One of the more active Dutch train drivers on Youtube, meesterpaul2, has released a new cabview video today for Zwolle-Groningen, recorded just a few weeks ago from an SNG Sprinter service (all-stations service): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxHjTzPYWog
Oh wow. How can you even see them? I did notice that Matt said we're close to preview streams, even repeating "very" close. But I was under the understanding that either way Cardiff City Network was going to be first, and only after Cardiff City release, might we get previews for anything else. Especially since the Cardiff WIP photo's seemed far more detailed and ready for release.
On PS, the trophies are not visible yet. In recent months, trophies for routes only became visible after the official release date was announced. Could be an oversight.
There were no DLC loco related achievements for quite a while now - I think the las one were for TSW3 era DLCs (and even Acela didn't have them). It's a shame for me, really. I wish they would contain achievements.
Oh yes, that's right. Technically I think the Flying Scotsman was the last one (part of Deluxe but seperate achievement/trophy set).
Krijgen we nu ook Nederlandse teksten? Net als de Duitsers Duitse teksten hebben, wil ik dat ook wel. Maar hoeft niet hoor.
Same! I live in the Netherlands and i am dutch! I travel alot on this route to visit my grand-parents xd
I hope the trains will not be as dirty (inside and outside) as the real NS trains :') Our trains really are in a terrible state, especially compared to the spotless Swiss trains.
vmeck like foggy#2817 said, signs, passenger information systems (the displays in the trains) and station announcements will be in Dutch. There've been no announcements on release the entire game in Dutch though, like they announced the game releasing in Japanese when they announced the Japanese route. DTG would have to translate the entire game, including the scenario texts and guide on routes in other countries as well, and I'm not sure if this would make financial sense to DTG. And besides, I'm not sure if most Dutch TSW players really need a Dutch translation of the game. We do fine with English language games in other categories after all. I'd rather have DTG spend money on a second Dutch route rather than translating the whole game into Dutch.
As a game translator I'm a bit biased, but I would say this is the perfect moment to localize the game in more languages, with Thomas the Tank and its story-focused content around the corner. Maybe it's hard to believe, but based on our clients' surveys there are many people in the Netherlands (and Belgium) who greatly appreciate being able to game in their mother tongue.
I mean, sure. But I do hope for some realistic grime and weathering though. Thankfully, the preview pics we've got so far do look quite good in that regard. I hate it when trains in the game are too "clean". Makes them look plastic and unrealistic.
I'd appreciate it, though I'd probably not make use of it myself, or at least it'd take a while to get used to it. For some reason, when I see anything in Dutch, it feels really goofy and unserious.
Nice It was mentioned before, but I wasn't sure what platform that was on. Not gonna read into this too much though, regarding proximity of the release date. Only slightly disappointed with the Gouda reference because that one would fit so much better on my first proposed route of Utrecht - Gouda - Den Haag/Rotterdam, as it literally features the place. (my hometown btw) Anyways. I see this as a challenge to have completed within the first 24 hours
So, wondering. Anyone has any specific plans on what to do when the route releases? For me, as I feel is the case for most, I'm gonna get myself a good look through the NS ICM first, to then drive the earliest IC service from Zwolle to Groningen, where I'll be taking over the sprinter service back to Zwolle, so I'll be driving my own morning commuter train I could also start with the IC from Groningen to Zwolle, as that way I might get to set it up from the yard too, given it doesn't terminate at- nor start from Zwolle but rather Den Haag or Rotterdam as for the IC services, it's literally the other far end of my earlier mentioned proposed route, but Zwolle is where I'm at home, so I feel like my first service oughta start from Zwolle, and I do want to use the NS ICM first.
First an on foot exploration of both Zwolle and Groningen, with a view inside the ICM as a passenger. Then onto the first journey mode with the ICM tutorial and some full line services. Something like that
Yes also starting with a IC service from Zwolle to Groningen ^^ Very happy with the beautiful ICM, as child I saw also the KLM and Martin Air livery version before the facelift
As it's one of the few Dutch routes I haven't used in real-life, I think I'll sit back and see how it's received by the community first. Had it featured Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht ,Amersfoort, Arnhem or Nijmegen, etc., then I would have been able to tell how realistic it is. But it doesn't, so I'll wait for the expert reviews. Bar Just Train's releases, I've now stopped buying routes on day one, but unless this route is badly received, I plan to get this one at some point in the future. I am a big fan of the ICM and hoping one day we'll get a route which comes with the VIRM, as those are the units I have travelled on the most during my visits. I love travelling by train in the Netherlands and actually planning my next trip there at the moment!
Those of us who know the route well and buy it early (myself included) will no doubt let you know how it has turned out
I always buy my stuff during discounts, but I'm going to make an exception for this route. I'm voting with my wallet. I want DTG to make more Dutch content. I hope Zwolle-Groningen generate enough sales for DTG to make more Dutch content.
