FAQ

You can freely copy and distribute this route, provided that you don't make any modification to the names or contents of the files included. All original files included in LGVMed30.zip must be present and none added.

As an author, I'm retaining the copyright and other rights on this route. However, most 3D objects are freeware, so you can use them in another project, except the following:

Aix-en-Provence TGV and Avignon TGV stations are copyright Chris Longhurst.

Valence TGV station, most viaducts, sound walls and wind turbines are copyright Claude Jousset.

1.5 kV, 25 kV gantries, TVM signals and track textures are copyright Clem Tillier.

25 kV substations are copyright Noel Smektala.

LGV tunnel mouths are copyright Pascal Goarin.

If you wish to use these objects in another project, you must first ask their authors.

3. No charge may be made for this route other than that to cover the cost of its distribution. If a fee is charged it must be made clear to the purchaser that the route is freeware and that the fee is only to cover the distributor's costs.

What is the recommended configuration?

The minimum configuration is a PIII 1 GHz and a GeForce2 or equivalents, at a 1024x768x32 resolution. However, the frame rate being a very important parameter for a LGV, a better configuration is recommended.

If you have frame rate problems, you can:

Modify your display options (see the simulator documentation).
Use the cab view which requires less resources.
Avoid big cities: you can drive on the high speed section going from Aix-en-Provence to Valence, avoiding Marseille and Nimes cities.

What kind of trains can I drive on this route?

In the simulator, any kind.

In the real world, only TGV (and a few "exotic" stuff, like track or catenary maintenance machines) are allowed to run on the LGV.

Where can I find TGV models?

At the time of this writing, there are two freeware TGV models:

The TGV Duplex made by Edouard Staniczek (Projets ESK) used in default activities.

The Eurostar made by Chris Longhurst (ChrisTrains).

You can buy other TGV models on the following sites:

Train Simulator Speedworks: the TGV Add-on Pack 1 includes 4 TGV models.

JustTrains: the TGV Train Sim Pack includes a TGV Reseau made by Clem Tillier and the Euro Loco Pack a TGV Duplex model made by Chris Longhurst.

On the Mediterranean LGV, trains that are currently running are mainly TGV Duplex and TGV Reseau.

Installation

"Train world initialization failed" message

Please read the "Readme.txt" file located in your Train Simulator\Routes\LGVMed folder for installation instructions.

MSTS is asking for files like "A2t8000r1d.s"

These high speed 1 degree curves are part of Xtracks 3.10 and are not present in earlier versions of Xtracks. You must install Xtracks 3.10.

Warning: make sure that your Xtracks 3.10 archive is not a 3.9 archive renamed to 3.10, as I have already seen this. The official websites where you can download Xtracks 3.10 are www.train-sim.com and www.uktrainsim.com.

Activities

I have error messages when trying to unpack .apk files

A patch for the TSUnpack utility is available at www.train-sim.com (search for the file "tsunpack.zip").

When unpacking activities, you may get the following message: "The installed track database for this route is version XXXX, the activity was built on version YYYY. Continue?"

Here is the relation between track database and route versions:

Route version	Track database version
2.0	2568
2.1	3071
2.1A	3081
2.1B	3084
3.0	4068

Do not try to install any activity built before version 4068 on LGVMed 3.0.

I have error messages when trying to run 1.0-2.1 activities on 3.0

Earlier route versions are not activity-compatible with 3.0.

For more information, please see the Activities page.

When I'm starting an activity, MSTS is asking for the file "tgv2n.con" or "tgvres1.con"

This is because you don't have the TGV Duplex or TGV Reseau installed.

See: Where can I find TGV models?

Activities included in the distribution are designed for these TGV, but upcoming activities may use different models. For news about this, check the Activities page.

When I'm starting an activity, MSTS is asking for the file "tgv2n_AI.con" or "tgvres1_AI.con"

This is because you don't have the AI patch installed.

