Published by Just Trains
Developed by EuropeanBahn
Platform: PC CD-ROM
Price £24.99
Released: Out Now

TGV is the perfect compliment to the Euro Loco expansion pack that we have previously looked at. Where Euro Loco offered some of the finest European locomotives, TGV offers an 'interpretation' of the Channel Tunnel route that goes from Ashford to Kent. The pack also offers some activities and three new locomotives. The locomotives included in the TGV expansion pack are as follows:

SNCF TGV Atlantique-Reus
Thylas TGV Atlantique
SNCF BB7200 + Corail carriages

The locomotives have again been superbly recreated and the attention to detail in both the cab and passenger views is fantastic. Of course if you are the proud owner of the Euro Loco pack you're probably going to be using the Eurostar locomotive for journeys on the Channel Tunnel route. Having said that though they are all impressive locomotives and doubtless you'll want to use them for other journeys.

As we've already mentioned the track is an 'interpretation' of the Channel Tunnel route. As yet there isn't a route from Ashford to Lille. Of course the liberties taken in creating the Channel Tunnel mean that you have more track with which to design activities. There are many working sidings and stations. There's animated wildlife and vehicles and the scenery is quite different from those tracks that come with Train Simulator. Of course once you're inside the tunnel it is quite a bland affair but, honestly, what else could you expect? Below is an overview of the 500+ mile route.

Thankfully the pack comes with 10 activities to keep you busy. They range from the leisurely, and to be honest quite easy, Channel Hopper Service activity to the rather taxing Lille to Tournehem which requires a good deal of skill to control the SNCF BB 7200 and stop at six stations before reaching your destination. This locomotive displays it's speed in kph rather than mph so some quick mental conversion is necessary.

This TGV expansion will be popular because it adds another much needed route to Train Simulator but the quality of the locomotives and the activities help fill the product out nicely. Coupled with the Euro Loco pack it adds a European flavour to Train Simulator.

Overall Game Rating: 8.2/10 TGV adds a much needed quality route to Train Simulator and throws in 3 great locomotives and 10 good activities too.

Deaf Gamers comment: The horn caption on these locomotives is still missing like on the ones from Euro Loco (although the tooltip appears when you sound the horn so it is still represented visually) but there are no problems at all.