Dear development team, In 2028, the railway history of Germany will forever lose one of its most unique phenomena. The famous München-Nürnberg-Express (MÜNEX) trainsets from Škoda will be permanently retired from service. We have a critically short amount of time left to not miss out on this technical gem, and it is your studio that has the unique chance to immortalize this legendary regional express in the form of a perfect digital monument. The recreation of this trainset would become a real "cherry on the cake" for the simulator. We are talking about a very special combination of rolling stock: 1. Electric locomotive DB BR 102 2. Driving trailer DABpbzf 770.0 3. Intermediate coach DBpdz 790.0 4. End coach DABpz 790.1 However, for this amazing train to reveal itself 100%, the game needs a bold and logical decision: merging the existing Schnellfahrstrecke Nürnberg – Ingolstadt route with the Ingolstadt – München section. Let's be honest: the current 30-minute section for the ICE 3M causes only sadness and disappointment among players. Just as you manage to accelerate the express to 300 km/h, you already need to start braking. Merging these sections into a single 171-kilometer mainline will not just fix this frustrating oversight, but will also give players a full-fledged, thrilling experience of driving high-speed trains. Moreover, this project has immense significance for the international Train Sim World community. For the vast majority of players from America, Asia, and other corners of the world, purchasing this add-on will become a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to personally touch the controls of this rare rolling stock. You are giving them not just a train, but a unique ticket to Bavaria, which is becoming more and more exclusive with every passing day. Game Design and Psychology: Perfect Balance and a Sense of Completion Many current scenarios in the game cover only half of the modeled route, offering trips lasting about 50–60 minutes. After such sessions, virtual train drivers inevitably experience an unpleasant "feeling of unfinished business" — as if the run was cut off at the most interesting part. In the case of the full Schnellfahrstrecke Nürnberg–Ingolstadt–München mainline, players will finally get what they have been asking for for a long time: a full-fledged, continuous experience of driving a train on the RE 1 line from the first to the last station. The "sweet spot" of gameplay: According to the current timetable, a full MÜNEX run takes a maximum of 111 minutes. For the simulator genre, this is the absolute gold standard for duration. This time is perfectly sufficient to fully immerse oneself in the process and enjoy the stunning scenic views of Bavaria, without having time to feel tired from monotony. Unique timetable dynamics: The RE 1 line offers completely unprecedented gameplay. You are driving a regional express that has to squeeze out its maximum capabilities, rushing at a speed of 200 km/h and sharing the same tracks with passing ICEs. This creates an incredible feeling of racing against time and real traffic. Contrast of driving styles: During these 111 minutes, the player experiences two completely different driving philosophies. The section from Nuremberg to Ingolstadt is about automatic operation of a high-speed train (LZB) through a series of tunnels. But after Ingolstadt, the character of the game changes drastically: a busy classic mainline begins, requiring manual control, close attention to signals (PZB), and masterful maneuvering on the approaches to Munich. Such a change of pace and scenery within a single run guarantees that the route will keep the player pleasantly engaged from the first to the last minute, erasing the feeling of an artificially cut-off game. Economy, Reputation, and Limitless Possibilities: From Correcting Mistakes to a Sales Hit Releasing the full version of the route is not only a luxurious gift for the fans, but also a perfect chance to elegantly close the questions regarding the mixed reception of the Schnellfahrstrecke Nürnberg–Ingolstadt release. Expanding the map is an absolutely realistic, achievable, and proven step. Your studio already has a brilliant precedent: when the Nahverkehr Dresden (Riesa - Dresden) route was expanded to the monumental Leipzig - Dresden, the community met it with absolute delight. Applying a similar approach here will turn a "short" release into a true masterpiece and show players that the studio knows how to listen to its audience and bring its projects to perfection. Moreover, this project harbors colossal commercial potential that will work for the game for years: The perfect playground for Layers and Free Roam: The new 171-kilometer track will become an absolute gem of the game and the main sandbox for the free roam mode. But what is even more important for the Train Sim World ecosystem is the limitless possibilities for AI traffic integration (Layers). Adding the massive hubs of Ingolstadt and Munich will allow dozens of fragments of real lines to run along this artery: the Munich and Nuremberg S-Bahn, an endless number of regional RB and RE, heavy freight trains, and the entire existing ICE fleet. This will become a powerful incentive for players to buy up old