Frankfurt S-bahn Discussion

I have almost each Route Blurry textures on Series X for Mannheim Kaiserslautern, because of the Timetable and AI Services
Mildmay Line is more but there is only the 378 Available or the 710 as AI

 

On PS5, only on Frankfurt. Sometimes at Mildmay line (turning AI layers off helps here). Other routes, no problem.

 

I suspect the real issue with FF is the massively complex track and signals at Frankfurt HBf.

 

This may indeed be the most complex situation of all DLCs in the game.

 

Another one getting close is München Hbf although the vanilla timetable is so sparse that it doesn‘t quite match it. But the modded timetable from TSCommunity which is quite extensive is really pushing performance to the limit

 

I was wondering, if it was possible to know if layers for the BR 103 were to be included and if these (and possible also the BR 101 and ICE layers) will route via Frankfurt Airport (Regional Train Station) as this was often the case in those days when Fernbahnhof was closed. For the BR 103 it would in fact be authentic since the Linke Rheinstrecke, which supposedly has route hoping to S-Bahn Frankfurt, is set in 1997 and, thus two years prior the inauguration of Fernbahnhof.

Kind regards.

 

I don't think so. Because updated Schnellfahrstrecke Köln Aachen has a similar amount of (playable) DLC and it runs on PS4 too.

I think it's the huge trackage at FF Hbf like with München Hbf multiplied with the much more detailed graphic datas. The old routes have around 3 GB data volume. Kinzigtalbahn I think 20. DTG should overthink that.

 

I would say there are two things at play here:
1. Newer routes have more detailed assets, TOD4 weather and generally more mileage. Hence the bigger GB size.
2. Frankfurt also has the underground S-Bahn tracks that continue beneath the station to join the tracks later (near Hanau I believe), in stead of using portals. Hence my remark about being the most complex in the game.

Combine these with poor optimization and that is what you get

 

Exactly that's the problem including more details combined with poor optimization causes bluer effects and/or crashes.

 

I doubt it. The route is set in 2018 so the timetable will use the standard routing of long distance trains via the Fernbahnhof. We might get a scenario where an ICE is rerouted via the Regionalbahnhof because the Fernbahnhof is closed but it‘s not gonna happen in timetable

 

I'm not a big Fan of the BR 143, so I hope that the BR 146 can be used as a Substitute.

I hope the BR143 and Dostos are not just on the Route to have something for Conductor Mode, like the BR 111 on Ludwigsbahn

 

The 146 is my favourite loco with the dostos. Nice and modern.

 

Having the 103 on here with full timetable services would be an anachronism for the period in which the route is set. Maybe a railtour.

 

Question to people more knowledgeable of the area around FFM and its operations.

Are all trains between Frankfurt Airport Fernbahnhof and Frankfurt main station running over the Niederrad bridge? It is clear that trains going directly to Frankfurt Süd would be going through Louisa, however, I would be assuming that there are also trains from Airport using the Main Neckar bridge, no?

As we don't get the Main Neckar bridge in this add on, how many (roughly) trains would therefore not be usable after the Airport station for us? Anyone has a rough answer to this?

 

I am pretty sure that all the services run via the Niederrad bridges. The Main-Neckar bridge only houses the services coming from Hanau/Frankfurt Süd and Darmstadt.

 

Well, quite a few times I ran via the Main-Neckae-Bridge coming from Cologne.
I think it depends - when Niederrad is full, trains are diverted via Louisa, but the normal way is certainly via Niederrad.
Still it would have been a nice bonus to see Louisa also included.

More than that I would have loved to see the route via Mainzer Landstraße - the traditional route between Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, which the RE trains still take.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taunus_Railway
The included route via Griesheim to Höchst is the route Frankfurt - Limburg.

But well, at least we get Frankfurt Airport for the ICEs.

 

I have to say, looking at the new screenshots (and the already existing ones), there are now two bigger issues that I have with the modelling:
1. (Second picture in the article) The image shows the western portal of Frankfurt (Main) Flughafen Fernbahnhof and the „Squaire“ (it‘s not a type, that is the actual name), the building above the station, has got incorrect proportions. The western end is supposed to be narrower than the eastern end and that is not the case in the model. (Note: This issue had already been addressed by others following the April roadmap but DTG‘s response seemed like they didn’t understand what we meant and just glossed over it… could be though that they have actually corrected the issue and the screenshot is just taken over from the April roadmap state of the route)
Pic. 1: The western end of the Squaire irl

Pic. 2: The western end of the Squaire in TSW. It‘s a lot wider than irl or at least the number of windows on the front is way too high

2. (second to last picture in the article) The two towers seen from the northern entrance to Mainz Hbf are completely unrealistic. The real towers scream concrete, not this glass facade… in fact the model in TSW looks suspiciously similar to the Westhafen tower in Frankfurt
Pic. 3: The real „Bonifazius“ towers

Pic. 4: In-game shot, the towers are in the left background behind the white building

Pic. 5: Westhafen Tower Frankfurt irl

In conclusion not ideal because both buildings have a rather prominent position on the route and are likely seen by most players (especially the Squaire since you drive right below it). I also understand that the modelling takes time but it seems to me that the effort to bring this to the game properly will be rewarded with a much better gameplay experience.
(Note: I live in Mainz so I am biased here but I think even players who do not visit both mentioned stations regularly would like the surrounding buildings to be bespoke and not copy and paste)

 

I agree with you, but it's possible that the towers were just placeholders.

In another picture, you can see the real towers in the background.

