then reverse your direction.

TGV Nice (1.0)

Author: David Kimber

e-mail: Davidian@dkimber.fsnet.co.uk

Archive: http://jbriat.free.fr/lgvmed/TGV-Nice.zip

You are driving TGV 6173 from Avignon to Nice. The TGV service 6809 has broken down in front of you…

Acela on LGVMed (1.0)

Author: Pierre Yves Maurie

e-mail: pymumu@club-internet.fr

Archive: http://jbriat.free.fr/lgvmed/LGVAcel.zip

Two LGVMed activities using default MSTS rolling stock.

Last modified 11/30/2004