Introduction As a new route for the Train Sim World series, I would love to see the Schnellfahrstrecke Rhein-Main, running from Köln Hbf to Frankfurt (M) Stadion respectively. The route begins in the city center of Köln (otherwise known as Cologne), at Köln Hbf/Cologne Main Station, a major hub for regional, long-distance and international traffic from/to the Rhein-Ruhr area. You start by crossing the famous Hohenzollern bridge over the river Rhine, driving towards Köln Messe/Deutz. After Messe/Deutz, you're allowed to speed up to 160km/h. Just before the S-Bahn station of Porz (Rhein), 200km/h is the new speed limit. We then pass the stations of Troisdorf and Siegburg, before splitting off the mainline and switching to the high-speed line itself. From now on, you can expect steep gradients up to 4%, hence why only the ICE 3(M), ICE 3 Velaro/Neo and ICE 4 are allowed to drive here. You're now allowed to drive the maximum speed of 300km/h all the way until the junction at the Frankfurt (M) - Mainz line (where the S1 drives). But before that, we pass the stations of Montabaur and Limburg Süd, finally arriving at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Airport Long-Distance station). This route would (in my opinion) be way more fun to play if Frankfurt (M) Hbf would be included, but DTG has made it clear that this will not be happening anytime soon. There is potential for a branch line: After the station of Porz (Rhein), a branch line splits off towards Cologne Airport and coming back on the mainline just after the station of Köln Airport-Business Park, adding the stations of Köln/Bonn Flughafen and Köln-Frankfurter Straße. I personally think this would be a great addition to the route, as it offers a way more realistic timetable in Cologne, with the S19, RE6, RE8 and RB27 now being driveable. Route info The route has a total length of 168km (from Köln Hbf to Frankfurt (M) Flughafen). There are 5 long-distance and 6 S-Bahn/"normal" stations, which makes up for a total of 11 stations along the route. The safety systems are PZB and LZB (for sections from 200km/h up to 300km/h). Traveling times vary from 10 minutes (the short S-Bahn services in Cologne if included in the timetable) to 1 hour (ICE that stops at every stop on the High-speed line). Services Regional S12 (Au (Sieg) - Siegburg/Bonn <-> Köln Hbf (- Düren) operated by DB Regio NRW (every 20 min) S19 (Au (Sieg) - Siegburg/Bonn <-> Köln Hbf via Köln-Bonn Flughafen (- Horrem) operated by DB Regio NRW (every 20 min) RE6 (RRX) (Minden (Westf) - Köln Hbf <-> Köln/Bonn Flughafen operated by National Express (every hour) RE8 (Mönchengladbach Hbf -) Köln Hbf <-> Troisdorf via Köln/Bonn Flughafen (- Koblenz Hbf) operated by DB Regio NRW (every hour) RE9 (Siegen Hbf -) Siegburg/Bonn <-> Köln Hbf (- Aachen Hbf) operated by DB Regio (every hour) RB27 (Mönchengladbach Hbf -) Köln Hbf <-> Troisdorf via Köln/Bonn Flughafen (- Koblenz Hbf) operated by DB Regio NRW (every hour) RB25 (Köln-Hansaring -) Köln Hbf <-> Köln Frankfurter Straße (- Lüdenscheid) operated by DB Regio (every hour) Services Long-Distance ICE 13 (Antwerp -) Köln Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Hbf (from end 2026 onwards) ICE 20 (Hamburg-Altona -) Frankfurt (M) Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof (- Basel SBB via Mannheim) ICE 22 (Kiel -) Frankfurt (M) Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof (- Stuttgart Hbf via Mannheim) ICE 41 (Dortmund Hbf -) Köln Messe/Deutz <-> Frankfurt (M) Hbf (- München Hbf) ICE 42 (Dortmund Hbf -) Köln Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof (- München Hbf via Mannheim) ICE 43 (Hannover Hbf -) Köln Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof (- Basel SBB via Mannheim) ICE 45 Köln Hbf <-> Köln Messe/Deutz <-> Köln/Bonn Flughafen <-> Siegburg/Bonn <-> Montabaur <-> Limburg Süd (- Stuttgart Hbf via Wiesbaden, Mainz and Mannheim) ICE 47 (Dortmund Hbf -) Köln Messe/Deutz <-> Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof (- Stuttgart Hbf via Mannheim) ICE 49 Köln Hbf <-> Köln Messe/Deutz <-> Siegburg/Bonn <-> Montabaur <-> Limburg Süd <-> Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof <-> Frankfurt (M) Hbf ICE 78 (Amsterdam CS -) Köln Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Hbf