and new German DLCs, simply to bring this incredible mainline to life! Justifying the premium price: The combination of the route's monumental length (171 km) and the exclusive status of a "train fading into history" (BR 102 with unique coaches) makes this project a perfect candidate for expensive, expanded editions. Guaranteed pre-order success: Players are happily willing to pay for scale and exclusivity. A well-structured marketing campaign emphasizing the farewell to the legendary Škoda and the grand merger of the routes will ensure the project achieves phenomenal revenue already at the pre-order stage. A Natural Home for the ICE 4 (BR 412.0 / 412.4): This expanded mainline is the ideal route for the newly released ICE 4 variants. Players will finally be able to stretch the legs of both the 12-car (BR 412.0) and 7-car (BR 412.4) sets on one of their most iconic real-world high-speed corridors at full speed. Technical Implementation: Breaking Down Barriers and Using Ready-Made Solutions One can often hear concerns that creating such a unique trainset is associated with insurmountable technical and bureaucratic barriers. However, upon closer inspection, it becomes clear that most obstacles have either already been overcome or play into the developers' hands: View attachment upload_2026-9-20_16-38-38.jpeg View attachment upload_2026-9-20_16-36-39.jpeg Ready-made infrastructure: One of the most complex elements of the route — Munich Central Station (München Hbf) with all its complex approaches and track layouts — has already been carefully recreated in the München-Augsburg add-on. The team will not have to spend months designing this giant transport hub from scratch. A reasonable approach to documentation: Undoubtedly, technical data is needed to recreate a locomotive. But the point is that the developers do not need to obtain absolutely all the documentation for the electric locomotive with all the trade secrets. To create a realistic model, only a small portion of the data on the cab and running gear is needed. Moreover, the operating logic of key onboard systems (PZB, LZB, Sifa, basic traction physics) has already been implemented in the game at the highest level and can be partially transferred from other modern locomotives. A Once-in-a-Lifetime Access Window (Oct-Dec 2026): Deutsche Bahn has officially announced a full closure of the Schnellfahrstrecke Nürnberg–Ingolstadt from October 31 to December 11, 2026, for extensive track renewals. During these six weeks, the MÜNEX trainsets will be temporarily out of their regular high-speed service. This provides an absolutely unprecedented, golden opportunity for the development team. It is the perfect time to easily access the parked trains to safely record pristine audio (compressors, traction, horns), gather reference photos, and scan the cabs without the immense hassle of disrupting active passenger operations or negotiating complex scheduling. Successful legal experience: Overcoming licensing barriers is an absolutely realistic and achievable task. The presence of recent Czech add-ons in the game proves that contacts with manufacturers from this region have already been established. And the colossal fleet of German EMUs/DMUs and such legendary locomotives as the Vectron, BR 101, 103, 111, and 147 confirms years of successful experience collaborating with Deutsche Bahn. The bridges have already been built; all that remains is to send this project across them. Summing Up Creating a unified 171-kilometer Schnellfahrstrecke Nürnberg–München route is a unique opportunity to get a benchmark mainline that offers: Variability of game sessions: From dynamic high-speed runs (60–70 minutes) to full-fledged, thrilling journeys lasting up to 111 minutes. Versatility of rolling stock: This is an ideal platform for all types of gameplay — from shunting work with diesel locomotives to driving heavy freight trains and the latest high-speed passenger expresses. Incredibly lively AI traffic: Huge potential for layers, including freight trains, commuter S-Bahn, regional RE/RB, and a colossal number of ICE runs to all major German cities and beyond. Dual Timetable: A unique opportunity to implement timetables from different years. Players will be able to choose between the classic era (with the BR 101 and single-deck coaches) and the modern era (with the new MÜNEX trainsets from Škoda). This approach has already proven its incredible success on the Schnellfahrstrecke Köln - Aachen route. A platform for future content: The route will become an ideal base for introducing any future add-ons from TSG — whether it's new regional trains (for example, the BR 445) or international Nightjet runs. The Perfect Core Route for the Future Finally, this project wouldn't just be an incredible standalone DLC. Given the strict 2028 retirement deadline, it stands as a perfect, high-profile core route for a future major release — ideally Train Sim World 8 or, at the very latest, Train Sim World 9. Waiting any longer simply means missing the real-world operational window of this legendary train forever. Best regards, Dima
Always loved the looks of the loco & cab car, shame they'll retire already that soon. Would be a perfect addition for the game before they retire!
