What is the recommended configuration?
What kind of trains can I drive on this route?
"Train world initialization failed"
message
MSTS is asking for files like
"A2t8000r1d.s"
I have error messages when trying to unpack .apk
files
I have error messages when trying to run 1.0-2.1
activities on 3.0
When I'm starting an activity, MSTS is asking
for the file "tgv2n.con" or "tgvres1.con"
When I'm starting an activity, MSTS is asking
for the file "tgv2n_AI.con" or "tgvres1_AI.con"
When I'm starting an activity, MSTS is asking
for the file "tgv2n_AI (double).con"
Do I have to buy Train Simulator Speedworks TGV pack
to run LGVMed 3.0 activities?
Incorrect cab display on standard route sections
Occasional brief "270" cab display
Will there be future versions of LGVMed?
If new versions are developed, what will they
include?
Yes, it's a
freeware project, which means:
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.
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:
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.
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.
Please read
the "Readme.txt" file located in your Train Simulator\Routes\LGVMed
folder for installation instructions.
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.
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.
Earlier
route versions are not activity-compatible with 3.0.
For more
information, please see the Activities
page.
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.
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.
Please
download this file, unzip it
and copy the .con file to your "Train Simulator\Trains\Consists"
folder.
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.
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.
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.
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":
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".
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.
For the
best experience, here are my personal recommendations about views:
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.
Maybe, but
nothing is planned at this time.
It will
essentially depend on your feedback.
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