Completing the missing link of German long-distance rail A short history of InterRegio The InterRegio was more than just another train category. It represented a different philosophy of long-distance travel: affordable, practical, and regionally connected. From the 1980s until the early 2000s, InterRegio services linked cities and regions deliberately bypassed by ICE routes. They were slower than high-speed trains, but more personal and accessible than classic long-distance services. Around the year 2000, the exact time frame of the Frankenbahn in Train Sim World – InterRegio was still an active and visible part of the German rail network. This transitional era makes it especially compelling for simulation. Why InterRegio fits the Frankenbahn perfectly The Frankenbahn (Stuttgart–Heilbronn) is not a high-speed line. Its character is defined by medium distances, classic mainline operation, and a dense mix of regional, freight, and long-distance traffic. This is exactly where InterRegio belonged. The real InterRegio line 24 operated on this corridor until 2001. Its presence is historically documented and fully compatible with the Frankenbahn’s TSW setting. InterRegio would not change the route’s identity, it would complete it. What is already available in TSW A major strength of this proposal is that much of the technical and visual foundation already exists in Train Sim World trough the Flixtrain Add-On. Already present or clearly derivable are: era-appropriate locomotives such as the BR 101, BR 103, BR110, BR112, BR218 and more the fact that former InterRegio coaches were later widely used in InterCity services, meaning such a pack would also expand the visual and operational variety of IC traffic in TSW coach shells and construction concepts originating from the InterRegio family (for example, modernised former IR coaches used by FlixTrain) window spacing, door positions, proportions, interior and transitions documented InterRegio train formations verified interior layout drawings and seating plans from archival sources, like here https://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?017,10324559,10468646 This means: No clean-sheet development, but a historically accurate variant built on existing assets. What would need to be added To represent InterRegio authentically, targeted additions would be required: InterRegio-specific interior variants period-correct seating, colours, and materials compartment and semi-compartment layouts Bicycle and multifunction coach a defining feature of many InterRegio formations BordBistro / service coach simple and functional, yet central to the travel experience Optional: control car (Steuerwagen) for future extensions or expanded operational concepts All of these elements are well documented, visually distinctive, and meaningful for gameplay. Why a rolling stock pack is the right approach There is currently no confirmed route extension of the Frankenbahn towards Würzburg or Erfurt. A standalone InterRegio rolling stock pack therefore offers the greatest flexibility. Such a pack could be used: - on the Frankenbahn (historically accurate) - on potential future routes such as Stuttgart–Ulm - on other German mainlines set around before the year 2002 - as layered services on existing TSW routes A comparable approach has already proven successful with InterCity rolling stock on Rhein-Ruhr routes. Added value for Train Sim World An InterRegio rolling stock pack would: - introduce a new service type between regional and IC/ICE traffic - provide a distinctly different driving and operational experience - create emotional attachment through a widely missed train category - offer high replay value across multiple routes - Not faster gameplay – but deeper gameplay. Conclusion InterRegio is not missing from Train Sim World not only because of nostalgia. It is missing because it fills a real operational and historical gap. The Frankenbahn provides the perfect setting. The reference material is solid. The technical foundation already exists. An InterRegio rolling stock pack would not look backward – it would finally complete the picture of German rail around the year 2000
