You have line side signs which are shaped like upside down triangles and are yellow. Once you pass this sign, if you are not already doing the upcoming speed, the train brakes need to be applied. This application is the only way the train safety system knows you are doing something to comply with the new speed limit and you need to be down to that speed by the time you pass the beginning of the new speed limit, this is shown by a square sign which is white with black lettering. To go further, if you pass a yellow signal, you need to slow to 40 km/h to be ready for the next signal to be red, at danger. The yellow signal can also show a number in a box, this means slow to that speed and treat it just like a line side notice of speed reduction. The speed with a signal takes precedence over a line side speed. There is a lot more, so hope that they do issue a manual. Also here is a link to the Wikipedia article on Dutch signals https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_railway_signalling
rn watching the previwe and they fixed the OHLE it doesnt have the 2 poles like its looking like belgium they made it 1 pole and the otehr rod holding the wire stuck to the main big OHLE pole
I am sold by the preview stream.. Tomorrow I will 40 euro's poorer and Dovetail will be 40 euro's richer..
Still don’t know if I’ll get it tomorrow but I’m definitely impressed so far, it looks very good and the ICM sounds fantastic
What surprises me a little is that DTG is used in maps where something is constantly being rebuilt, repaired, etc. (Gronningen)
And then again, why is there practically no daily cargo traffic there? Where do we have the iconic container trains? Isn't there daily cargo traffic there?
One thing I noticed during the preview stream is that a lot of station signage isn't lit during the winter evening on the SNG run. All these signs have lights in them in real life I believe.
One thing I believe I noticed. Doesn't the ATB indicator drop to 40 km/h at a stop when the doors open? I did not see this on the ICMm run.
It feels like well made, they knew that the first impression with much anticipated new coutry is important. Maybe the route itself is not that inspiring, but the quality is there and the trains are pretty cool.
Bit of a off topic but I like the "old" ATB bells better in the ICM. I have raw files of the bells in really good quality but don't know how to sound mod, would anyone like to work together on a sound mod?
Looks great but have some concerns about how some of the systems will get implemented for consoles (are all safety systems on the circle button? Will the emergency brake release work Given that we need to click in a screen after an emergency brake? Will the left hand screen destinations function on console?) I also felt a tad uncomfortable about Matt’s answer of ‘you will have a MUCH better experience on series x’…. That made me nervous that textures and glitching will be a pain….
I think he’s comparing it to the most recent routes. For a machine that theoretically should rival many PCs, it’s had glaring issues with mildmay, Frankfurt, mittenwaldbahn and a few more. No excuse for that to be happening on such an expensive and capable system, glad dtg have addressed it
Definitely getting this one. Either tomorrow, or at latest when my paycheck comes. The stream was promising. Worst offender was the color change in the sleeper tiles. The distant model seemed to have a different color than the 3D sleepers, so it seemed like the sleepers just pop in close to you. Hopefully that one will be fixed.
The route is well- built, decent scenery, solid locos and stations and passengers are fairly well behaved. But we know that DTG can make good content when they put their best foot forward. Is the route interesting, though? Well, I started to get " tollway trance " at times, it's very straight and, as far as I can tell, all at grade level. Not much variation in speed limits either. I noticed that the big yard is rather empty However, I wouldn't call it entirely dull or boring. And the terminuses are worth the trip, very well drawn. The night lighting is a bit disappointing, but not as bad as on other TSW routes. I think it might look better on my PC, if I decide to purchase the route. Thing is, I still don't see how the increased price is justified. There's nothing startlingly new here in terms of graphics or gameplay. Maybe this is the future standard price. It crosses the $50 red line and I'm still hesitant about encouraging a price hike when TSW still lacks polish at times. This effort, however does seem finished and much more polished than some recent routes, so it's a positive maybe.
