Next Generation or Next Gen, also known as Current Generation since V1.5, are trains which include modelled cabs, interiors, and working doors. The current fleet upgrade programme aims to give all trains more detailed models while improving performance, enabled by the use of meshes (NGv3).
History[]
The Next Generation fleet upgrade programme officially began on the 7th May 2019, with a video titled 'The Future of Stepford County Railway' showcasing a Class 158 with a modelled interior, functioning animated doors and, at the time, static Passenger Information Screens (PIS). In contrast to the previous 'paper trains', these trains also had interlock lights and collidable side walls. After testing by BanTech Systems Beta Testers in-game starting in v1.2.8 , the Class 158 was released to the public as part of the v1.3.0 update alongside the Class 508 for Waterline.
The first upgrade to an already existing train happened shortly after with the Class 185 for AirLink. The Stepford Connect version received the upgrade shortly after.
The rollout of Next Generation upgrades to all of the trains continued over time until 2 March 2020 when former Product Developer Mattyx2013 unveiled the rebuilt Next-Gen Class 707, built with a new method called Next Generation V2. Next Generation V2 trains had a CSG Model livery, new seats, and other small changes made to reduce lag when playing. CSG Model liveries allowed the livery details to be higher resolution.
After V1.5, the conversion of the entire fleet to 'Next Generation' was completed, with the refurbishment of the Class 730 model to NGv2. The term 'Next Generation' was discontinued.
On August 11th 2020, a new programme to upgrade the entire fleet to mesh (NGv3) began with the announcement of a revamped Class 802 model for AirLink by former Product Developer OverheadWires, with the train being released in v1.6.5. Mesh trains are designed using Blender, and imported to Roblox, having many advantages including higher-resolution texturing, higher levels of detail, lower memory consumption, and smoother shading.
With the mesh upgrade of the Class 165 and Class 166 in V1.10.11, the CSG Model technique became the first Next Generation technique to no longer have any trains using it in the game.
At present, the programme to upgrade all trains to mesh continues. As of version 1.10.13, 3 trains still use the original NGv1 standards, and 35 use the latest mesh technique.
Features[]
Interior[]
NG trains have detailed interiors with seats, lights, handrails and door operation buttons. All trains except the Class 143 have working PIS displays.
Standard Interior (NGv1)[]
The Standard interior of a former NGv1 Class 331
The first version of an interior, it comes with:
- Working PIS displays
- Handrails
- Functional doors
- Fabric seating with either the entire seat or the headrest the operator's colour
CSG Interior (NGv2)[]
The CSG interior of a former NGv2 Class 165
Built with NGv2 trains, it includes:
- All the features of the Standard interior
- More detailed seating with the headrest the colour of the operator
Mesh Interior (NGv3)[]
The Mesh interior of the Class 43
Mesh interiors are included with NGv3 trains. They include:
- Detailed PIS displays
- Handrails
- Smooth functional doors
- Detailed comfortable seating with many designs on fabric
- Detailed lighting
- Floor textures
Cab[]
The high-detail cab of the Class 43
NG trains come with cabs of varying detail. Currently, the mostly-agreed-upon best cab is the cab of the Class 377, the Class 379 and the Class 387; they have 3D indicators and buttons as well as detailed side panels, among other things. Many of the first cabs (like the Class 360's) use decals for the controls and are often called "rushed". However, the cabs of the Class 158 and Class 508, despite being the first NG trains, are relatively detailed, although slightly pixellated.
Interlock Lights[]
Interlock lights on a Class 802
NG trains also come with working door interlock lights which illuminate when doors are open and flash when only the guard's local door is open. They are used primarily for Dispatchers and Guards to check that all the doors are closed.
