I hope TSW6 will expand in netherlands, andmaybe on eof the core routes will be dutch. Now DTG likes railtour packs, we can maybe have the iconic NS 1700 as a railtour loco, now it is out of service for 4 years now. But still used as freight tough. Here is a hpoto from my favorite train (ns 1700) or look at my Profile picture
Well at least some speculation around TSW6 is that one of the new core/bundle routes could be another Dutch one, rather than Germany or Austria. Part of me hopes it is, though something more complex than Zwolle to Groningen.
I would expect US to get the boot rather than Germany, but in any case yes, something less simple would be great to see. Then again I would love to see the ICNG, as much as I dislike all the ultramodern stock of todays world, something about it in the NS livery looks great. Either way, if we do see a new Dutch route, I hope the quality is maintained & ZWG wasn’t just a one off as a debut.
Agreed... from the viewpoint of someone who is mostly into German (and to lesser extent Austrian) trains, I gotta say I wouldn't be against getting another Dutch core route instead of a German one. Two reasons: First, any new German route will probably just be more of the same... a two track, electrified main route between large-ish cities. Getting another one of those would not be a selling point, at least not for me. Second, more Dutch content would be very welcome and add more variety to the game. It's gotten very UK/DE focused lately. I can see why, but some more variety in countries might liven things up, and perhaps attract new customers. Zwolle-Groningen is a fine route, but lacks complexity and gets boring rather fast. I'm far from being an expert on the Dutch train network, but there have to be a couple of more exciting routes in a country as beautiful as the Netherlands And getting more Dutch rolling stock into the game would help Zwolle-Groningen too, retroactively.
I'd be very happy with another Dutch route, if it's in place of a German route so be it. All personal opinions of course, I mean no ill towards Germany, I'm having a second trip to Berlin in 6 weeks' time and I'm really looking forward to it.
I suspect that by introducing a Dutch route in TSW6, DTG may attract new users, possibly from TSC. DTG also depends on that group and it brings financial benefits for them as well. It's truly a battle for every new user in the gaming world, and I believe they could indeed attract a larger group of users by creating a major Dutch route, particularly one with a more interesting environment. Especially a route from North and South Holland, the western region where most people live and can recognize themselves in the route.
As mentioned, Germany has got a bit tired in TSW so unless the formula is something quite different from what we already have such as the Harzbahn with a bit of steam up to Brocken Mountain (very unlikely), something from Berlin (also unlikely) or a UBahn route it will be a damp squib.
Indeed, the Harzbahn is too small a market from which you currently can't attract large groups to consider trying the game TSW6—let alone staying with it. Steam trains in general don’t provide the magic sales boost for DTG
Hence DTG’s dilemma, I mean yet another modern day route with a sea of DB Red, the inevitable Dosto cab car driving and the over used 42x EMU’s will be one too many for me.
Same feelings here. TSW is oversaturated with this kind of route at this point. The thing is, Germany's train network really does have a lot of diversity to offer! I could list a bunch of routes which would bring some much-needed change, but that might get us even more off-topic
I've just collected a few stats from Steam and SteamDB... I'd say these stats indicate the first Dutch DLC is a commercial succes. Seems to do beter than other recent route add-ons. Considering co-operation with NS was also a succes, I have good hope we'll see more Dutch content in the future.
Thanks Purno for this interesting insight! Although using Steam reviews as reference should always be taken with a grain of salt, the low rating for Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn just proves my point, if true. It's not a bad route, not at all. In fact, I rather enjoy it. But it is just another stereotypical generic electrified main route, of which we've got plenty so far. I can see why so many potential customers start skipping those. On the other hand, the high ratings for Zwolle-Groningen and Mittenwaldbahn show that it pays off to be somewhat daring and experimental
Unfortunately SteamDB doesn't seem to offer estimates for number of owners anymore (not for DLC anyways). The number of reviews and the position in the top sellers list is the best we have to make an estimate for how well something sells. If anyone knows of some other charts or info we can consult, perhaps for the other platforms, I'd love to know
Switzerland (SBB) does not give permission to create train simulator games or routes anymore or only without any futures that come close to real train driving.
Not completely true. Last official DTG statement I've seen is that SBB (and only SBB) won't allow anything more detailed than the very basic of train operation (so, I guess a combined throttle lever). Considering the TSW player base do want more advanced simulation, there's no point in making SBB content. However, any other operator, such as RhB, could still be possible.
Sorry my point was the SBB! They are the official railway company. I understand my written text was what confusing
Ok. What a pity about SBB restriction!. What about a route on Czech republic? They also have routes to Germany. But in this case, most of the route might be on Czech one!
Agreed both on the SBB thing and Czechia. I would love to see some central/eastern European content, being from that region myself, I think the Czech or Polish railways would be the best candidate from there. I'd love to drive a Skoda 109E someday in TSW. Also, CD have Vectrons I believe, so it shouldn't be too too difficult to exend the current offering.
I think Rivet have Switzerland more or less tied down and the only options there are the private operators so I doubt that we'll ever see a Swiss core route.
The Pfälzische Ludwigsbahn looks scenic to me from what I get from youtube vids. However the included trains are recycled from older routes, so it's not adding anything new for rolling stock. This could be the reason this route don't have a high user score. If I remember correctly, to get some AI trams in one of the cities, you do need a 3rd party UK route. In my opinion, those trams should be included in the route itself and not as layer. Even on that UK route they aren't driveable.