Same. I own most content of the game, but most of it bought with about 40% off. Some exceptions on how much off I'll take depending on how much exactly I want the DLC and support the creator. This one, along with the Tadami line, are absolute day 1 purchases for me because I want to show my appreciation for Dutch / Japanese content and support for more. That said, I am slightly nervous about how in-depth the route and train quality will be, as sometimes DTG's renditions can be a bit shallow, and I'd have been a bit more comfortable with the design philosphies of JustTrains or TSG. But, Matt did say that given the extend of cooperation by the NS, he thinks it really shows in the quality of the trains, so I'm optimistic.
i rlly hope dtg will also make dutch routes based in the 90s and 80s so we could get some cool trains like the old ICM de DDAR and MDDM or like smt more older like the MAT 64 or the MAT 54 hondekop or the DM90 buffels or even just smt like the following trains like SGMM/SGM, mat 46, class 1600/1800, class 1700, class 1200, de3/plan u and ofc the dutch belgian MAT 57 aka benelux hondekop or the HLE11 wih the ICR wagons
While I'm all for it, I don't think that's likely at all, unfortunately. Not unless Dutch content *REALLY* pops off for TSW and even then probably only in collaboration with a team like Dutch Classics. Matt did state early in this thread that they had 3 options for a Dutch route in the final selection. Suppose they do end up making all 3, the reasoning behind starting with Zwolle - Groningen was because this is a relatively basic route that can get away with, at least initially, a very small roster of trains while still feeling natural. Both other options required rolling stock to already exist in the game in order to do them justice. Problem then is the NS SNG, which only entered service in 2019. So with the reasoning of needing assets and rolling stock, at least for the first few releases, they're kinda locked in at the 2015-2025 era I'd say. Maybe with a small outlier in 2005 like Bremen - Oldenburg which is set in 2008 if they're deadset on including an oldschool NS ICM with working front doors.
I fear older trains just aren't that popular. My suggestion for the ICM got quite a few likes quite fast, but my suggestion for the Mat '64 never got more than a few likes, even though the train has been a very common sight throughout the country.
I've travelled with the mat 64 in my days, before it retired in 2016 and now sits in the spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht (railway museum)
Which services do you want it on? The 425 doesn't have a conductor in real life. It would be more appropriate on the ICE services, but they are nonstop runs where you'd get the riveting gameplay experience of "opening and closing the doors one (1) time in 45 minutes". All the other rolling stock is layered in from routes that came out before conductor mode was a thing.
Yeah, I heard that. So than, is the conductor not even on board the 425 to check tickets? Also, regarding the ICE. While I do agree with you, I don't think it's up to anyone to declare what we want. I do agree it's boring, but what if I want to be a conductor on an ICE regardless? I mean, I can let the ICE basically drive itself for an entire run of Kassel - Wurzburg, so why shouldn't I also be allowed to just close the doors once, check some tickets, followed by 30 minutes of staring out the windows it that's what I want to do?
There are ticket checks sometimes, but that's purely a customer service role with no tasks related to the actual operation of the train. Because letting you to do that costs dev time which could instead be used on something that more people want.
Unlike DBAG, NS in the Netherlands is among the European train operators that deploy conductors on local services, and this is because of... unions! NS really doesn't want to have conductors on those services, as they cost the company a huge amount of money for very little added revenue. According to NS, the ticketing gates at most stations take care of the largest group of fare evaders, and the conductor amounts to customer service at best. NS have tried to diminish the conductor's role or even get completely rid of them in the past, but unions blocked every attempt so far. Using strikes, they forced NS to reconsider every idea in that direction. Even door controls in the driving cab has been a discussion point between NS and the unions, as the unions saw that as the first step in removing conductors. Hence most NS stock doesn't have door control installed in the driving cab, with a few exception (mostly off the shelve stock, where sometimes those controls are disabled by default to comply with union demands). So far, only the Airport Sprinter (a high frequency service operated by NS, using SNG class EMUs, between Amsterdam Centraal and Schiphol Airport Station) has been allowed by the unions to have the driver in control of door operations (like in Germany), but there's still a conductor present for customer service and safety. Officially, this is still a pilot to see if driver door operations can speed up departures. Other regional operators in the Netherlands (Arriva, QBuzz, Breng/Connexxion) don't have conductors on their local trains, but rely on mobile squads of controllers that board trains, do a quick check and get off a the next station to board the next train to do checks on. The driver is in charge of door operations and safety while departing, just like on German trains.
The argument by NS that the ticketing gates are enough measure to ensure payed entrance is not very true, is it? A lot of stations don't have a gate system yet, among others Groningen (at least until later this year). On the upcoming route, only Zwolle has this system (AFAIK).
This sums up very well why I stopped playing TSW last year.... is this really what we are talking about 8 years into the franchise?
If an issue like this is enough to illustrate why you stopped playing this game, you should definitely stay away. There are bigger issues with this game than not having guard mode on certain trains....
Don´t worry, staying very clear of this game... just sometimes reading the forums to see, if things are going, as I expected. It seems you did not understand my post. I find it sad that issues like this are beeing talked about! I thought at this point in the game we would be talking about long and complete route with lots of rolling stock rather than beeing a "guard" lurking around on a 40 minute ICE service. That´s the problem.
Well, guard mode is so far still pretty much in its infancy, only being here since TSW5 in november, so only being on routes since. It's pretty enjoyable, even if there is plenty to be improved upon for it. The disagreement I had with mkraehe#6051 there is that it is my view that if it's appropriate to have a guard/conductor there IRL, it should be represented in the game, even if it's boring due to few stops. Especially the controls themselves btw. Even if they don't do conductor mode in the timetable, they should definitely add the conductor's control panel to be played with on operation.
Their words, not mine. NS has placed gates on routes where fare evasion happens a lot. Hence the maze of gates in the Amsterdam area (try changing trains on Amsterdam Zuid - you'll need to follow the directions on the yellow signs closely to avoid paying more for your trip, as some stairs down into the ticketing hall lead you through gates that you are entitled to skip if your connecting train is also an NS service (which, on Zuid, it always is). You'll need to take the "special stairs" to the other platform to prevent paying too much). Apparently, folks in the Groningen area are honest folk
