Stuttgart – Ulm via the Filstalbahn (Late 2000s Era) I would like to suggest the Filstalbahn from Stuttgart Hbf to Ulm Hbf for Train Sim World, set in the late 2000s era. In my opinion, this route could become one of the most varied and gameplay-rich German routes ever made for TSW because it combines: - Dense suburban commuter traffic - Busy long-distance operations - Heavy freight traffic - Challenging gradients - Extensive shunting gameplay - Urban and rural driving in one route - Huge layering potential with mostly existing rolling stock The route is approximately 93 km long, which feels like a realistic and achievable length for TSW while still offering a huge variety of gameplay. --- Why the Late 2000s? The late 2000s are ideal for several reasons. First, the existing version of Stuttgart Hbf already represented in TSW fits this era very well. Secondly, Ulm Ubf (Umschlagbahnhof) had entered service from 2005 onward, which adds significant operational variety with container freight traffic. This era also allows a very interesting mix of classic and modern German traction: - ICE 1 - ICE 3 - Older freight locomotives - Regional push-pull trains - Classic S-Bahn stock - Heavy banking freight services on the Geislinger Steige It feels like a “golden era” where older DB traction still existed alongside modern high-speed trains. --- Core Gameplay Loop What makes this route especially compelling is that it is not just “another scenic German mainline.” Almost every type of railway gameplay is represented here: - S-Bahn commuter driving - Regional services - IC and ICE express operations - Heavy freight - Banking operations - Shunting - Depot work - Yard operations - Dense AI traffic This route constantly keeps the player busy. --- The Route Itself The route starts in the extremely urban environment around Stuttgart. Between Stuttgart Hbf and Plochingen, the line is heavily dominated by S-Bahn and regional traffic. Multiple tracks, dense signaling, overtakes, and constant traffic would make this section feel alive. Plochingen itself is operationally interesting because S-Bahn units are stabled there. Further east, the route gradually becomes more rural until reaching the spectacular section between Geislingen and Ulm. --- The Geislinger Steige – The Highlight The most unique gameplay feature of the route is undoubtedly the Geislinger Steige. This is one of Germany’s most famous railway gradients. From Stuttgart to the summit of the route, trains climb roughly 400 meters in elevation. The gradients exceed 2%, creating genuinely demanding driving conditions for both passenger and freight trains. The scenery is spectacular: - Steep hillsides - Narrow valleys - Large rock formations - Tight curves - Mountain railway atmosphere But more importantly for TSW: it creates engaging gameplay. Heavy freight trains often require banking locomotives attached at the rear to push trains uphill. This opens the door for: - Banking scenarios - Helper locomotive gameplay - Difficult freight handling - Brake management challenges - Realistic heavy freight operations rarely seen in TSW This section alone would make the route stand out from many other German routes. --- Passenger Operations The route offers excellent variety in passenger services. S-Bahn The already existing DB BR 423 could handle S-Bahn services and would fit perfectly in its appropriate livery. Additionally, the newer TSG BR 420 could layer onto S-Bahn services between Stuttgart and Plochingen. --- Long Distance Services The route is one of the busiest long-distance corridors in southern Germany. Services could include: - ICE services running non-stop between Stuttgart and Ulm - IC services stopping at places like Plochingen and Göppingen - InterRegio-style services similar to those on the Frankenbahn The existing DB BR 401 (ICE 1) would fit perfectly. Alternatively, an ICE 3 variant could also work very well for the era. If new content were desired, the ICE 2 would be an excellent addition and would greatly expand German long-distance operations in TSW overall. --- Regional Traffic Double-deck or n-Wagen regional trains could be operated by: - DB BR 111 - DB BR 146 - DB BR 112 - DB BR 143 The DB BR 218 could operate both freight trains and the RE5 between Stuttgart and Ulm, adding even more operational diversity. --- Freight Operations Freight traffic is another major strength of the route. The line carries a large amount of freight traffic, especially: - Intermodal/container trains - Mixed freight - Heavy uphill freight services Existing locomotives like: - DB BR 140 - DB BR 185 could already provide substantial freight gameplay. If additional new content were desired, the classic DB BR 151 would be a perfect choice due to its strong association with heavy freight operations on steep gradients like the Geislinger Steige. --- Shunting and Yard Gameplay Another huge advantage of the route is the amount of shunting potential. Important locations include: - Ulm Hbf - Ulm Rbf - Ulm Ubf - Stuttgart Hbf - Stuttgart Untertürkheim - Stuttgart harbor area The following locomotives could provide excellent yard gameplay: - DB BR 363 - DB BR 294 This would significantly expand gameplay variety beyond simple end-to-end passenger driving. --- Layering Potential One of the strongest arguments for this route is how naturally it fits into the existing TSW ecosystem. The amount of potential layers is enormous: - BR 423 - BR 420 - BR 101 + IC coaches - ICE 1 - ICE 3 - BR 111 - BR 112 - BR 143 - BR 146 - BR 218 - BR 140 - BR 185 - BR 363 - BR 294 This means the route could feel extremely busy and alive without requiring a massive amount of entirely new rolling stock. That makes the proposal feel realistic from a development perspective while still offering enormous operational variety. --- Why This Route Would Work So Well in TSW What makes the Filstalbahn special is the combination of all its elements together. Many routes do one thing well: - commuter traffic - scenic mountain railroading - freight - shunting - high-speed operations This route does all of them simultaneously. Players would experience: - Dense urban operations around Stuttgart - Complex mixed traffic - Challenging mountain freight driving - High-speed ICE operations - Regional stopping services - Banking operations - Yard and shunting gameplay - Scenic rural railroading All within a manageable 93 km package. To me, this feels like one of the most complete and gameplay-rich German route concepts possible for Train Sim World.
Looking at this you do want to hop from this too Frankenbahn Stuttgart Heilbronn Würzburg route. That explains your suggestion
