I've been a silent reader on this forum until now, but this issue bugs me and I would like to see if other people feel the same... Along the recently released (and well-made, btw) Rosenheim-Salzburg line, there are a couple of small branches which would have lent themselves as nice additions to the overall route, without too much extra effort to put into. Those branches are short but would have added some extra spice to the whole thing, and offered some more variety in terms of rolling stock and timetable. Especially the as-of-now somewhat underused BR 628 would get a little more to do there. First suggestion: Prien - Aschau https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnstrecke_Prien–Aschau https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiemgau_Railway The Chiemgaubahn, as it's called, is a little over 9km long and is being serviced during the mid-2010's solely by BR 628. Travelling the whole route takes about 15 minutes, with three stops along the way. It's neither long nor very spectacular, just a neat little addition... which on the other hand would make it pretty straightforward to implement. Sadly, cargo traffic has long since been abandoned on this line, so nothing to do for freight enthusiasts. Second suggestion: Traunstein - Waging https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnstrecke_Hufschlag_Abzweig–Waging [no English Wiki entry, sorry] This one would probably be the easiest one to implement, since almost a third of it's 10km length is already ingame, and the timetable is already partly done as well! Although only serviceable between Traunstein and Hufschlag, which is quite a bit disappointing for BR 628 owners, to say the least. The interesting part of the route lies in its last third, curving through gorgeous rural terrain before finally reaching Waging after a 15 minute journey. Just like on so many smaller routes in Germany, no cargo traffic here either. Third suggestion: Traunstein - Ruhpolding https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahnstrecke_Traunstein–Ruhpolding [also no English Wiki entry] This track is definitely the visually most interesting of the three, following the Traun and Weisse Traun rivers for most of its run. Ruhpolding lies nestled between mountains and woodlands 13km south of Traunstein and the journey there would make for a nice change of scenery. Also, the mid-route station Siegsdorf is equipped with some pretty interesting signalling system. This line would need the most of work to get done, but if done right, I'd say it would be worth it. In the early 2010's, this line is mostly being serviced by BR 425 EMU's, so fans of this one would get a new treat to sink their teeth into as well. Same as the others, no cargo traffic here. A shame... Side notes: Freilassing - Berchtesgaden and Traunstein - Traunreut/Garching Don't worry, I haven't forgotten those! While these lines would be amazing and offer some great opportunites as well as at least some extent of cargo services, they are longer and more elaborate, with much more scenery to build from scratch. The amount of work to put into them would most likely warrant another DLC. So, what does the community think about all this?
some nice branch traffic would be welcome... it would mean more ze German content, so hell yeah from me
Indeed While I can only speak from my narrow point of view (I only use some of the German routes), but many lines could profit greatly from getting some branches! For example, I really wouldn't mind taking my 628 from Mainz all the way to Bad Kreuznach... or being able to go there from Bingen as well! Sure, stuff like this adds some extra workload onto the developers' shoulders, but I'd say it also adds a lot of immersion and value to the routes. And I don't expect huge 30km+ branch lines being added, but a nice little side dish served alongside a tasty main course is always welcome That's why I chose the Rosenheim-Salzburg branches as an example. They're small and obscure, sure, but would elevate an already well done route even higher.
I know it would probably take a lot of work, but one of my dream routes is Wien-Westbahnhof/Hutteldorf - St. Polten, with highspeed Neu Westbahn - the one that has Lainzer Tunnel and Wienerwald Tunnel (corridor 1), but also a parallel route via Tullnerfeld (used by some RJX and CJX lines) (corridor 2) and the Alte Westbahn (regional route via Purkersdorf and Neulengbach)... or sth along those lines - like, a line, with some parallel line via different towns but same destination London Commuter is done really well in this regard - even now I am discovering new paths with 377 there
I understand that the time and resources dedicated to building a route are limited, but what makes me very sad in TSW is that we are condemned to these routes that could become spectacular, for example with all those branches that the op has described, end up being abandoned forever just as they were launched and after the developer has forgotten about it to focus on the next one. This is a lost opportunity for the customers who can only enjoy a small part of the route, for DTG who undoubtedly loses a very important source of revenue, and for the game itself, which rarely reaches that level of excellence and amazement that could be achieved with better planning. I don't understand why DTG hasn't built the game with this mentality. It's fine to bring out new routes, of course it is. But at the same time we'd all benefit if they could expand the routes with all these branches or add sections. They could charge for it and make a good profit. The research is done, most of the time they already have the licenses and I think most players would pay the cash to feel that when we play we feel part of a real railway network, like in SEHS for example, and all the fun that comes with the great variety of situations that can be enjoyed. Furthermore, these routes will revive each time they are expanded because we would all play again and they would not feel repetitive, which would increase the number of players and hours played.
Funny, as I thought about the exact same thing as I saw the 4 minute journeys with the 628 in the timetable. Especially the first two ones would have been very easy too make apparently but on the other hand would have made this wonderful DLC even better! Maybe we might see something like a second Meißen branch with this- but unfortunately I wouldn’t put my hopes up too high… Nevertheless it would be very cool indeed!
