Hello and welcome to this suggestion about the “Frankfurt Mega-Route” complex (I don’t know how to call it otherwise, so be free to comment better name ideas). This suggestion of the “different” kind will be sorted into different chapters, so be aware of this: 0: Overwiew 1. Basic introduction 2. Direct Frankfurt connections a) Frankfurt-Aschaffenburg b) Frankfurt- Koblenz c) Frankfurt- Mannheim d) Frankfurt- Friedberg (probably in development) e) conclusion 3. expanded connections a) Köln-Koblenz b) Frankfurt-Köln c) Main-Spessart Remake d) conclusion 4. outlook Basic introduction With the route hopping feature announced for TSW5 I thought about how we could see this being used to it’s full potential, so I thought of this Idea in my head and want to share it with you. First, this is more intended to connect existing Routes with each other and will not be an overview in detail of each route suggested here. If I find a thread about those routes, I will link to it. I also do not think that DTG should just make the suggested routes, instead take it more like a guideline for planning future content. I know, it is Frankfurt(Main), but I am to lazy to write it out every time, so let’s pretend we know which Frankfurt I mean. Direct Frankfurt connections This segment will be dedicated to the routes that directly connect to Frankfurt and thus to the “close complex”. These routes should be done first, as they will connect other content to the Network and increase the “hoppability” massively. Frankfurt-Aschaffenburg Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/germany-frankfurt-main-hbf-aschaffenburg-hbf.80249/ This route would connect Frankfurt with the city of Aschaffenburg. This would give the complex two more routes, both being very different from each other, as well as about 50 kilometres of new route (if we assume DTG do the other connection between Frankfurt and Hanau not seen in Kinzigtalbahn). Included should be the Twindexx as for a new train. Frankfurt- Koblenz Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/koblenz-frankfurt.55524/ Frankfurt- Koblenz would connect the complex to the beautiful Linke Rheinstrecke, set in the 90’s. In order to bridge the timespan and evade the lack of a Süwex-Licence, I propose to set this about 40-kilometre route in the early 2000’s, where old orient red trains and the new traffic red vehicles could be seen. Maybe include a 120 as the new locomotive, with the IC-Coaches from the Vectron in their old livery. Frankfurt-Mannheim Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/bahnstrecke-mannheim-frankfurt-main.44949/ A potential link between the complex and the planned Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn could feature a lot of different trains, but I see this route include the BR 430 S-Bahn- train for modern operation or a new ICE. This route can see speeds of up to 200 km/h on it’s about 75 kilometres of length. Frankfurt- Friedberg (probably in development) Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/main-weser-bahn-frankfurt-friedberg.75795/ This route is probably under development and has a high probability of being released the first of the ones mentioned. The about 35-kilometre route would be a good home for a new cargo train, such as the BR 189. The Niddertalbahn lies on the path, so we would even get a little “branching”. Conclusion With just the basic connections from Frankfurt, we would already have a network with a length of 200 kilometres of new track, which added to the planned and existing 470km of track would give us 670km of “connected” track, or about 1,7% of the whole German track network Expanded connections Why stop here, as we can further connect more routes! This would create a bigger network to drive on, so let’s go. Köln-Koblenz Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/west-rhine-railway-köln-to-koblenz.68352/ This 92km route was one of TSC’s most popular German routes, and that is well deserved, as the scenery is stunning both on it and the real life counterpart. A TSW recreation could see the Desiro ML run on it, if DTG would manage to obtain the license. This route also features the Bonn station, which features many intercity trains in various directions. Frankfurt-Köln Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...-main-cologne-to-frankfurt.73155/#post-836593 Newer Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...-rhein-main-köln-frankfurt.39696/#post-881516 Why is this High-Speed, highly wished for route not in the direct connections? Well, I think it makes more sense to connect Linke Rheinsrecke first, as it would look silly having this one route disconnected from the rest of the network. Anyways, this route would add 176km, of which about 15 are known from other suggestions. SFS Köln-Rhein/Main would be perfect for the ICE 3 Velaro and a reboot of the ICE3M, as both trains run on this route in real life. With this route added, we would get our first (or maybe not?) 300 km/h route for Germany. Main Spessart Remake Thread: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/nantenbach-gemünden-würzburg-the-second-wind-for-msb.38910/ Like the LIRR- overdo, there could be a new upgrade done to MSB, a quite awkward German route. While I couldn’t find any length estimates for an expansion with the Nantenbacher Kurve and the Gemünden-Würzburg stretch, I guess it should be around 35 kilometres of new track to TSW. A new ICE would be nice, but I think the star of the route should be a new, heavy freight loco such as the BR 151, featuring heavy loads on the route. Conclusion This potential “Frankfurt Mega-Route” complex would extend by about 288 km of new track. With Köln- Aachens 65 km length, we would get a total of 1020 connected kilometres, or about 2.6% of german tracks. Outlook I know this is daydreaming, but now with TSW5 it should be the perfect time to connect gaps in Train Sim World. Hope you liked this suggestion, up next I plan to suggest another route which could add to this complex, so keep looking for any talented suggestions!
this had me drooling, but... we dont know yet how seemless it will really be, so lets see and hope it is less buggy than Free roam where some things have different laws lol this is my dream network: Nahverkehr Ostregion aka railway network around Vienna
R91 is the Semmeringbahn and to make route hopping feasible it needs Sudbahn Kkstb Wien Hbf to Wiener Neustadt Hbf. While my ÖBB suggestion Westbahn route hops with Salzburg Rosenheim at Salzburg Hbf and yours at St Valentin/Amsetten for Wien Hbf. For the original poster their route hopping plan involves Frankfurt am Main Hbf Asschaffenburg Hbf and Mainz Hbf
I am still hoping for a nice Vienna route in TSW... now with the ICE-T announced, I am not losing hope... there is an ICE service that runs from Wien Hbf to Dortmund, and I think Hanau and Frankfurt Hbf are along that route... and ICE-T runs at least until Frankfurt, not sure ... this opens it up as potential layer into a Wien Hbf - St Polten route
I agree and speaking of the Railjet/ICE-T they do reach Frankfurt am Main Hbf in different ways ICE-T Main Spessart Bahn and SFS Hannover Wurzburg while Railjet is via Voarlberg RJ890/860 last run in 2023.
