Spoorlijn - Zwolle To Groningen. Worth It?

Discussion in 'TSW General Discussion' started by Canadian Follower, Oct 14, 2025.

  1. Canadian Follower

    Canadian Follower Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2023
    Messages:
    421
    Likes Received:
    950
    Hi all, I’m looking to expand my TSW collection and was wondering if this route was any good. I’ve had my eye on this route since it released but waited for bugs and etc to be fixed. I also don’t have good knowledge about the Netherlands and their safety systems, as I like using them on other routes. Is it worth the 45$ or should I wait for a sale?
    Thanks!
    **I posted this in the off topic discussion but was told i would get better responses here**
     
  2. dal#7945

    dal#7945 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 3, 2024
    Messages:
    2,602
    Likes Received:
    1,251
    Its 60miles long its fairly a straight route with some inclines. Trains are OK to drives quite modern. The G6 shunter a d red vectron layer in if you own the right routes. Just a2b jobs realy and depot moves. Scenery is done nice tho . I got bored quick with this one tho. Just my opinion.
     
    • Helpful Helpful x 1
  3. Thorgred

    Thorgred Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2018
    Messages:
    972
    Likes Received:
    579
    it al depends on taste
    if you are not sure wait for a sale
    you could always watch a youtube run of it

     
    • Helpful Helpful x 2
  4. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    2,375
    Likes Received:
    1,980
    Much better =-)

    You can't go wrong with a sale if you're not sure.
    There's a lot of youtube reviews out there.
    Ultimately it's up to your personal style.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2025
    • Like Like x 3
  5. 21c164fightercommand

    21c164fightercommand Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2021
    Messages:
    1,041
    Likes Received:
    1,043
    Wait for a sale, 40-60% off and you'll have a fair deal.

    Regarding the developing team, have they announced a follow up?
    First routes are usually just a 'testing the waters, getting your bearings, learning the tools, see how well it sells' sort of affaire.
    I do not follow roadmap streams very closely, but has anything new Dutch of from this team been announced?

    Otherwise, once you've played it a few times, it's just another piece of abandonware for your archives, and my collection of DLC has already enough of those.
     
  6. operator#7940

    operator#7940 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 23, 2024
    Messages:
    2,375
    Likes Received:
    1,980
    All depends on the sales. If enough people buy it, they'll probably make more. In any case, I think the "sprinter" could be used on UK routes around the West Midlands with little modification couldn't it?

    The two-level train is still really neat and unique to this route. I have never seen another like it. Very nice for sight seeing since it sits to high up.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2025
  7. Mich

    Mich Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2020
    Messages:
    1,291
    Likes Received:
    1,687
    Unless you're looking at buying a route day one and know with certainty you're gonna love it I don't see why anyone would pay full price. Especially when you don't know yourself if you want to commit and it's not that new. At this point any sale's gonna be sooner rather than later, even if the route's perfect I don't see why wouldn't spend less if you can. I can't comment on anything else, as I don't own it, but that sales factor alone I think is enough to advice you just say wait despite that.
    If somebody's asking they probably don't fully know themselves, that's why their asking, no offense, but I don't really feel answers like this are all that great for recommendation threads.
    From everything I know, most game sales are in the first short period after launch, and this is true of pretty much all games, or even movies, not just TSW. At this stage either the route's done well enough and it's already got a second greenlit, or it hasn't, not much is gonna change that at this point.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Helpful Helpful x 1
  8. dr1980

    dr1980 Active Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2016
    Messages:
    185
    Likes Received:
    186
    Route and locos are very well done, but I did get bored pretty quickly. Not a lot of variety of runs, pretty flat and not too fast, but it is great to experience something different and again, the dev team did a very good job on it.
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. animatiker

    animatiker Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 30, 2020
    Messages:
    96
    Likes Received:
    188
    It's included in TSW 6 Special Edition, so even if you have just 2 routes missing, wait for a decent sale and you can make a huge bargain. Even now, a few weeks after release, the Special Edition is quite cheap at some resellers, if you are on PC.
    The route itself is very well done, but as others said, not much variety, so, except for real fans of the Dutch railway, you get bored pretty easy.
    For a first route this was an easy to make route, but it's not a route which shows the greatness of the Dutch railways I think... Still, I hope for more - hopefully a more urban route or at least with more traffic.
     
  10. solicitr

    solicitr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    13,590
    Likes Received:
    20,616
    The trains are brilliant, especially the ICMm. Also, the Dutch safety system ATB is the best I have yet driven. Furthermore the execution of the scenery is very high grade. Unfortunately the scenery - as in RL - isn’t the most exciting, and the route is just an AB
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2025
    • Like Like x 2
  11. Rudolf

    Rudolf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2016
    Messages:
    2,633
    Likes Received:
    3,475
    It's a good route, the ICM is wonderful to drive, the SNG is a bit more common. It is not most exciting Dutch route but it is very well done, regarding scenery, atmosphere, signalling and safety system. The rolling stock will be used probably in enw Dutch routes, so if you have a discount, why not start enjoying it?
     
    • Like Like x 1
  12. Crosstie

    Crosstie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2016
    Messages:
    6,151
    Likes Received:
    14,184
    In my view, DTG made a mistake in making Zwolle-Groningen the first Dutch route.
    When you're introducing a new country, you should build a route involving major cities, in this case Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht or The Hague.
    Z-G is a well- made route but it's flat, straight and has little diversity or replay value. And there's not much about it that shouts " Dutch " except the occasional windmill.
     
    Last edited: Oct 19, 2025
    • Like Like x 3
  13. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2020
    Messages:
    20,900
    Likes Received:
    42,875
    Have to disagree with earlier comments about the ICM.
    It seems overpowered and accelerates rapidly even in only throttle position three or four.
    It has severe inertial drag when you shut off power.
    Virtually silent in both cabs, not even much track sound.
    This is one route where I actually prefer the modern EMU though even that has issues with friction when coasting.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  14. lexie

    lexie Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2025
    Messages:
    330
    Likes Received:
    320
    Well, I can somehow agree with you, there are better or more scenic options for a Dutch route. However, with only 2 trains included, around the named big cities it will feel empty, lifeless and not correct with those 2 trains.

    So for a first Dutch route, I think it's fine tp start with a more quiet route.
     
  15. Mark Moreton

    Mark Moreton Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2020
    Messages:
    498
    Likes Received:
    896
    Just to echo previous comments really, I found it to be a decent well made route at its core, but it’s ultimately not one I go back to much and most of it is a straight flat line through the countryside.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  16. solicitr

    solicitr Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2020
    Messages:
    13,590
    Likes Received:
    20,616
    Major cities are also a major investment in dev time (=money), and there is never a guarantee that a new country will sell well., Far better to test the waters with a more modest investment. Austria began with Vorarlberg.
     
  17. f__s_cw

    f__s_cw Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2025
    Messages:
    256
    Likes Received:
    531
    If you can get a discount then absolutely get it, but at full price you may want to avoid it. The route is very well made and the 2 locos are excellent, the timetable is brilliant too. But the actual route itself gets boring quite quickly. I suspect we’ll see another Dutch route soon and the SNG and Koploper will likely layer in, so that’s definitely a good reason to get Zwolle on a discount but I wouldn’t recommend it at full price, unless straight lines with little speed variation are your thing
     
    • Helpful Helpful x 1

Share This Page