Stepford Connect operates rail services to various districts around Stepford County, such as Benton, Leighton, Morganstown, Whitefield, Berrily, Stepford Airport, Llyn-by-the-Sea and Willowfield. A full journey on the main line, which runs from Willowfield to Llyn-by-the-Sea using Route R036 takes about 45 minutes and is drivable on the Class 68 and Class 444 only.
The operator is classified as commuter rail as the intent of the services is to deliver passengers to and from major centres, indicated by the current routes, rather than being a link for intermediate stations in between some large areas like regional rail. The trains on this route reach a maximum speed of 110 MPH, and a minimum of 75 MPH, with the average being 100 MPH.
As part of a renewed franchise from 1 May 2020, this operator is now branded as Stepford Connect and bears a bright blue colour scheme, courtesy of rail management system Transport For Stepford. Prior to the renewal, the brand was simply Connect.
History
2017
- Services on the route commenced on 25 November 2017, exclusively using Class 700 units, from Stepford Town (now Stepford Central) to Port Benton. Services to Stepford Airport Central began next, providing a direct link between the city and the then under-construction airport.
- Coxly Depot was constructed to alleviate the overcrowded Benton Depot, alongside the introduction of Class 333 units for more frequent service. Class 321 units were introduced shortly after on 29 November to run new services to Winstree. In December, Bodin, Benton Bridge, Stepford Airport Parkway and Stepford Airport Central were renovated to allow for more capacity, with Benton being completely rebuilt.
- 4 December: The Connect franchise was renewed to include the WaterLine route sub-franchise. Class 357 and Class 387 units were also introduced, with Class 350 units following on 6 December.
- 11 December: Some Class 700 units were painted into a special livery to celebrate Christmas, and Class 185 units were introduced on 13 December.
- 18 December: All Class 387 units were taken out of service to be repainted into the WaterLine livery, and were replaced by Class 377 units.
- 25 December: Class 720 units were introduced.
2018
- 1 January: Class 170 units were introduced.
- 9 January: Benton was rebuilt once more to allow more trains to enter and increase capacity.
- 21st April: Version 1.0 released, all Class 700 units were replaced by Class 707 units, Winstree and Winstree Depot were demolished and rebuilt as Leighton Stepford Road and Leighton Depot. Rocket Parade station was constructed in-between Water Newton and Leighton Stepford Road, and services to Leighton City commenced. St Helens Bridge was rebuilt and became a terminus for trains from Leighton City.
- 10 May: Class 380/0 and /1 units were introduced.
- 15 July: All Class 321 units were painted into a revised livery.
- 4 August: Class 365 units were proposed to be introduced.
- 31st December: Version 1.1 released, services to Stepford Victoria, Berrily, Morganstown, and Edgemead commenced, and Class 68 locomotives hauling Mark 3 coaches were introduced. The entrance leading to Platforms 11 through 15 at Stepford Central was also opened.
2019
- 28th April: Version 1.2 released, services to Stepford United Football Club and Whitefield commenced.
- 6th May: Three Million Update released, Class 331/0 and /1 units were introduced.
- 14th May: Version 1.3 released, Class 158 units entered service, being the first train with Next Generation doors and interiors on the fleet.
- 29 May: All Class 185 units were upgraded with the same tech from the Class 158 units.
- 8 June: All Class 377 units were upgraded.
- 5 July: All Class 350 and Class 357 units were upgraded.
- 9 July: Class 458/5 units were introduced, already equipped with Next Generation doors and interiors.
- 29 July: All Class 707 units were upgraded.
- 7 August: All Class 68 and Mark 3 units were upgraded.
- 14 August: Class 458/0 units were introduced, already equipped with Next Generation doors and interiors.
- 31 August: All Class 170 units were upgraded.
- 17th December: Version 1.4 released, services to Westwyvern and Llyn-by-the-Sea commenced.
2020
- 22nd February: Version 1.4.1 released, all Class 321, Class 331, Class 465, and Class 720 units were upgraded, and Faymere Green TMD was built between Faymere and Westercoast. The platforms at Stepford Central, Stepford High Street, and Benton received new decor. The entrance to Whitefield was rebuilt, and all platforms received new decor, with platform three being extended.