Please download the latest version of the TGV Duplex (Projets ESK) or the latest version of the Train Simulator Speedworks TGV Pack (Train Simulator Speedworks). Both include the AI patch.

When I'm starting an activity, MSTS is asking for the file "tgv2n_AI (double).con"

Please download this file, unzip it and copy the .con file to your "Train Simulator\Trains\Consists" folder.

Do I have to buy Train Simulator Speedworks TGV pack to run LGVMed 3.0 activities?

TGV Reseau activities are exactly the same as the Duplex ones and are provided for those who have the TGV pack and wish to use the Reseau instead of the Duplex. Only the Thalys activities require the TGV Pack.

Known issues/limitations

Incorrect cab display on standard route sections

TVM cab display is valid only between and signs.

For more information, see the LGV signals page.

Due to MSTS limitations, TVM cab display may react to signals found on standard sections, but on standard sections you must ignore it and only trust signals placed outside along the route.

On the TGV Duplex, you can enable/disable cab display by pressing the "V" key.

Occasional brief "270" cab display

When approaching switches at 300 km/h, a "270" indication may appear for one second or less in the cab, followed by a steady "300". This is due to the fact that MSTS has to move switches many kilometers ahead of your train and propagate the information among many signals (at least 4 for a 300, 270, 230, 170 deceleration, 8 if you take into account both directions, 16 for both tracks, but that can be a lot more if there are junctions in the area). So, please forgive the MSTS dispatcher if he is sometimes a little bit slow at doing it J.

On the other hand, steady 270 indications before long tunnels and on some special terrain configurations are intentional and present on the real route.

Driving TGV

It's true with any kind of train and particularly true for TGV, because of their speed: you must "think ahead". An acceleration from 0 to 300 km/h will take many minutes and you'll have to brake over several kilometers to stop the train.

While you're training yourself, try to follow these basic "tips":

Acceleration

1. To start the train and/or maintain it at a steady speed, apply only very small "pressures" on the accelerator. The TGV has a powerful engine and you run the risk of overshooting low speed limits very fast if you push the accelerator too far. Also, think about the passengers comfort J.

2. You will then need several minutes to reach the speed of 300 km/h. This acceleration must be planned and it's recommended to try to memorize and use at your advantage the slope variations of the route. An engineer who knows the route very well can follow the time tables while driving very "smoothly".

Braking

A standard braking profile from 300 km/h to full stop has been defined, it is 5 blocks length, 1500 m each. So, a TGV that runs at full speed will need around 7.5 km to stop "smoothly".

Your speed at the entry of each block should ideally be: 300, 270, 230, 170, 80 km/h to stop before the beginning of the next block. These numbers match precisely the speed limitations given by signals but, if all are "green", you will have to remember these numbers and try to apply them as required.

When you are approaching stations, you can use the "time table" window (F10 key) which shows the distance to the next one. When this distance goes under 7.5 km (5 x 1500 m), you can start to apply the brakes, trying to match the standard braking profile described earlier.

Last but not least, it is useful to memorize the slope variations of the route, as they can have a great influence on the braking force you'll need to apply.

Using views

For the best experience, here are my personal recommendations about views:

Use the cab view in cities. City sections are designed for this and look a lot more realistic viewed from the cab. Besides, the cab view provides a better performance and some more pics/sec is not a luxury in cities.

On the high speed section, you can continue to use the cab view if you want an absolutely realistic experience, but you will miss a lot of things:

When you are on a viaduct, a flight around the train is a must: use the front (key 2) or rear (key 3) view and use horizontal and/or vertical rotations (keyboard arrows and ctrl key). You can obtain beautiful views by placing the camera under the viaduct.

When running at 300 km/h, the spectator view (key 4) provides a unique experience J.

You can also obtain nice results by using the rear view (key 3), positioning the camera close to the rear of the train and close to the ground. This view gives the best results in curves.

When you are approaching stations or the end of the high speed section, remember to retake control of the train J.