I don’t think this is a new standard price, but rather a more dynamic pricing scheme which is dependent on the route. I doubt many people would buy a route like Mildmay at the current standard price. Likewise with a route like Cardiff at this new, higher price. I imagine DTG is simply introducing multiple price points based on route type, so I don’t expect future routes which are similar in length and concept to Mildmay, Suffragette, or Glossop which are currently £25 in the current pricing scheme to suddenly become £30. I’d be very disappointed if I’m wrong as future routes I buy day one may become sale only if this is an actual trend.
Had this conversation on the discord server too. there really isn't any more freight traffic on the route. just some through Zwolle whenever another line is out of service.
Looks like they did a good job with the environment. I travelled from Amsterdam Schipol to Maastricht last year, north to south and it’s very reminiscent of that.
The Netherlands being my country I am interested in this route. In my school days I commuted on the ICM (and later ICMm) a lot. I was very impressed with what I've seen on the preview stream. The scenery looks fantastic, the trains look fantastic. As someone mentioned earlier in the thread I would as well have preferred the older bells on the ICMm's ATB, but it is very minor for me. Matt stated having a VIRM(m) in TSW would be awesome, and I'm all for it. I will definitely be picking up this route and will share my thoughts in feedback.
Why would we need a sound mod? The sounds are well recorded and reflect the real thing. You often can hear the ATB sounds a as a passenger, when the drives does a stations announcement
Well, thought it looked awesome, can't wait to start working with the ATB system! Enjoyed the more laid back presentation too, good stuff. EDIT: Especially impressed with the sounds!
Not really. Its much more forgiving. If you are over the speed limit you can avoid the emergency brake application just by applying brakes more than 30% until you are under the limit. Here is a link to the dutch safety systems article in case you want to learn a bit more about them.
No, it's very different and a little less complicated. Check the atb manual in the coming soon article.
Haven’t caught the stream but what I’ve just read above sounds promising. Just wondered if there was any official response about the pricing levels and to questions about the save game, particularly desperately needing more slots?
I am so impressed by this route. I live in Assen, and when I saw how they represented the station I was simply in awe. It is a 100% copy of the actual station! Tiny little bit disappointing that they did not include Mannes, the big dog statue in front of the station, but that most likely would have required a license from the artist anyway. This route looks so good and it really captures the spirit of the Dutch railways. I hope lots of people buy it so DTG can make more Dutch routes in the future! Station Assen by Haribo112 posted Mar 25, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I’ve been critical of preview streams in the past, but that was s good one. It made me want a route that I previously had no intention to buy. I don’t know the Netherlands at all so can’t comment on accuracy, but it all looked and sounded very well done. The temptation of driving the Koploper, may make that buy button too tempting. I’ll be watching the forums for the initial reactions from console owners as I’ll probably get this on PS5. Nice to see a really positive reaction so far.
exactly, i thought the same about the big dog statue LOL. I've been in Assen, Zwolle and Groningen many times
I noticed in one stream of "The British Ace" that the Sprinter Groningen Assen is running incorrect. It should first pass platorm 1 and then to platform 2. The people unboard the train walk all the way from the end to the main building. The train driver then drives the train back to the other end of platform 2 and let people boarding again for Groningen. I must say, the TSW aproach is making more sense than how it's done realife!