- 4 March: All Class 707 units were upgraded with Next Generation V2 doors and interiors.
- 11 March: All Class 333 units were upgraded with the same tech from the Class 707 units.
- 18 March: Stepford Central was rebuilt to increase capacity and discard aging infrastructure.
- 1st May: Version 1.5 released, the Connect franchise was renewed to no longer include WaterLine, and was passed onto Transport For Stepford. All Class 380/0 and 380/1 units were upgraded with NGv2 doors and interiors, and became the first trains to bear the new branding introduced with the franchise renewal.
- 2 May: Plans were revealed to retrofit all Class 170, Class 331, Class 350, Class 357, Class 377 and Class 465 units with the new branding.
- 25 May: Plans were revealed to upgrade Coxly station.
- 30 May: Plans were revealed to upgrade Stepford Victoria station.
- 2 June: Plans were revealed to retrofit the Stepford Connect Headquarters with new branding.
- 6 June: Plans were revealed to upgrade all Class 720 units with Next Generation V2 doors and interiors and new branding.
- 16 June: Plans were revealed to introduce Class 730/1 units and new signalling equipment.
- 19 June: Plans were revealed to retrofit all Class 158 and Class 185 units with new branding.
- 22 June: Plans were revealed to commence services to Willowfield and Beechley, as well as the retrofitting of all Class 331/1 units in a Pride variant of the new livery.
- 22nd June: Version 1.6 released, all aforementioned changes and services were set in motion that same day, alongside the retrofitting of all Class 321, Class 333, Class 458 and Class 707 units with new seating and a new livery. Many Stepford Connect stations were refurbished whether an interior upgrade or a full refit. They include Stepford Victoria, Financial Quarter, City Hospital, Stepford Central, Stepford High Street, and Stepford UFC. All the stations west of Stepford High Street received a new station sign and Class 730 was added to the fleet. Services to Willowfield and Beechley also commenced, with the City Hospital area being remodelled to introduce the "Beechley Triangle", which allows trains from Stepford Victoria to head north to Beechley and Willowfield. R037 and R038 were also added.
- 14 August: Plans were revealed to remodel all Class 377 units to the mesh models. The Class 387 was also featured in the sneak peek.
- 27 September: Plans were revealed to open a previously abandoned station, Upper Staploe, to the public.
- 7 October: A sneak peek of an upgrade to Benton was revealed.
- 29th October: Version 1.7 released, updated stations and scenery from Benton to Leighton Stepford Road and the Morganstown Branch. Upper Staploe and the remodelled Class 377 units were also introduced.
2021
- 1 January: The Class 68 received a new livery, most of the trains (except the Class 68s' Mark 3 coaches) had scrolling PISes, with the Class 331 receiving full-colour displays and the Class 707, 720 and 730 receiving monochrome displays, the Class 333 received a new door opening sound and the Class 357, Class 377 and Class 458 got a new horn.
- 19 February: R040 (Edgemead <> Llyn-by-the-Sea) was added.
- 28 March: Plans were revealed to remodel all Class 357 units to the mesh models.
- 2 April: The remodelled Class 357 is introduced.
- 3 July: Plans were revealed for the remodelling of the Class 333 units to the mesh models.
- 4 July: Plans were revealed for the remodelling of the Class 170 units to the mesh models.
- 7 July: The mesh Class 170 and 333 units are introduced, along with the Class 168 being introduced on services.
- 11 October: Plans were revealed for the remodelling of the Class 730 units to the mesh models.
- 14 November: Plans were revealed for the remodelling of the Class 720 units to the mesh models.
- 4 December: Plans were revealed for the introduction of a meshed Class 444 unit models.
- 5th December: Version 1.8 released, the mesh Class 720 and 730 units are introduced, along with the Class 444 being introduced on services. Leighton West was also added into the network. Further updates to stations and scenery around the area from Rocket Parade to Leighton City, Westercoast and Millcastle Racecourse, as well as Elsemere Junction, Port Benton, Morganstown Docks, and the Whitefield Branch (except Stepford High Street). Financial Quarter and Stepford East were given minor upgrades. Berrily is given step-free access from the concourse. The operator's stopping pattern is also changed, with some routes being given 1XXX headcode.
