Upcoming Release Northeast Corridor Metro-north Is On The Horizon!

The horn blares, the pantograph raises, this is the train to Stamford! So far in previous roadmaps we’ve provided a few dev insights and progress shots on our latest US route, but nothing you could really sink your teeth into. As Northeast Corridor Metro-North is arriving into Train Sim World 6 very soon now, let’s finally take a proper look of the route and the trains, and give a general overview the enticing operating experiences heading your way!

NEC Times 3
Northeast Corridor Metro-North: New York - Stamford is the third section of the famed “NEC” in Train Sim World, with Boston - Providence and New York - Trenton also available, each offering vastly different experiences. TSW veterans however would correctly note that this is technically the 4th route, as New York - Newark Airport, and now New York - New Rochelle, were once part of the original “NEC New York” route in TSW 1. It was a relic of the past, that can now be enjoyed in a whole new way! This original section has been largely built from scratch, vastly improving it.



Let's dive into the details about what you can expect included with the add-on!

A new M8 in Town


The star of the show is the Metro-North M8, bringing dual-voltage commuter operations around the bustling Big Apple. Designed by Kawasaki Industries, the M8 was introduced in 2011 to replace the older M2/4/6 trains which had been in service as early as the 1970s. Built to a similar design as the neighbouring M7s and M7As, the M8 featured sturdy stainless steel construction and were delivered as married pairs - with 223 pairs in service across MTA and CT Rail. What stands them apart from other MTA units is their ability to run on both third rail and overhead power, with the changeover happening between Mount Vernon and Pelham to continue their journey in either direction.

Please note that we’ve been working closely with the licensor to bring you an immersive, but safe representation of the route. This means there are a few adjustments to the experience on board the Metro-North M8, including Safety Systems (ATC, ACSES & Alerter) being always enabled, and adjusted in-cab controls.



A Supporting Cast
Joining the M8 is the Amtrak® ACS-64 & Amfleet cars, as well as the CSX SD40-2. Both recognisable members of the TSW fleet, the ACS-64 and SD40-2 have been updated with suspension support and other quality of life improvements to bring them up to scratch. The ACS-64 has also had adjustments to its in-cab signalling to support Metro-North territory.



City that Never Sleeps
New York is famous for being the most populous city in the USA, the financial hub of the world, 24/7 life, arts and culture, and in NEC Metro North, two iconic terminals kick-off your journeys along the Long Island Sound; New York Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal. Attention has been put into the New York skyline and its nightlife too, making the Big Apple feel alive at all times.



Grand Central
Making its TSW debut in the Harlem Line route, Grand Central is the hub for Metro-North traffic arriving from Harlem, Hudson and New Haven Lines. Back in TSW2, it was only built as a single-level station, but now for NEC Metro-North, the entire double-deck station is represented! With over 40 tracks and platforms it is by far the largest station in Train Sim World, because it’s the largest station in the World!



Upon departing Grand Central, the tracks initially follow underneath Park Avenue before rising to the surface and making a b-line for Harlem straddled above the city streets. After crossing the Harlem River over Park Avenue Bridge, it’s a straight shot through the Bronx to Woodlawn where the line diverges in two. The Harlem Line continues north to North White Plains, and New Haven services take the route via Pelham, joining up to the Northeast Corridor at New Rochelle.

New York Penn
Sharing the workload for mainline trains under Midtown Manhattan, Penn Station serves as the primary inter-city hub for New York, the convergence point for long-distance Amtrak services from the extremities of the Northeast Corridor, as well as a terminus for NJ TRANSIT and the Long Island Rail Road.



Being already submerged under the concrete jungle, the first thing Amtrak services do is dive under the East River, before emerging near Long Island City and passing the expansive Sunnyside Yard. As the LIRR branches off towards Jamaica, the NEC heads north, and begins the steady climb upto the iconic Hell Gate Bridge, which takes the tracks back over the East River, skirting over Randalls Island, before touching down in the Bronx.