Welcome to the Netherlands, where straight lines are everywhere! Seriously - fly into Schiphol and look out the window during approach - the country looks like a quilt from above. Everything is planned and looked over by a committee, and if you dare "draw outside the lines", say plant something where the committee planned a line of sight, you're going to be forced to change it back to how the committee planned it. But I'm pretty sure you'll find some challenge in driving a Dutch train. We have one of the busiest networks in the world, and the succession of signals, signage and stations feels like your driving on your average big city line network instead of main line rail sometimes. The Dutch mainline rail network is closer to something like the TfL Overground, DB S-Bahn or SNCF RER network, but nationwide and with intercity services thrown into the mix. Having said that, the route that DTG chose for this release does have some long stretches without stations. In fact, this line holds the record for the longest distance between two stations on the entire NS network. Zwolle is a major hub, and a bottleneck for all traffic to the north-east of the country. In real life, you can change to the NS lines to the west (Utrecht / Amsterdam / Schiphol and beyond), south east (Deventer, Arnhem, Nijmegen) and the south west (Breda, Roosendaal, Vlissingen over 's-Hertogenbosch and Tilburg) of the country. There are quite a few local lines too, but those are operated by Blauwnet/Arriva, and by lack of a license you won't see those trains on Zwolle in TSW. There's always a few trains at the platforms in Zwolle, and it's quite busy on peak times, with trains coming and going from all directions. Groningen is a lot less busy, but it's the biggest station in the north-east of the country behind Zwolle. NS has been decimated at Groningen since the northern lines were all privatised in 1999. NS currently only runs intercity services down to Zwolle using Koploper and DDZ, that continue after Zwolle to Amsterdam Zuid and The Hague Central, and Sprinter services (using SNG only at the moment) down to Zwolle over Assen and Meppel. All other services from Groningen are ran by Arriva, with their Stadler built diesel units for Leeuwarden, Veendam, Delfzijl, Eemshaven and towards Leer in Germany (currently cut short to Bad Nieuweschans). But again - no license means that you won't see the Arriva trains in TSW, so Groningen will look eerily quiet.
Seeing the really positive feedback from locals on here is really great to see. The route looked great on the preview and from what I’ve seen in some other first look streams, it runs well on PS5 too. I am about to fire up the console and get rid of €40
Speed restrictions come in two forms: static and dynamic Static speed restrictions Static speed restrictions are announced by a yellow triangular sign that mentions the upcoming speedlimit in shorthand*: You have until the new speed limit sign to slow down. The speed limit signs are white squares with the new line speed in black shorthand*: Speeds can also go up, which is depicted by a green triangular sign pointing upwards, with the upcoming speed in black shorthand*: In both cases ATB warns you of the speed change. In upcoming lower speedlimits it does so as you pass the yellow triangular sign. when the speed limit goes up, it does so when passing the white square sign (but of course, only if that limit is higher than the one currently set). The warning consists of a single "ding" and lighting the appropriate light for the new speed. NOTE: when the speed limit goes up, ATB dings right after the front of the train passes the "higher speed limit", but you're not allowed to accelerate until your last axel passes that same sign. Dynamic speed restrictions Dynamic speed restrictions are announced by a flashing orange signal, with a shorthand speed* limit on a digital display below it: Again, as you pass this signal, ATB will "ding" once and the correct speed light will light up on your speedometer. You have until the next signal (which will be flashing green, and again showing the shorthand* speed limit in a yellow digital number display below it) to slow down to the new limit: ATB enforcement In both cases, when ATB dings and the new limit lights up on your speedomter, you will need to apply the brakes with in a few seconds, and by a certain amount**. If you do that in time and by a sufficient amount, a white indicator will light up, and your train will slow down. As you approach the speed limit set by ATB (+/- 4 km/h above it) ATB will sound a bell in three short bursts. You can now release the brake and by the time the brake has been released, you will be driving at the right speed limit. If you don't brake, or don't brake hard enough, ATB will sound a continuous (and seriously annoying) bell for a few seconds to allow you to correct your error. If you ignore that bell (you won't... trust me) ATB will stop your train. You don't have to acknowledge anything. The acknowledge button found on older stock's ATB box, is legacy and no longer used. Incidentally, yellow signals (that warn for an upcoming red signal), work in the exact same way as a speed restriction. ATB is really simple in that regard. *shorthand speed signage is the same as in Germany. So [4] for 40 km/h, [6] for 60 km/h, [12] for 120 etc. etc. ** what that amount is, differs per rolling stock. The white light is your best indicator at first, but you will get a hang of it quite quickly. It's usually around 20% brake force, or setting B2 on the combined lever, but not always.