Maybe DTG could think outside the box again and add a fourth core route (vs.3) and include another solid Dutch route. I really enjoyed the Zwolle route and spent quite a bit of time in the timetables. Even a combined Dutch/German route would be nice- rail bridge over the Rhine into the Ruhr Valley?
It's unlikely that DTG will encourage us to go Dutch with TSW6. They'd lose half their income (I'll get my coat).
Maybe Osnabrück Hbf Bad Bentheim Hengelo NS1700 to Bad Bentheim then detached for DB Baureihe 101 Bad Bentheim Osnabrück.
Yep, that's also my impression. The bad rating for Mannheim - K'Lautern isn't coming from the scenery side of things. Most reviews are negative because long-time players already own every single piece of rolling stock that comes with this route. So no new loco = bad experience on a good route. Now compare Zwolle - Groningen: a well done route with a rather boring flat landscape, yet one of the best rated and sold routes in the whole TSW franchise, it seems to me. And why? Because it didn't include one, but even two new trains. So lots of completely new experiences to make in TSW. The key to a good route isn't just the route itself, it highly depends on the rolling stock. So whatever German, UK, US or even dutch route DTG is doing for TSW 6, I hope all of them have at least one new loco.
I don’t think it has to be new rolling stock, it just has to be of a certain quality. Most services along the route being subject to a train that’s just mediocre don’t contribute to a great experience. If the majority of runs were done by something such as the 101 (to be clear I’m not saying they should be), the route would likely be in a far better light. Aside from that, there’s nothing wrong with the scenery, it’s quite nice, but it’s not special. It’s just more generic German infrastructure, on another route that just ends relatively abruptly. Ultimately if DTG want to keep on doing only modern trains, they’re going to run out of them & routes for new ones. What they really need to do is keep the quality of said trains at a good level & more than a few of them are below that. As for NL, it’s a whole new country, new operators with new scenery & infrastructure. The route itself goes to & from actual places & overall feels very different to the sea of modern DB content. Personally I’d be quite happy for modern Germany going on the back burner in place of building up literally any other EU rail network, NL or otherwise.
I’d be happy for Netherlands to replace Germany as a core route in TSW6. The only German routes that interest me now are the vintage ones done by TSG as the modern stuff is starting to become a bit repetitive and it’s all starting to look the same. I’d like to see a route that isn’t just Linear A to B though, rather a network or at least a branch.
There can be done so much more for German routes, but we do need other operators. Also there seems to be a focus on big cities, but there are so many more options for scenic routes. The German routes from TSW and TSW2020 are in general more scenic, think about RSN, MSB and RRO. Also the hills and the winding nature of those routes makes it more fun to drive. The Netherlands is mostly flat, so I'm afraid it will become more boring scenic wise, when Dutch routes become a standard thing. New trains will give some new stuff to explore, but for me personal, the tracks and scenery is as important as the trains itself.
The full Hausach route in TSC is one of my favourites. It’s a shame SBB withdrew cooperation as I’m sure by now we would have had a couple of mainline scenic Swiss routes. Of course with a Dutch licence now in place, maybe DTG should explore Belgium which does have scenic sections in the Ardennes or even the closed/mothballed Vennbahn.
As I don't play TSC, I had to search for the Hausach route. It looks very scenic and I like to see this route in TSW for sure. I can only agree about Swiss SBB routes, of BLS routes. I like to play S-bahn Zentralschweiz because of the scenic route and the Stadler. It's a short route and there are other issues, but I still like it. Belgium can be very scenic too, or Luxembourg. With both countries you can even make a crossborder route into Germany and crossborder Belgium - the Netherlands is also possible.
In Switzerland, there is not only the SBB, but also the BLS, for example. And you could build some really beautiful BLS routes in Switzerland, but that will probably remain just a dream.
I hope your dream will come true, I really like to see more Swiss normal gauge routes. The routes where BLS has services, is the rail network owned and maintained by SBB or are those (partly) maintained by BLS? I ask this because of the SBB point of view about the safety systems in simulator games and possible consequences for BLS trains.
Narrow gauge would also be very nice. Sadly, Rivet never returned to Switzerland after their (very well done) Bernina Line. It's a shame they only seem to concentrate on UK stuff. While there a quite a lot of UK 3rd parties out there, there are exactly zero third parties doing swiss stuff in TSW. Except for Rivet Games. Watching the Euros 2025 in Switzerland made me realize how much this country deserves to be represented in a simulator. Imagine living in a world where licenses don't exist...
BLS maintains its own lines and operates its own network, which is separate from that of SBB. BLS also purchases and uses its own rolling stock, which it maintains and services itself. Strangely enough, the builder of the TSC Olten–Bern line is also allowed to build SBB lines, using all the real names, etc. See here: https://www.trainsimulator.ch/de/railworks-ts-20xx-olten-bern.html Or even the SBB Flirt and other trains are coming to TSC with a new pack. See here: https://www.trainsimulator.ch/de/bahnmoment-vol-1.html
Thanks for the answer! So it should be possible to have BLS trains in TSW as TSC also has BLS. About the SBB flirt for TSC, does this one include ETCS? In the discription, nothing is mentioned about it.