List of Trains[]
| Train class | Operator | NGv1 | NGv2 | NGv3 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount of trains | 3 | 0 | 35 | ||
| Class 43 | Stepford Express | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.4.0, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.2 | ||
| Class 68 | Stepford Connect | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.21, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.10.10 | ||
| Class 143 | Waterline | X | Released as NGv3 in 1.8.1 | ||
| Class 158 | Stepford Connect | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.3.0, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.10.13 | ||
| Class 165 | Waterline | X | Upgraded to NGv2 in 1.5.0, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.10.11 | ||
| Class 166 | X | ||||
| Class 168 | Stepford Connect | X | Released as NGv3 in 1.7.4 | ||
| Class 170 | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.24, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.4 | |||
| Class 171 | Waterline | X | |||
| Class 185 | Stepford Connect AirLink |
X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.1 (AirLink), 1.3.5 (Connect), upgraded to NGv3 in 1.8.2 | ||
| Class 195 | Waterline Stepford Connect |
X | Released as NGv1 in 1.4.1, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.9.1 | ||
| Class 220 | Stepford Express | X | Released as NGv2 in 1.4.6, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.8.3 | ||
| Class 221 | X | ||||
| Class 319 | Waterline | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.4.1, will be upgraded to NGv3 in 2.0 | ||
| Class 321 | Stepford Connect | X | |||
| Class 331 | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.4.1, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.9.1 | |||
| Class 332 | AirLink | X | Upgraded to NGv2 in 1.4.3, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.4 | ||
| Class 333 | Stepford Connect | X | |||
| Class 345 | AirLink | X | Released as NGv3 in 1.10 | ||
| Class 350 | Stepford Connect | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.17, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.10.1 | ||
| Class 357 | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.17, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.3 | |||
| Class 360 | AirLink Stepford Connect |
X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.18, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.10.1 and also added to Stepford Connect | ||
| Class 365 | Stepford Connect | X | Initially Previous Generation, released as NGv3 in 1.10.12 | ||
| Class 377 | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.11, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.0, overhauled to match new standards in 1.9.2 | |||
| Class 379 | Waterline | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.3.11, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.0, overhauled to match new standards in 1.9.2 | ||
| Class 380 | Stepford Connect | X | Upgraded to NGv2 in 1.5.0, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.8.3 | ||
| Class 387 | AirLink | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.11, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.0, overhauled to match new standards in 1.9.2 | ||
| Class 397 | Stepford Express AirLink |
X | Released as NGv3 in 1.10.9 | ||
| Class 444 | Stepford Connect | X | Released as NGv3 in 1.8.0 | ||
| Class 458 | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.3.20 (/5), 1.3.22 (/0), upgraded to NGv3 upgrade in 1.8.4 | |||
| Class 508 | Waterline | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.3.0 | ||
| Class 707 | Stepford Connect | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.18, upgraded to NGv2 in 1.4.2, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.8.2 | ||
| Class 717 | X | Released as NGv3 in 1.8.2 | |||
| Class 720 | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.4.1, upgraded to NGv2 in 1.6.0, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.8.0 | |||
| Class 730 | Stepford Connect Waterline |
X | Upgraded to NGv2 in 1.5.0 (Waterline), 1.6.0 (Stepford Connect), upgraded to NGv3 in 1.8.0 (both) | ||
| Class 755 | AirLink | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.3.26, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.10.7 | ||
| Class 801 | Stepford Express | X | Released as NGv1 in 1.4.0, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.7.0 | ||
| Class 802 | AirLink | X | Upgraded to NGv1 in 1.3.28, upgraded to NGv3 in 1.6.5 |
Trivia[]
- The legacy/paper AirLink trains were given a completely different livery when upgraded. Before the Next Generation changes, the livery looked similar to the Connect livery with a yellow line, however following these changes they received an orange livery, inspired by Gatwick Express.
- AirLink was the first operator to have all its paper trains upgraded to Next Generation.
- It is disputed whether to call Next Generation 'Current Generation' because Next Generation is no longer an official term.
- Former Product Developer Mattyx2013 has openly stated that after all the current trains are upgraded to using the CSG model, the Class 323 and Class 365 will be added. However this became unconfirmed after his resignation.
- The additon of the Class 365 was later confirmed to be added in a sneak peek released on 12 November 2023, and was released on 17 November 2023.
- Former Innovations Director BanTech previously stated that trains will receive functional door buttons and destination signs in the future. These features were added in V1.8 and V1.7.1 respectively.
- The functional door buttons were also added to the SCR Prototyping Centre as a preview on 16 July 2021.
- Stepford Express was the first operator to have a full NGv3 fleet, with AirLink being the second.
- It is easy to spot a NGv1 train by looking at the livery as liveries of NGv1 trains are more pixelated.
- In addition, NGv2 trains were also easier to spot as they also had sharper modelling.
- The Class 345 and the Class 365 are the only trains to be upgraded straight from Previous Generation to NGv3. However, they weren't actually in passenger use in their paper form as the Class 345 was used for test runs and the Class 365 paper model was only a proposed model and was never used in-game.
- It also was revealed from Mattyx2013 that the Next Generation models weren't entirely made by him, the outer shells were MTG trains made by yrrebRBLX. He revealed that he just made the interiors, and he didn't entirely make them[1].