Why the Brig–Visp–Zermatt line would be an incredible add-on to TSW 6 ? (pictures at the bottom of the page) 1/ An iconic route The Brig–Visp–Zermatt line of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn winds through the Valais Alps, offering breathtaking mountain scenery. Deep valleys, spectacular bridges, and dramatic tunnels—everything train sim fans love in a mountain railway. 2/ Distance and layout Length: ~44 km of metre-gauge track (1000 mm). Sections with a rack railway to climb the steep gradients to Zermatt. Tunnels, viaducts, and tight curves provide a real challenge for drivers. 3/ Iconic trains The ABDeh 4/8 “Komet”: an iconic electric rack train. Players can experience true rack railway driving, managing traction and speed on steep inclines. 4/ ️ Unique scenery Stunning views of the Matterhorn, one of the Alps’ most famous peaks. Alpine forests, charming villages, and deep valleys along the route. Perfect for TSW6 photomode and epic screenshot opportunities. 5/ Zermatt’s unique accessibility Zermatt is one of the few towns in the world accessible only by train (no cars, no planes). This makes every arrival a special moment, just like real-life Swiss mountain railways. 6/ ⛷️ Tourism and activity Famous ski resort and high-traffic tourist destination. For players: combine regular passenger services with the challenge of rack railway operation. 7/ Why TSW6 Perfect combination of railway realism, technical driving challenges, and stunning alpine scenery. Adding this line would give players a unique Swiss mountain experience hard to replicate elsewhere. 8/ Community perks Great for “rack railway climb” scenarios, precise driving, and managing tight schedules. Ideal for tutorials on mountain train operation. 9/ In summary Brig–Visp–Zermatt = ✅ 44 km of metre-gauge track ✅ rack railway sections, tunnels & bridges ✅ breathtaking alpine scenery ✅ arrival in the car-free town of Zermatt ✅ iconic ABDeh 4/8 “Komet” A must-have for train & mountain sim fans in TSW6.
+1 for this. However biggest issues I can see are… 1. Whether DTG or a 3P could get a licence and research access and, 2. As Woodsy says above whether Simugraph could cope with extreme gradients and rack working.
Unfortunately, there would only be one train on this route, which would quickly become boring. I don't know the timetable for this railway, but I don't think it would offer much. And as others have already written, it is possible to build a route that has cogwheel drive, but these cogwheels are only on some sections. As I come from Switzerland, I would be very happy if there were another Swiss route. But then I would prefer one from SBB, BLS, SOB, etc., where there is simply more to offer in terms of timetables.
By the looks of a quick Google search if could be more interesting than it would seem. There's a half-hourly, full-length Regional Run using (seemingly) a locomotive + carriages and maybe a multiple unit. There's also a 3tph shuttle to Täsch which also seems to use a multiple unit. A reasonable amount of freight as it's needed for Zermatt and of course the seasonal Glacier Express (which would be a Loco DLC, no doubt.) So this route with the Multiple Unit + Freight Locomotive would offer a relatively packed timetable compared to, say, Bernina Line which is definitely a stunning route but it's sparse, and 80 minute run end-to-end is a reasonable enough time. It certainly seems the least boring (operationally) of the Alpine routes we'd have in TSW.
This would be fun and it would probably be Rivet who would do this as they have done all previous Swiss Routes in the past. My biggest worry would be that they cut the route short like Bernina Line. Bernina Line was nicely made but it wasn’t the full line and that was really disappointing.