- 18 December: Version 1.8.1 released, sound upgrades for the Classes 185, 350, 380, 444, 707, 720 and 730.
2022
- 19 February: The mesh Class 380 was revealed.
- 25 February: The mesh Class 707 was revealed to the public.
- 26 February: The brand-new Class 717 was revealed.
- 27 February: Version 1.8.2 released. This update included the mesh update of the Class 185, Class 707 and the introduction of the Class 717 and the new free route, R045, replacing R009's status of free route. The aforementioned route now costs 300 Points. Also, the Class 158 recieves a new horn sound. Later that same day, Version 1.8.3 was released, featuring the anticipated Class 380 upgrade.
- 23 April: The mesh Class 458/5 was revealed to the public.
- 24 April: A sneak peek of the NGv3 upgrade to both variants of the Class 458 and the addition of a footbridge at Westercoast was released.
- 25 April: Version 1.8.4 was released, upgrading the Class 458 to NGv3 and the addition of a footbridge and a new spawn at Westercoast.
- 22 May: A sneak peek of the NGv3 upgrade of the Class 331 and a double Class 195 was released, both on Stepford Connect.
- 25 May: Version 1.9.1 released, NGv3 upgrade to Class 331 units and new double Class 195/2 units introduced.
- 2 June: Version 1.9.2 released, a second NGv3 upgrade to the Class 377 units and OHLE and platform curvature upgrades at Stepford East station.
Rolling Stock
Current
Class Number | Image | Top Speed
(mph) |
Price
(Points) |
Carriages | Manufacturer | Train Family | Date Put Into Service | Date converted to NG | Routes Operated On |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diesel multiple-units | |||||||||
Class 158 | ![]() |
90 | 1,500 | 2 (/9)
3 (/0) |
BREL | Express Sprinter | 14 May 2019 | ||
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Class 168 | ![]() |
100 | 1,500 | 4 | Adtranz and Bombardier | Turbostar | 7 July 2021 | ||
Class 170 | ![]() |
1,500 | 3 | Adtranz and Bombardier | Turbostar | 1 January 2018 | 31 August 2019 | ||
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Class 185 | ![]() |
1,500 | 3 | Siemens | Desiro | 13 December 2017 | 29 May 2019 | ||
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Class 195 | ![]() |
500 (Requires purchasing Class 331 first) | 4 | CAF | Civity | 25 May 2022 | |||
Electric multiple-units | |||||||||
Class 321 | ![]() |
100 | 1,500 | 4 | BREL | Mark 3 | 29 November 2017 | 22 February 2020 | |
Class 331 | ![]() |
3 (/0)
4 (/1) |
CAF | Civity | 6 May 2019 | ||||
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Class 333 | ![]() |
1,500 | 4 | Siemens and CAF | N/A | 30 November 2017 | 11 March 2020 | ||
Class 350 | ![]() |
110 | Siemens | Desiro | 6 December 2017 | 5 July 2019 | |||
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Class 357 | ![]() |
100 | Free | 4 | Adtranz and Bombardier | Electrostar | 4 December 2017 | 5 July 2019 | |
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Class 377 | ![]() |
1,500 | 5 | Bombardier | Electrostar | 18 December 2017 | 8 June 2019 | ||
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Class 380 | ![]() |
1,500 | 3 (/0)
4 (/1) |
Siemens | Desiro | 11 May 2018 | 1 May 2020 | ||
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Class 444 | 2,500 | 5 | Siemens | Desiro | 5 December 2021 | 25 routes [Note 1] | |||
Class 458/0 | ![]() |
Unlocks with /5 | 4 | Alstom | Juniper | 29 July 2019 | |||
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Class 458/5 | ![]() |
75 | 1,500 | 5 | Alstom | Juniper | 14 August 2019 | ||
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Class 465 | ![]() |
1,500 | 4 | BREL, ABB and Metro-Cammell | Networker | 30 November 2017 | 22 February 2020 | ||
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Class 707 | ![]() |
