As the country with the oldest railroad network besides England and one of the most dense railroads in the world. i think Belgium definitely deserves a Train Sim World route. There are a lot of suitable roads that Belgium has to offer. If i could choose i would suggest the Antwerp to Brussels route. The route with it's 40km in length is a very bussy commuting route with hundreds of trains per day. It also includes Brussels-Mechelen which is the first train route in the world outside of England. The most notable landmark would be Antwerp central station which is arguably the prettiest train station in the world. The railroad operator in belgium (NBMS) has a variety of rolling stock including double decker which are very common on this route. On this route there are also internation services including the Eurostar, Thalys and NS (netherlands) local trains.
Antwerpen-Centraal realy deserves to be put in the game at some point as it is one of the most beautifull stations in the world. Antwerp-Brussels would be nice start for a Belgian route. But I fear well never get it. I don't think Belgium has a lot of TSW players, so interest in Belgian routes will always be on the low side because of that. But with the already existing German routes close to the Belgian border, maybe at some point DTG can do a Belgian route that runs into Aachen or maybe Wuppertal
There is also freight traffic on this line coming from Antwerp and going to Muizen near Mechelen. Basicilly it is two lines into one. L25 and L27 that run parallel.
I would have hoped this line woud have been already in the game. It's a game about trains and Antwerpen - Centraal is not in it? How did that happen? Ok I might be biased as I live in Antwerp
Interesting route but 25N is unique since it has 25kv 50hz like the Liège to Luxembourg railway unlike 3kv DC Lines 25 & 27.
Also on a sidenote, antwerp brussels isn't that interesting as a route besides the dense traffic, they 'd have to build multiple new stock to not make it feel off by only have 1 type of train where there's so many different ones, adding to that they'd have to pick only etcs stock since depending on stock it's a different safety system. If you have etcs, you' d drive etcs lvl 1 from antwerp to mechelen and then tbl1++, but if you'd drive older stock it's tbl1++ the whole way, i don't think they have the tech to simulate 2 different safety systems on the same stretch of track (antwerp-mechelenl
Thanks for telling me about this. Since I'm thinking it's like L162 L167 which were electrified in 2000-2002 at 25kv 50hz.
- True but it would make al lot of DLC to buy. ICE can be used in Brussels. LGV can also be used as it goes to Amsterdam via Antwerp
yeah for sure! i just don't see them putting in the effort for that much stock in an unexplored country,also the ICE would have to be an AI service and the LGV would need new passenger coaches,they could also add the Benelux with 2 BR186's but at this stage i don't see them exploring any country they never done before with current travel restrictions.
How many different train models go over that route? I indeed must take in account that this is a simulator for people who know every detail about trains. I thought put the LGV in it with another livery would be an easy fix but I already watched some video's of people complaining the sound of the wind on a route is different in real life than in-game
List of stock that's on that route: Mr80 Mr86 Mr75 Mr08 Hvr m6 Hvr m5 Hvr m4 Hle27/21 And then a bunch of freight locos from lineas, db,.. Hle18 Tgv Eurostar Traxx 186
DB Freight locomotives if added here those can layer to all West Germany routes SKA RRO RSN HMA HRR East Germany Riesa-Dresden together with SNCB/NMBS 28/29 Traxx E186. There was a video of those locomotives on Main Spessart Bahn Bahnhof Laufach with HLE 2830 running Passau Gemünden Heigenbrücken Aschaffenburg Koblenz Antwerp service
btw, that isn't a SNCB one, SNCB ones has the big black 28XX at the front thats just an Railpool one iirc
Thank you for telling me about it but I'm wondering what is their numbers? That might include 2830 which was pulling the Passau Gemünden Heigenbrücken Laufach Aschaffenburg Koblenz Antwerp freight service.
