2026 REVIEW:
For today’s review, I go back 14 years ago. The early years of “Train Simulator Classic” (ala “RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012”) and of course, since the release of DLC, there have been improvements to “Train Simulator Classic” and how developers are really trying to squeeze a lot out of a very old engine and for the most part, seeing impressive creations. While it’s sibling, “Train Simulator World” has now poised itself of getting the love and fanfare thanks to easier and forgiving gameplay and magnificent graphics.
With that being said, while TSW is popular for today’s graphic loving gamers, “Train Simulator Classic” still is the King. With many DLCs and community support, it’s still the world’s best train simulator. With that being said, “Train Simulator Classic” as it did in 2009 and to 2026, still remains a wonderful game that is unforgiving, challenging, long and frustrating because you can give your all, but in the end, while you may complete a scenario, doesn’t mean you will earn any points.
Before I get to my review, I am a train fan who travels worldwide to ride in trains, collects trains (N-Gage) and is passionate about train simulators and raised on “Densha de Go” and play many train games today. But with that being said, I am not the technical train fan who looks for perfection in depiction or sound. While there are some people who are hardcore about that. I am not that type of railfan.
TRAIN SIMULATOR: CLASS 390 EMU (2012)
The Class 390 EMU was part of the InterCity West Coast (a railway franchise that lasted from 1997-2019 in the UK and was a passenger train on the West Coast Main Line).
For those around at the time, may be confused with the livery because the trains that people may recall is when Virgin Trains (West Coast Trains Limited) were visible. There was a Virgin Class 390 but that was delisted from Steam in 2019.
The DLC comes with the Class 390 tilting multiple unit in Crimson Lake, Navy & Orange and Intercity Swallow liveries.
There are three types of Class 390 EMU with four Career Scenarios spread out:
Class 390 EMU/Intercity (two show up on mine, one with the word Intercity and the other without but they offer the same career scenario) comes with: “03 First Run – CS”.
Class 390 EMU GNER comes with “05 – 225 Replacements -CS”.
Class 390 EMU-LMS comes with “04 – Carlisle Express – CS” and “07 – Football Special – CS”.
For “Standard Scenarios”, Class 390 EMU InterCity comes with three: “01 – Preparations”, “02 – Motherwell Trials” and “06 – Carlisle Run”. The others feature the same as the Career Scenarios.
You get a few free roam scenarios as well.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a 2020 Class 390 release that comes with the WCML South: London Euston – Birmingham route with Avanti livery.
The Virgin Class 390 was delisted on STEAM in 2019 after all trains transferred to Avanti West Coast.
GRAPHICS:
For a 2012 DLC, the Class 390 EMU still looks very good. In fact, it looks better than some trains that were released recently by a few third party developers.
And it’s not a space hog at nearly 215MB.
But you must use the original 2012 West Coast Main North Add in Route for scenario to work.
GAMEPLAY:
The DLC operates quite easily. Reverser (W = forward, S = Reverse), Power =A, Brakes = D and Automatic Speed Control = C (think of this like a Cruise Control in a car). Similar key presses from other games apply with T=Open doors when you are station. Space Bar = horn and more. F4 for the bottom dashboard, F1 to show your goal.
The manual doesn’t really help so much of helping a newbie wanting to know the keyboard commands, so I would do a basic scenario and experiment with the buttons.
Sounds easy right?
There are seven career scenarios that are spread out among the four 390 liveries. “Class 390 EMU InterCity” – 03 First Run – CS that is 75 minutes long. The route features two stops and it seems easy.
The Class 390 EMU has a max speed is 200 km/h or 120 mph when in service. The train also is a tilting train and the purpose of this was to traverse curves at high speed by reducing the sideways forces on the occupants.
Now this is important because the biggest fault of this DLC is knowing that you are going 100-125 mph and there are curves galore which will make you lose points for Drive Quality. Throw in unusual moments where two Emergency Brakes kicked in out of nowhere and throwing your schedule off and docking points due to timeliness.
Again, “Train Simulator Classic” has always been unforgiving but it’s on the thing to complete the scenario but to see you get no points after a long drive is disheartening. But it’s a familiar feeling if you are a long time TSC fan.
JUDGMENT CALL:
For the train itself, e Class 390 EMU add-on for $3.59 (60% off) is a generous price with three liveries and seven career and standard scenarios.
Some may feel, 2012…it’s too old school. But I can tell you that the Class 390 looks great and holds up well today as a “Train Simulator Classic” release and it’s not overly complicated for newbie/intermediate players to enjoy.
Granted, the deduction of points for drive quality on multiple curves when you are going over 100 mph is a bit frustrating and how those emergency brake moments happened. I have no idea, but fortunately, I was able to quickly recover but still gets you dinged for timeliness.
So, it’s one of the cheaper options when “Train Simulator Classic” DLC’s go on sale at $3.59 (60% off) and it’s one that you definitely get a bang for your buck! But you will need to also get the West Coast Main Line North Add on (around $5 US when it’s 60% off) to utilize the Class 390.
Overall, don’t look past this DLC because it was released in 2012. Sure, it’s not the Virgin livery of the past nor is it the refurbished version that was released in 2024, but it’s an EMU straight up from 2012. It’s a solid DLC offering and still holds up amazingly well in 2026.
Recommended!