100 | 300 | 5 | Siemens | Desiro City | 21 April 2018 | 20 July 2019 | |
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Class 717 | ![]() |
85 | 500 | 6 | Siemens | Desiro City | 27 February 2022 | ||
Class 720 | ![]() |
100 | 1,500 | 5 | Bombardier | Aventra | 29 January 2018 | 22 February 2020 | |
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Class 730/1 | ![]() |
110 | 1,500 | 5 | Bombardier and Alstom | Aventra | 23 June 2020 | ||
Locomotive hauled stock | 25 routes[Note 1] | ||||||||
Class 68 | ![]() |
100 | 3,000 | 3[Note 3] | Vossloh and Stadler | UKLight | 31 December 2018 | 8 August 2019 | |
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Mark 3A | ![]() |
N/A | Included with Class 68 | N/A | BREL | Mark 3 | 31 December 2018 | ||
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Former
Class Number | Image | Top Speed
(mph) |
Price | Carriages | Manufacturer | Train Family | Date Put Into Service | Date Withdrawn From Service | Routes Operated On | Fate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Electric multiple-units | ||||||||||
Class 700 | ![]() |
100 | Free | 6 | Siemens | Desiro City | 25 November 2017 | 21 April 2018 | All routes (at that time) | Withdrawn and replaced by Class 707 |
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Class 387 | ![]() |
110 | 45 Robux | 4 | Bombardier | Electrostar | 4 December 2017 | 18 December 2017 | All routes (at that time) | Transferred to Waterline on the 21st December 2017 |
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Future
Class
Number |
Image | Top Speed
(mph) |
Manufacturer | Family |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | ||||
Proposed
Class Number | Image | Top Speed
(mph) |
Carriages | Manufacturer | Train Family |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 365 | ![]() |
100 | 4 | ABB | Networker |
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Train Models
Train Models | NGv1 | NGv2 (CSG Model) | NGv3 (Mesh Model) |
---|---|---|---|
Percentage | 25% of fleet | 0% of fleet | 75% of fleet |
Number | 5 | 0 | 15 |
*Main train and variants are considered one train.
Depots
Current
- Benton Depot
- Berrily Depot
- Leighton Depot
- Stepford Depot
- Woodhead Lane Northbound Depot
- Woodhead Lane Southbound Depot
- Northshore Depot
- Faymere Green TMD (Northbound)
- Faymere Green TMD (Southbound)
- Willowfield Station Depot
- Willowfield Mainline Depot
Former
Future
- None at this time.
Sidings
Current
Former
Future
- None at this time.
Stations
The map below is interactive: click the stations or operators to see the pages.
Current
- Willowfield (♿︎)
- Hemdon Park (♿︎, southbound only)
- Beechley (♿︎)
- Stepford Victoria (♿︎)
- Financial Quarter (♿︎)
- City Hospital (♿︎)
- Stepford Central (♿︎)
- Stepford East (♿︎)
- Stepford High Street (♿︎)
- Whitefield Lido (♿︎)
- Stepford United Football Club (♿︎)
- Woodhead Lane (♿︎)
- Houghton Rake* (♿︎)
- Whitefield (♿︎)
- St Helens Bridge (♿︎)
- New Harrow* (♿︎)
- Elsemere Pond* (♿︎)
- Elsemere Junction (♿︎)
- Berrily (♿︎)
- East Berrily (♿︎)
- Beaulieu Park (♿︎)
- Morganstown (♿︎)
- Angel Pass (♿︎)
- Bodin (♿︎)
- Coxly (♿︎)
- Benton (♿︎)
- Port Benton (♿︎)
- Benton Bridge (♿︎)
- Stepford Airport Parkway (♿︎, interchange with AirLink only)
- Stepford Airport Central (♿︎)
- Hampton Hargate (♿︎)
- Upper Staploe* (♿︎)
- Water Newton
- Rocket Parade (♿︎)
- Leighton Stepford Road (♿︎)
- Leighton City (♿︎)
- Leighton West (♿︎)
- Edgemead (♿︎)
- Faymere (♿︎)
- Westercoast (♿︎)
- Millcastle Racecourse* (♿︎)
- Millcastle (♿︎)
- Westwyvern (♿︎)
- Starryloch* (♿︎)
- Northshore (♿︎)
- Llyn-by-the-Sea (♿︎)
* = Limited-service station
Former
Future
- No new stations are planned at this moment.
