A suggestion for some routes in Germany that have something different about them. 1. Lubeck to Puttgarden A continuation of Hamburg to Lubeck, until 2019 trains from Hamburg to Copenhagen would travel onto a boat at Puttgarden, which would take the train to Denmark. Obviously you couldn't represent the ferry crossing, as this is a long journey with nothing to do, but boarding the ferry would be an interesting experience, and the ferry itself could be rendered as a virtual station. The trains that travelled onto the boats were ICE-TDs, Danish IC3s, and before that loco-hauled trains. There are also local services on the route. 2. Westerland to and Dagebull Mole Westerland is on the island of Sylt, served by a long causeway called the Hindenburgdamm. The route is served by IC and local services, plus a car carrying train. After the line joins the mainline, there is a branch from Niebull to Dagebull Mole, which occasionally sees Intercity coaches hauled by a DMU. 3. Hamburg S3/S5 The S-Bahn takes two routes through Hamburg, one on the Stadtbahn, a surface route parallel to the mainline, and one underground, then S3 and S5 head south along the mainline, go underground again, and resurface run alongside the Cuxhaven branch. At Neugraben they change voltage from third rail to AC, and run along the mainline for a bit. There's a lot of variety of operation here, and a lot of existing DB stock could be layered in. 3. Ennepetalbahn - a currently inaccessible part of RRO where freight trains share a road tunnel with cars. See https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...dition-to-rhein-ruhr-osten.56216/#post-502001 4. Karlsruhe tram-train The original tram-train network, a service on this route could start on the city streets and end on the mainline or a rural branch line. S7 and S8 would be best as these start in the city and then run along the mainline to Basel. 5. The Black Forest Railway A mountainous route with 39 tunnels and 4 switchbacks, this is Germany's closest equivalent to Semmering or Gotthard. Offenburg at its north end is on a busy mainline, and its south end is almost in Switzerland, and in between there's plenty to see in terms of regional and freight services. If it was set in the era of Linke Rheinstrecke there would be a regular Interregio service with loco-hauled stock.
Like it some of your suggestions do exist in train simulator classic Hamburg S-Bahn and Black Forest Railway. In the case of the latter one it's a much bigger Network in train simulator classic. The Oddity about Hamburg S-Bahn play it as an American in British third railroute keeping in mind ÖBB/DB Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung rules.
Big thumbs up from me, for basically each of those ideas! Every single one would bring a good amount of variety to the game and would be a welcome addition. I'd especially look forward to Lübeck-Puttgarden, the Westerland route and Schwarzwaldbahn.
Big fan of the Karlsruhe suggestion. Frankfurt U-Bahn from TSC comes into mind (altough it would probably be just one line in TSW, as it is basically the whole network). Also, either the Hamburg S-Bahn or U-Bahn! I am afraid it's wishful thinking, I guess as niche as the fanbase is, most of them will be fans of classic trains and cargo hauls. US cargo routes bore me to death for example and I can see, why you would rather go by a car or plain than by the slowmo Caltrain, but there are loads of fans of these beautiful heavy duty machines and US railroads, where I can see huge following, even tho it's not my cup of tea, I understand the appeal for others.
The Marschbahn (Hamburg - Westerland) is one of my favourites, as the motorail services between Niebüll and Westerland would add a interesting and new kind of service to TSW. The line to Dagebüll on the other hand is rather dull. The terminous in Dagebüll Mole which is right next to the ferry terminal is quite interessting and the few Intercity coaches that are added to the local DMUs are unique, but otherwise is a short branch line with only one train in service. Whilst I would also like a tram train route in TSW, this would require the implementation of tram mechanics, which I doubt will happen. The trains don't drive all the way to Basel. Of the both lines you mentioned both use the Rheintalbahn, but the S7 (and S71) terminate in Achern and the S8 (and S81) divert to the Murgtalbahn in Rastatt.
One of my favourite routes in Zusi 2 (don’t think it’s in 3) was the Schuntertalbahn from Wolfsburg to Braunschweig, now mostly closed or realigned I think. Not a long route or particularly scenic, but a twisting single track ride through largely rural landscape calling at lots of little stations most still using semaphore signals. The author put together a special timetable when the route was used for engineering work diversions, so you had E, D and IC trains being hauled by Class 216, 218 and 232 in addition to the Class 628 DMU on the local service and a bit of freight.