 

Now I also confirm that the square should be higher, also at the Westhafen, the Äpelwoi Tower is there once and not twice, and in MZ the towers should look more outdated, and not so new,

 

It's been a long time since I've felt hype for a DTG release. This is a day one buy for me!

 

Now imagine this route with the soon-ish to be released 420

 

Following the history of timetable deep dives, like the one for Ludwigsbahn, we should get the release date for the route with it. Additionaly for Pfälzische, the route released 16 days after said article released which means if we get it within this or next week a may release is still possible.
According to Matt the TSG developer in charge for the 420 had to help with FSN which is why the 420 is still on 3+ months. Hopefully this will change so we get it before whatever comes in September.
Will be a day one for me too, even tough with this timetable and such a complicated scenery plus fernbahnhof i would prepare for it being 40 Euros. I would be suprised if not.

 

Now you understand how I feel about LFR's parts-bin castles

 

You are right. From that picture it looks right. That only leaves the Fernbahnhof issue which I hope DTG have resolved since the April roadmap feedback (I think the size could be correct, it needs to be more rounded and the windows wider)

 

Now what I also noticed with the new pictures of the upcoming S Bahn Frankfurt route is that a lot of POI are unfortunately not quite right, the thing with the long-distance train station is all very nice, but you should also take the right height and also the right dimensions

 

I have a question for DTG: Are you happy with the performance of this route in the Frankfurt area? Even in the trailer you have about 25 fps there(0:39 & 1:09).

 

so this releases 20th may and priced at £29.99.

 

Maybe it's time for DTG to acknowledge the elephant in the room at some point, their god awful optimisation?

 

It’s always funny reading new route discussions about routes in various countries. The complaints are always the same. Perhaps DTG doesn’t think anyone will notice.

 

So console users who upgraded/forked out for a PS5 or Series X that could/should be able to handle the game easily are now being forced onto a reduced timetable because the game is so badly optimised on console and the full timetable will basically melt the memory?

Come on DTG, either admit that there's a problem with the core and optimise it or just make the game PC only. Or just give us the full timetable and let us disable layers.

 

Once again DTG don't trust console players to have access to the full timetable even though there is literally an option to disable layers as you see fit! It's so stupid man this company makes some baffling decisions sometimes...

TSW 5 is a downgrade

 

And we still get to pay £30 for it lol

 

This is what's so maddening. I literally bought my console to keep up with the game. It looks like it is becoming PC only, but you'd need a bloody amazing PC.

 

And so it begins. Another route that's inferior for console. Maybe it's just "us lot" buy any old tat they put out. Shame that.

 

As a PC player I really expected that was the idea with layers. so the players can decide if they want more frames or more trains.

 

TSW is slowly becoming a TSC

 

I don’t Support This half DLCs with Not the Full experience
It’s Not Worth any Money to spend for This Routes

 

Not quite the busy route we were expecting for console players. I will now condider purchase when the sales come around.

 

To think that the issues of optimisation of the core have now led to a reduced timetable by 400 services on latest gen consoles is actually very dissapointing. I will be looking with interest at the first streams of console gameplay to see if even then blurred textures appear? - I already knew this would not be a day one purchase for me until I knew how it ran, but now I am also weighing up if the reduced experience is worth €35,99 to me, if I should wait for a 40% discount for 40% less gameplay?

 

DTG needs to take a break from making DLC and learn how to actually optimize a game for once.

 

Console players: "Consoles aren't holding the game back because DTG can just adjust timetables, graphics settings etc. so each platform gets what their hardware can handle"

DTG: [makes a timetable that consoles can't handle, doesn't put it on console]

Console players: "no not like that"

 

TSW6 - PC and Gen 9 only
TSW7 - PC only and occasional Gen 9
TSW8 - Delayed until Gen 10 consoles are released

 

I don't think anyone has seriously suggested that it's the most recent generation of consoles that are holding the game back - the older ones, sure, but not these. And if it is, DTG should work on that.

And until they do, if the performance is too much, there are two different ways that we can adjust it. Let us choose.

 

It seems that there is no drivable fright at all... Not sure what to make of it. In the article it says there is local and end to end fright, I am assuming also as AI only?! Does local fright as AI make sense? I would assume this route would add enough possibilities to include at least a couple of services, no?!

Apart from that, happy with what is shown, looking forward to it...

 

There is a large Opel factory along the route, plus a small yard at Bischofsheim. The section between Wiesbaden-Ost and Mainz-Bischofsheim is part of the trunk freight route from Rotterdam to Genoa, although I expect these would be AI, as would trains through Mainz Hbf heading on the left side of the Rhine.

 

The line that avoids both airport stations is also freight-only, services usually continue on to Frankfurt-Sud.

 

To be fair to this day I‘m still unsure where freight services would finish on the Frankfurt End… there is not freight hub there, you could at most stop at the stadium station on a siding. We‘ll see and as for the PC players I‘m sure we‘ll get a modded timetable sooner or later anyways. One thing that bums me is the fact that they keep saying ICE 3 services only run between Frankfurt Hbf and Flughafen Fernbahnhof while that is just not true… there are several services running via Mainz to Wiesbaden which then jump onto the SFS Köln-Rhein/Main via the high speed link from Wiesbaden (and they were already running in 2018)

 

Did I understand correctly that the console timetable only includes the S-Bahn + ICE - T? If so, that will probably be nothing. Too bad I was so looking forward to the route.

 

Also the fact they have added the avoiding line at Mainz makes me wonder… to my knowledge there was no passenger traffic in this line in 2018 (this was actually discussed in here before). I have a hard time believing they add a whole extra line just so we can use it in free roam.

 

There is some section equipped with the LZB system on this network?