Tours – Vierzon (Classic Line – France, POLT Adjacent Section) Length: ~84 km (52 miles) Route type: Classic main line, mixed traffic (TER + freight) Era: 1999 - 2006 Overview The Tours – Vierzon section offers a perfect balance of length, scenery, and operational variety, making it ideal for Train Sim World. It connects Tours, a major regional hub, to Vierzon, a classic junction with freight activity. At 84 km, the line is long enough to feel immersive, yet compact enough to remain technically realistic and enjoyable. Infrastructure & Technical Characteristics Electrification: Non-electrified at this period (1999-2006) Signalling & Safety: BAPR (Block Automatique à Permissivité Restreinte) on main sections. Classic mechanical or relay-operated signal posts at junctions. KVB (speed supervision) where applicable. Analogue VHF radio communication. Track Layout: Mostly double track, with a few single-track stretches. Long straight sections allow speeds up to 140 km/h (87 mph). Maximum gradient: ~1.2% on demanding sections. Stations allow crossings and overtakes, adding operational variety. Historical Context Opened mid-19th century, part of the classical French network development. Served steam, diesel, and later electric locomotives on connecting lines. Historically important for both passenger traffic and freight flows connecting the Paris region to the south and southwest. Traffic & Gameplay Variety Passenger Services: TER Omnibus: all stops for local traffic. TER Semi-Fast: selected stops for faster journeys. Freight Services: Regular long- and medium-distance freight typical for central France. Cargo: cereals, intermodal containers, automotive, aggregates. Strong presence around Saint-Pierre-des-Corps and Vierzon. Rolling Stock BB 67400 + XR 6000 / XR 6200 – TER omnibus and semi-fast. X 2100 / X 2200 – TER local services. X 72500 / X 73500 – semi-fast regional services. BB 75000 – freight. BB 66000 – lighter freight. Stops & Service Patterns Major Stations: Tours: large historic station, regional hub. Saint-Pierre-des-Corps: major junction with sidings and yards. Vierzon: freight focus, complex track layout. TER Omnibus: Montlouis, Bléré–La Croix, Saint-Martin-le-Beau, Azay-sur-Cher, Chenonceaux, Montrichard, Chissay-en-Touraine, Saint-Aignan–Noyers. TER Semi-Fast: Tours, Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, selected intermediate stops, Vierzon. The variation in stops naturally creates very different driving experiences on the same infrastructure. Scenery & Atmosphere Valleys of the Cher and Indre rivers. Wide agricultural plains, small forests. Historic villages, castles, and landmarks. Chenonceaux station right next to its famous château. Approaching Vierzon: classic rail yards, freight atmosphere. Why This Route Works Perfectly in TSW Balanced length for immersion without fatigue. Mixed passenger and freight traffic throughout the day. Historically and geographically significant. Realistic yet accessible signalling. Excellent balance between passenger and freight gameplay. Conclusion: Tours – Vierzon is a classic French line that delivers exactly what makes a great TSW route: variety, atmosphere, and replay value. It also works as a core route with realistic future extensions possible north towards Les Aubrais / Orléans or south towards Châteauroux / Limoges, allowing DTG to expand the axis progressively while reusing existing infrastructure and rolling stock if the community embraces it.
Great suggestion! See I've inspired you with my previous suggestion! It would be a PO variant, essentially; forming the Tours-Orléans-Vierzon triangle (together with POLT). The idea of turning back the clock inspires me a lot! Now I understand why TER Rémi (TER Centre at the time) has so many diesels today, despite being practically fully electrified! Thumb up, let's hope! One final question: Were passenger runs end-to-end back then? Because I've noticed they're fragmented today!
Thanks a lot! And yes, I clearly admit your Les Aubrais – Saint-Pierre-des-Corps suggestion helped shape the idea — it really made me look again at this whole area and its potential as a wider PO / POLT ecosystem. The Tours–Orléans–Vierzon triangle actually makes a lot of sense from a gameplay point of view. Turning back the clock is exactly what motivated me too. That era explains very well why TER Centre (today Rémi) ended up with such a strong diesel culture, even though the region later became largely electrified. Regarding your question: Yes — back then, passenger services were much more end-to-end than they are today. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was common to see: Through TER services running Tours ↔ Vierzon without systematic fragmentation Diesel multiple units (X 2100 / X 2200 / X 72500) and loco-hauled TERs continuing across sections that are now split operationally Fewer forced transfers at hubs like Saint-Pierre-des-Corps compared to today’s more segmented timetables The current fragmentation mainly comes from later timetable optimisation, regionalisation of services, and electrification-driven reorganisations. At the time, operational simplicity and continuity were still very much present. That’s also why this era feels so coherent and attractive for TSW: simpler operations, strong identity, and very clear service patterns. Thumbs up to you too — let’s hope DTG takes inspiration from this part of France someday!
