Feature Suggestion: Connected Services – A New Way to Connect Routes in Train Sim World Hello Dovetail Games, I would like to suggest a feature that I believe could fundamentally improve Train Sim World while also increasing the long-term value of existing and future DLC. Connected Services Instead of treating every route as an isolated experience, introduce a system that allows compatible routes to be connected through continuous train services. Example Imagine these routes exist: Brussels – Aachen Aachen – Köln Köln – Frankfurt A real ICE service runs from Brussels to Frankfurt. If a player owns all three routes, they should be able to continue driving the same train across all three routes. The journey could be split into sections: Part 1 – Brussels → Aachen Part 2 – Aachen → Köln Part 3 – Köln → Frankfurt At the end of every section the player can choose: Continue the service End the service Return to Timetable / Free Roam If the player selects Continue, the next compatible route loads automatically. Persistent Service Data The following information should carry over between routes: Current delay Time of day Weather Train condition Service number Player score Example: If I arrive in Köln with +25 minutes, I should also depart Köln with +25 minutes. The train should feel like one continuous real-world service rather than separate scenarios. DLC Ownership The system should only work if every required route is owned. For example: Own: Brussels – Aachen Aachen – Köln Missing: Köln – Frankfurt The journey simply ends in Köln. Nothing changes for players who only own one route. Why this would benefit Train Sim World This feature would not only introduce a new gameplay mechanic, but also increase the value of older DLC. Every new connected route would automatically extend existing services. For example: A new Köln – Frankfurt DLC could advertise: Connected Services Owners of Köln – Aachen can continue selected ICE and IC services beyond Köln without returning to the main menu. Continuous services with persistent delays, weather and train state. This creates a strong reason to build connected route collections. Instead of simply buying another isolated route, players expand an entire railway network. Future Possibilities This system could support: ICE IC Eurostar Nightjet Regional Express services Freight services Long-distance journeys would finally feel complete, while players who only want to drive one section could simply stop after Part 1. I believe this feature would make Train Sim World feel much more like a real railway network instead of a collection of disconnected routes. Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion
I'm on board with your Connected Services idea. High-speed passenger trains need long routes to give more realistic operation. This idea would work great with a Northeast Corridor Route too. We'd get several NEC section DLCs that would fill out the entire network. Then we'd get the new Amtrak Avelia Liberty Trainsets (w/ passenger car interiors), regional trains with the ACS-64 (again w/ passenger car interiors), some CSX freights with GP40-2s/GP40-3s, SD40-2s/SD40-3s, or Genset Switchers, and of course, new Siemens ALC-42Es w/ Aero Venture Pantograph Cars, Coaches, and Cab Cars (w/ passenger car interiors too) as a future DLC when the new trains start arriving to Amtrak. Connected Services could also give use some really long and scenic freight routes, like my personal favorite, and one that I've been requesting for a while: the BNSF (or ATSF) Seligman Subdivision: Needles, CA-Winslow, AZ in the southwest USA. This route is almost 300 miles long, but with extensions and connected services, US players could enjoy running fast BNSF freights through some great desert and mountain scenery. Plus, Seligman Sub is a very busy route with over 70 trains per day on a good day. The route also features Amtrak's Southwest Chief, so we could finally get Amtrak Superliners (w/ interiors, of course), and an Amtrak P42DC Genesis (in several liveries, including heritage ones) or an Amtrak Siemens ALC-42 Charger (in Day 1, Ph. 6, and Ph. 7 liveries). Of course, the Seligman Sub could also include the Grand Canyon RR for a tourist train in game. Other longer route ideas that could be possible with Connected Services: -Alaska RR -Quebec-Windsor Corridor w/ VIA, GO, Exo, and CN -WP/UP Feather River Canyon: Oroville-Portola and GN/BN/BNSF NW Gateway Sub -BNSF Fallbridge Sub: Pasco-Portland, OR along the Columbia River -UP Portland Sub: Hinkle-Portland, OR along the Columbia River -UP Evanston Sub: Ogden, UT-Green River, WY -Pacific Surfliner: San Diego-San Luis Obispo, CA -FEC/Brightline: Miami-Orlando, FL -SP Donner Pass/UP Roseville Sub: Roseville, CA-Sparks, NV -BNSF Scenic Sub/Stevens Pass -BNSF Marias Pass: Shelby-Whitefish, MT; including Kalispell Branch -Amtrak Cascades: Vancouver, BC, Canada-Eugene, OR; include BNSF, UP, and Seattle Sounder -Keystone Corridor: Philadelphia-Pittsburg, PA; include SEPTA, Amtrak, and NS
great idea... this needs to be a thing for long distance trains, like HST, maybe RailJet if we ever get it
We could also get Eurostar and international freight services through the Channel Tunnel with Connected Services (assuming that a developer could obtain the licensing).