One train per day on ICE line 78 drives onwards to München Hbf via Köln Messe/Deutz and Frankfurt (M) Flughafen Fernbahnhof, skipping Köln Hbf and Frankfurt (M) Hbf and one train per day drives this route vice versa. ICE 79 (Brussels South -) Köln Hbf <-> Frankfurt (M) Hbf All trains stop at Frankfurt am Main Flughafen Fernbahnof (Aiport long-distance station) except ICE 45, which goes off towards Wiesbaden and Mainz after Limburg Süd. ICE lines 20 and 22 are drivable between Frankfurt Hbf and Flughafen. Trains New trains: BR412 (Various ICE services, vital) Siemens Desiro HC BR462 Rhein-Ruhr Express (Various RE services, vital) BR408 (ICE Amsterdam/Brussels/Antwerp - Frankfurt (M) Hbf, optional) Alstom Coradia LINT 54/81 (RB25 Köln Hbf - Köln Frankfurter Straße, optional) BR422 & BR423 (Modernized ‘S-Bahn Rheinland’ version, optional) Reusable trains: BR403/406 ICE 3/ICE3M BR401 ICE 1 (AI) BR411 ICE-T (AI) BR101 IC1 (AI) BR146.2 + Dostos (RE9) BR442 Talent 2 (RE9) BR430 (S-Bahn Rhein-Main S8, S9, AI) BR423 (S-Bahn Köln S11, S12, S19, AI) BR422 (S-Bahn Rhein-Ruhr S6, AI) BR425 (RE8, RB27, AI) BR193, BR185, BR187, BR182 (Freight) Deutsche Bahn is working on forging the S-Bahn Rhein Ruhr and S-Bahn Köln (Cologne) together, called ‘S-Bahn Rheinland’. DB is also modernizing all BR422 and BR423 sets as well as refurbishing some BR425 sets, which run as BR424 sets on the S12 and S19. DTG could make the S-Bahn Rheinland a thing in TSW, but this depends on what year the route is set in. Licenses needed: Rhein-Ruhr Express (by National-Express, license owned by the state of NordRhein-Westfalen) DB Regio NRW DB Regio AG (for the state of Hessen) DB Fernverkehr NS International (ICE 78 Amsterdam <-> Frankfurt/ICE 78 Amsterdam - München) NMBS/SNCB (ICE 13 Antwerp - Frankfurt/ICE 79 Brussels <-> Frankfurt/) Why this route? Now, why should DTG build this route? Well first of all, this route is quite complex in and around the city of Cologne & Frankfurt with sections from three up to eight (!) tracks simultaneously and interesting cityscapes. On the high-speed line itself, there are some very steep gradients (up to 4%) and a lot of curves that keep you focused and entertained. There is lots of variety, especially in/around Cologne, where S-Bahn, Regional and Long-Distance lines come together. The Köln/Bonn Flughafen (Airport) branch would be very interesting, as it's partially underground and has a very interesting station to go along with it. This branch also makes for a whole lot more driveable services in/around Cologne, such as the S19, RE6 and ICE 45. I won't mention the Hohenzollern bridge again, you know it's beautiful Overall, if DTG makes this route with as much quality as e.g. S-Bahn Frankfurt, I think it’ll be a fantastic addition to Train Sim World. Greetings!
What a lovely suggestion. Though the HSL goes till Frankfurt (Main) Airport not Stadium plus it would maybe be considered in TSW 6 or later
The HSL technically goes all the way until Frankfurt Stadion. When nearing the Airport in the direction of Cologne, you’re allowed to drive 160 km/h, so that’s still a high speed.
When I just read on your suggestion. I don't think NS International and SNCB licenses are required unless you're talking about the Red Eurostar for AI
Sounds like an absolute beast at the moment, but unfortunately if dtg can’t make Frankfurt work then I’d have to pass or wait for a discount
I disagree, because I think it’s a lot of fun being able to drive from major hub to major hub. I think it’ll feel very ‘empty’ in a way when you can’t drive on towards the Central Station.
I was thinking about the ICE services from/to Amsterdam and Brussels, since they are co-operated by NS (from/to Amsterdam) and SNCB (from/to Brussels). I don’t know if there’s licenses are needed for these services, but I guessed I’d pop them in there.
I think that might be included in the journey mode and maybe in more modes anyways but you'd drive till cologne Central and messe/deutz
I have updated the suggestion with a more accurate and up-to-date timetable; I have changed some things such as the trains needed and I’ve reworked the ICE and regional lines section (ICE lines instead of particular journeys). Let me know if anything does not fit in or isn’t accurate/correct. Greetings!