That's correct it was SNCB 2830 on Main Spessart Bahn Heigenbrücken Laufach on a Passau Nuremburg Gemünden Heigenbrücken Aschaffenburg Koblenz Antwerp service. If DTG does make Antwerp to Brussels then it might affect some of the German routes in game like the AI SNCB HLE18 Brussels Midi Aachen appearing on the west side of Aachen Hbf on SKA waiting a DB BR101 for a long-distance train pulled into Aachen. SNCB HLE28/29 Bombardier Traxx on Rhein-Ruhr Osten and Main Spessart Bahn for Antwerp freight service. Back to the route questions speaking of the signaling system TBL Memor II Infrabel does it require Acknowledge signal or not? Otherwise players familiar with German routes will treat TBL Memor II like PZB
There would be more TSW players in Belgium if there was a Belgian route. When I bought this game I was thinking if I like it I will buy the TGV DLC because I know those trains. I expected to be driving mainly with the TGV until I noticed this is a very fun game and German trains resemble Belgian trains. They should do a Europe tour, have a route in every country and make them connect. The amount of users in every country will grow and the countries that are already have a big fanbase will like it to travel Europe.
Absolutely correct however Brussels Antwerp connects to Antwerp Rotterdam Amsterdam HSL 4 HSL Zuid. Then at Rotterdam the Antwerp Rotterdam Amsterdam line connects to Rotterdam Utrecht Arnhem Railway which then becomes the Duisburg Oberhausen-Arnhem Railway at Arnhem.
Good point but HLE 18 Siemens does go to Aachen as the Brussels to Aachen Nightjet locomotive. Also at Aachen HLE18 is replaced by an ES64U2 locomotive ÖBB1116 in game version DB BR182 MRCE 182 Hamburg-Lübeck. This video shows SNCB HLE18 Siemens being swapped for a Taurus locomotive 182 1116 around 19:40 Aachen Hbf. More SNCB HLE18 Siemens action at Aachen .
Love how this thread has gained interest in the last couple of weeks. Hopefully DTG notices and sees that there is iindeed interest in a Belgian route KoeleKoen if Antwerp-Brussels is not interesting enough as a route, which Belgian route would you suggest then? I think you of all people here know our rail network the best.
Ah i thought you meant as a regular train, i forgot the night jet, haven't seen it in ages due to corona
I'd maybe go for something in Wallonië, more hills, more green, maybe add in Luik, big gradient and gorgeous station as well and close to Germany.
That's what I meant in the comment the nightjet Brussels Midi-Liege-Aachen SNCB HLE 18. Some of the clips there are taken during covid 19. SNCB HLE18 AI traffic layered from Brussels Nord Antwerp CS on SKA west end comes in at 08:13 Aachen Hbf to take over the Nightjet which was the 07:30 Trip from Koln Hbf that was fellow member FD1003. Evening the 19:40 Aachen to Koln Hbf Trip. NMBS 28/29 Traxx freight for Brussels Antwerp and also SKA by branching off Aachen Hbf towards the Montzen Route L24 Aachen Tongren. Not sure if HLD 77 operates on Antwerp Brussels and Liege Aachen 1966 electrification.
Kortrijk - Brussels? Why? There is no Antwerp - Brussels yet. Wait your turn. Antwerp is more important For those not living in Belgium: it's a cultural iniside joke
Are they busy routes? I seem to lean towards to urban routes. If they didn't had named the summer DLC 'Rush Hour" I would probably never have picked this game up. I don't like route too much that it is only trees or open land from station to station.
Charleroi is quite busy and so is liege,it's overall dense traffic, there are a few rarely used lines but overall there's plenty of traffic, 25/27 is real busy but not that wow to drive on plus too much varrying stock so it'd feel off with only 2 types of trains.
Any route is appreciated, as long it is not "more of the same". Just my personal impression when i look at the roadmap. Another "picturesque" route, another Underground-, BR377-, BR314-, BR185-"lookalikes"... But yes, like the idea of a Belgium route.
Any update on this route? I know this is going to be difficult to pull off but TSW2 players deserve only the best.
It won't, i don't see them implementing a country that's never been done before, best bet for a new country is austria, belgium won't be added, new stock, new safety system would take too much time at this moment