Exactly my thoughts! As a 628 fan I was eager to get into this new route, the whole area around Mühldorf and Rosenheim is literally crawling with 628's... at least until end of this year, that is. You can imagine my disappointment when I saw the services we got. And since one has to own Niddertalbahn in oder to gain access to the 628, i.e. being a fan of smaller, quieter routes too, it would have made a lot of sense to throw in one or two of those little branches here sort of as a treat for those types of players. After seeing how well the Dresden/Meißen/Riesa area has been received, I was hoping that DTG would listen up and do more stuff like this. There would be so many opportunities for stuff like this, all over the world! Exactly this, and it could pull in a different type of player. Not everyone is into electric trains, or heavy freight services, or high speed traffic. But unfortunately, I fear that this train literally has departed. The DLC is out, and looking at DTG's track record, I'm about sure that we won't get those little branches here ever. Well, perhaps someplace else, sometimes in the future...
There is another missed opportunity (theoretically even a branch) and something I personally thought they would bring into the DLC as a fun gimmick because A. they kind of teased it in the route teaser revealed in December and B. they already had the idea on DresdenRiesa to implement something similar with the Dresden Park railway. It is the narrow gauge miniature locos and the 2km long Fieldbahn railway at the Torfbahnhof Rottau/Grassau close to the Chiemsee, immediately located at the Bahnstrecke Salzburg-Rosenheim. I even made a huge speculation (with more information and images of it) about that in this post: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/th...salzburg-discussion-thread.77068/#post-770532 However, as things turned out they only used this museum station as a custom asset and sightseeing spot of the route, but nothing more. Therefore it only was mentioned in the teaser. Now we have the mastery reward with the Super sweet green train at the one station at the Chiemsee but providing the Peat station/museum as an accessible building (just like in the training centre) with at least one of the 3 drivable miniature locos available would have been a really cool thing into the DLC. I mean the DLC is nice as it is, but something like really would have put the cherries on the cake or as we say in Germany the "dot on the i" for me. Easy to implement? No. But a missed opportunity? For sure 100%.
This would have been a wonderful gimmick for sure But imagine the amount of work they'd have to put into just this little gimmick, just all the new rolling stock would have piled up an immense load of extra work hours. I'm pretty sure that this was never really considered by DTG... they didn't bother to include the last 7km of Traunstein-Waging, so absolutely no chance for a neat little thing like this.
it would indeed be very fun and interesting to operate on one of those industrial little narrow gauge railways. driving a railtour or the actual historical operations. of course really recource and time intensive so better to add the existing branch lines. I do like how there's now a railtour on a german route. UK has a decent amount of special services like railtours, RHTT, cargo train loading. USA also has some loading and unloading. but for the german content there's just end to end freight with occasionally some local freight or shunting oppurtunities. Freight deserves more attention in this game. I hope one day it reaches the level of Noir's suggestions. right now the tracks at freilassing are just criminally underused. Soma branch freight up to the bergtesgaden branch (Müllumlade freilassing hofham, stahlwerk annahütte) would do great already. or some loco switching for the border services. something that does happen irl. there is a big list of oppurtunities to make this route the best DTG created.
Interesting... I mean I'm already planning to get it eventually, but never knew there was alot left out... since most of the time I've used trains I was completely asleep
I completely agree. Too often small branches of routes are left out by developers. I mean, it wouldn't cost them too much extra work to introduce a couple of additional branches! Imagine having small route deviations available, perhaps just with a few stations. Maybe exclusively diesel traction, leaving the main line. This would go a long way towards making the routes in TSW more varied!
There are some train routes that can be very sleep-inducing! I tend to doze of almost every time when taking the train from the Allgäu to Munich But concerning this route here... if you just look at Rosenheim-Salzburg purely, nothing was left out. The route itself is nicely done. I just wish some of these side branches would've been included, that could have brought so much variety! Oh yes, route deviations are sorely lacking! And there are so many opportunities! Of course I can only recount the routes I'm using myself, but there would be an opportunity or two for many of them: Bremen-Oldenburg Obviously the branch towards Nordenham. Gives the 425 some more reason to exist Although the "branch" would be just as long as the main track... hmm. Tharandter Rampe From Flöha to Marienberg and/or Neuhausen From Flöha towards Annaberg-Buchholz Two very scenic routes, though in terms of length basically worth a separate DLC Linke Rheinstrecke Actually another big missed opportunity in my eyes is not completing the triangle including the lines Gau-Algesheim to Bad Kreuznach and Bingen to Bad Kreuznach. Both are diesel routes and a perfect playground for the 628. How many times have I stopped that thing at Gau-Algesheim and wished to continue! Boppard to Emmelshausen would be spectacular too, very steep and curvy. Gotta need a 218 for this though. München-Augsburg Two ideas here, either getting the Paartalbahn from Augsburg to Ingolstadt as a nice little rural Niddertalbahn-style diesel branch, or adding Mering-Geltendorf and Geltendorf-München to it. The latter would add more variety to the S-Bahn services, plus a good opportunity for scenarios because usually if something is wrong along the main line from Mering to München, all sorts of trains get diverted via Geltendorf Ok rant is over, sorry... ran a bit overboard with ideas there
Of course it would add months of added production time for some routes to have added branch lines. for some like the maintalbahn it will be a new route considering the length and location. but the freilassing-bergtesgaden branch for example is the biggest one because Salzburg to Mühldorf is a bit far. although just to the first station (Laufen) would be a great addition passing by Robel and shunting in freilassing. going off the mainline and onto a branch is something rarely seen in TSW. you either get only a mainline or a branch line. with the short branches on this route there is a lot possible although an extension to München to drive more long distance trains would be cool too. but if implemented well I'd rather see the 8 branches (first) and if all of them will be made, I'd definetely pay for an extension dlc.