It is here where we also make contact with freight, which threads between the NEC tracks to connect Harlem Riverside Terminal and Hunts Point Market to Oak Point Yard. Not originally included in NEC New York, Hunts Point Market is the largest food distribution center in the World, and sees daily services delivering vital produce to this massive estate. Access to the site is via a single-track line which runs roadside and includes some of the only grade crossings in New York.



Rockin’ the Suburbs
The NEC, having dodged the freight action, continues cutting its way through the Bronx and out across Pelham Bay until it reaches New Rochelle, merging with the Metro-North tracks from Grand Central, and from that point on, both lines combined create a continuous 4-track path that follows the commuter towns bordering the Long Island Sound.



Built by and still owned by Metro-North (with Amtrak having access rights), this section of the NEC is not the 150mph racetrack found in other States - it traverses the northeast tip of the State of New York at a much gentler pace and is a commuter railroad first and foremost. Metro-North services stop at all the intermediate stations, with Amtrak snaking through - often using the middle tracks to overtake but not always, as express services to Grand Central will often take priority!

After Port Chester, the tracks cross State lines and wind up in the urban sprawl of Connecticut, of note along this section of line is the adopted name of Greenwich, and rather ironically Old Greenwich, considering Greenwich in London, UK predates its CT counterparts by some 700 years! Around this area, the line also crosses over the unique Mianus River Railroad Bridge, a low-clearance lifting bridge which was designed for easy access up stream by lifting the railroad up on its end. You’ll know it when you cross it, because there is a significant gap in the overhead wires to accommodate the movement.



Stamford Transportation Center is a significant hub in Connecticut, allowing for easy transfer between rail and bus services. Both Metro-North and Amtrak stop here, although there is a single through line for deadhead trains and the fastest of expresses. Just beyond the station is Stamford Yard, a place for M8s to rest and change ends between services.



It’s Gameplay, Jim, but not as we know it
Timetable maestro Tyler has been at the helm of creating the daily schedule for Northeast Corridor Metro-North, and as is tradition for him at this point, been hard at work producing an accompanying (and lengthy) Gameplay Deep Dive! We will look to publish this in the coming days, but these are the highlights.



The busiest US timetable to date! Featuring…

• 309 Metro-North M8 services including express, semi-express, all-stoppers, short turns and deadhead runs, as well as “game day” special services
• 25 Amtrak ACS-64 services, including a Sunnyside deadhead run and the Vermonter services with their unique Amfleet formation
• 25 CSX SD40-2 services, including switching in Oak Point Yard, late night mainline runs, and serving local industries such as Hunts Point Market
• A layer for Amtrak’s Acela® with 21 additional services
• The M7A and M3A from Harlem Line with 133 and 25 services respectively, plus Hudson Line AI
• A pair of bonus work train services with the ACS-64 using the flat car from Horseshoe Curve
• LIRR and NJ TRANSIT AI at New York Penn
• Playable NJ TRANSIT Sunnyside Yard movements and 4 special “Train to the Game” services inspired by the New Haven Meadowland’s Football Train services from 2016

You can also look forward to Conductor Mode on the M8 and the Amfleets, operate the doors, check tickets and enjoy the ride on the bustling city commute.

5 scenarios are included, featuring a midnight run on New Year’s Eve, a complicated commute in adverse conditions, and a challenge to test your mettle - can you make it to New York before your shift runs out?



Catch our Preview Livestream - I’m Drivin’ Here!
Tune into our preview stream on Monday 16th March to get an in-depth look at the route, with DTG duo Executive Producer Matt and Community Manager Harry, joined by Eddie and Brian from our beta team, and Tyler from Rivet Games - what a lineup! Our thanks go to Eddie as well for some of the screenshots shared today.

Northeast Corridor Metro-North: New York - Stamford is not far away now, and we can confirm that the route is going to be available for PC (Steam & Epic Games) and Gen 9 consoles only (Xbox Series X|S & PlayStation 5) - it will not be available on Xbox One & PlayStation 4.

Join us in the Community!
So that you're ready for the event, be sure to join our fantastic communities for Train Sim World and all our titles, from our Dovetail Live forums, our new official Discord, and community-led spaces that we are active in – be sure to check this out below and talk directly to our teams!