Routes
Whitefield Connect | ||
---|---|---|
Route | Code | Calling at |
Stepford Central to Whitefield | R020 | Stepford East, Stepford High Street, Whitefield Lido, Stepford United Football Club, Woodhead Lane and Houghton Rake. |
Beechley to Whitefield | R022 | Stepford Central, Stepford East, Stepford High Street, Stepford United Football Club and Woodhead Lane. |
Morganstown Connect | ||
---|---|---|
Route | Code | Calling at |
Stepford Central to Morganstown | R007 | Stepford East, St Helens Bridge, Elsemere Junction, Berrily, East Berrily and Beaulieu Park. |
Beechley to Morganstown | R034 | City Hospital, Stepford Central, Stepford East, St Helens Bridge, New Harrow, Elsemere Junction, Berrily and Beaulieu Park. |
Leighton Connect | ||
---|---|---|
Route | Code | Calling at |
Leighton City to Llyn-by-the-Sea | R037 | Edgemead, Faymere, Westercoast, Millcastle, Westwyvern and Northshore. |
Leighton City to Westwyvern | R038 | Edgemead, Faymere, Westercoast, Millcastle Racecourse and Millcastle. |
Benton to Leighton City | R039 | Benton Bridge, Hampton Hargate, Upper Staploe, Water Newton, Rocket Parade and Leighton Stepford Road. |
Edgemead to Llyn-by-the-Sea | R040 | Faymere, Westercoast, Millcastle Racecourse, Millcastle, Westwyvern, Starryloch and Northshore. |
Leighton West to Edgemead | R041 | Leighton West and Edgemead direct. |
Leighton West to Llyn-by-the-Sea | R042 | Edgemead, Faymere, Westercoast, Millcastle, Westwyvern, Starryloch and Northshore. |
Leighton West to Leighton City | R043 | Leighton West and Leighton City direct. |
Benton to Leighton West | R044 | Benton Bridge, Hampton Hargate, Upper Staploe, Water Newton, Rocket Parade, Leighton Stepford Road and Leighton City. |
Trivia
- This is the first operator in SCR and is therefore the oldest operator in the whole game.
- This operator has the biggest fleet and operates to the most stations in the game. It also has the most routes in the game.
- This is the only operator with more than one Electrostar train in its fleet.
- This operator has the most spawning locations as well as depots.
- Some of the stations were originally purposed to be on Metro, that was later cancelled.
- In V1.5, the Class 380 was the only train with the new livery on this operator, with the other trains receiving the new livery in V1.6.
- Waterline was a former part of this operator and some believe that Stepford Express is currently part of this operator too, although this has never been confirmed or disproved.
- This operator, along with Waterline, were the last operators to see their trains upgraded to Next-Gen.
- Prior to V1.9, this was the only operator without a hub or base for all routes.
- However, after the aforementioned update, Stepford Express began to stop at Newry and Newry Harbour, making it the second operator without a hub.
- It is the only operator to serve all Network Rail stations before they receive the Transport For Stepford sign in V1.6.
- There are still remnants of the old Connect branding hidden around the map, such as station color schemes at Whitefield Lido (prior to V1.8) and Ashlan Park (prior to V1.9.1),[Note 4] and the Connect sign inside the tunnel between Westercoast and Millcastle Racecourse.
- This is the only operator where no trains in the fleet can operate on every single route, due to 2 of the routes (R026 and R036) are exclusive to Class 68 and Class 444, while these trains are banned from operating on a number of other routes as well.
- Excluding variants, all trains costs 1,500 points except the Class 68 (3,000 points + 200 experience), Class 357 (Free), Class 707 (300 points), Class 717 (500 points) and the Class 444 (2,500 points).
- Stepford Connect operate two of the shortest routes in the game, this is Edgemead to Leighton West (R041) and Leighton City to Leighton West (R043) with a total of 2 stops respectively.
- Before V1.8, the shortest route in the game was Stepford Victoria to Beechley (R029) with a total of 3 stops.
- Prior to V1.8.2, R009 was also a free route. With the release of the aforementioned version, R045 was added and replaced R009's status of free route, which costs 300 points.
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 *R003
- ↑ Unlock with 200 Experience
- ↑ 5 if the 2 locomotives are counted
- ↑ Although Ashlan Park is served by Waterline, the operator used to be a franchise of Connect, and their colour scheme was used in the station.
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