As we enter into the life cycle of TSW5, I've found it quite sad that we haven't had another Swiss Main line route since TSW2's S-Bahn Zentralschweiz. That's a whole 3 games we're in, and nothing. Now, I will say, DTG have done absolutely great adding Austrian routes into the game. Especially cross-border stuff which has been an absolute joy to drive through! (Please add the railjet) However, the thought still remains that I feel like we will be getting more one-offs that will leave railfans of that country hanging in the dark. Swiss Main line isn't the only category that got this treatment, French and Canadian content is in the same limbo. Frankly, who is to say that Dutch content in the future won't be given the same one-and-done approach. Now, I do understand that Licensing can always throw a wrench into all of that. That route development is much more difficult than laying track and scenery, and that if isn't profitable enough it'll probably get shelved. But I would like an actual answer to the state of those countries instead of just silence.
Considering sbb's recent decision to not allow their safety and signaling systems to be implemented in train simulators, I doubt dtg or rivet want to work with them. If they don't want to cooperate and meet certain expectations it's not worth the effort to invest time. Tsw is focused on realism and if they can't have safety systems, that defeats the whole purpose of it. Luzern-sursee already had some changes which rivet were able to compromise with sbb while they made the decision to not allow safety systems. Regarding the netherlands, according to dtg, they were extremely helpful in giving them access to everything in terms of reference material and operations so I doubt they will revoke the license anytime soon
To be honest that was my big dream for the past few years. But as rennekton already said: Don’t expect anything. SBB has made a strict decision on licensing and I doubt that could just DTG work with BLS since they have similar safety systems and signals (although an RE425 and the Lötschbergbahn would be the best thing to ever happen…) What I guess and hope tho is that Rivet will do some RhB routes again. They are not normal gauge but they are Swiss! And I mean: Albulabahn with Ge4/4 III and GEX coaches? Surselva line with overhauled Ge4/4 II and Ge4/4 I? There is a lot of RhB to be explored in TSW and I hope we will here something from Rivet as soon as they have finished their leven branch!
While RhB routes are nice, for the most part they are not exactly interesting for me personally. It is sad to know that SBB is very strict with licensing, but oh well I guess I sort of have my answer now.
Personally I would love more RhB stuff. I loved Arosalinie despite it's low quality scenery. Would've also lined Berninalinie if it was full length and not with the Allegra. But I'd love some more retro RhB stuff.
That's awesome, I'm hoping that it will turn out true and Dutch content will actually be expanded upon in the future
adding to that. Matt said they had 3 dutch routes as ideas. As a Dutchie I can confirm Zwolle - Groningen won't be as special as Frankfurt - Fulda or Dresden - Riesa. but for getting the understanding of the stock and signals it's a perfect start. The busier and more interesting routes have an interesting variety of stock depending on where you are in the country. And DTG can't deliver a route with 7 pieces of rolling stock. Nor does anyone like how sad and empty Luzern to Sursee is. the whole country uses a combination of a lot of different regional and express trains on their respective services. even sometimes a regional trainset for an IC service. so having a couple routes to fill up the rolling stock for busier routes is definetely needed. I think although flat we are a very densely built country. and that will show in the very interesting parts of railway we have. I see a possible great future for Dutch DLC that hopefully doesn't end as quick as Austria.
We need DTG to figure out rack railway physics and that would open the door to many more Swiss route possibilities. Further Oberalp anyone?
I’d really like the route from Luzern to Engelberg including a rack section. Probably wouldn’t be a big seller though. Not many trains per day. Beautiful scenery though, it’s my favourite weekend getaway.
I don't think that requires much figuring out. Just set the traction to maximum and you have a train that never wheel slips.
Only Rivet seem to do Swiss & they don’t have anything on the roadmap, we can only hope they’re busy with that & nothing else for the UK. DTG does Austria & I think they’re all in on NL at the moment. Personally I’d like to see DTG back off DE content a little and put more focus into other EU content. Hopefully this push to NL signals that.
This here is what I'm worried about, though thinking more about it. Maybe we just need to be patient? I don't know, not too much of a fan of having to wait till TSW6 for the chance of having a route with a Railjet or a Loco DLC lol
No disrespect to rivet, but I genuinely hope they never touch anything swiss related again after seeing the state of the SBZ
Yeah I would like to see Swiss Mainline & no Rivet aren’t who I’d want doing it (or anything else for that matter), but at the end of the day they’ve been the driving force for it in Train Sims. Of course the bigger issue really is SBB, they’ve all but closed the curtain on Train Simulation.
I genuinely wonder why SBB has become closed off, is it a security issue they think it's going to cause or just not wanting for any of their IP to be in games anymore
might be no new ideas to do yet or waiting on access from ÖBB since the 4024 sound recordings also haven't been made yet and after a year are still using the 422 sounds. I was a bit harsh in saying it is dropped but hey, if it isn't on the roadmap... I think the backlash in lack of stock for semmeringbahn might have some input too or the oppurtunities with other countries currently. I don't think Austrian content is dead like steam is. I expect DTG to just have found other things to do. the complete lack of anything austrian on the roadmap is saddening though. at least there are other things to get excited for.
That's for sure, but the start and end of projects for a country other than DE, UK and USA (USA has been a bit neglected lately, to be honest) seems to me to have foundered rather early. Switzerland (1435mm gauge), France (just an old route), are examples. I don't want to have to mention the Netherlands later. Routes of a "one-off" country with an associated train, just don't interest me, starting with Japan.
It's not that big of an issue with routes that have limited rolling stock in real life as well. Like the upcoming Tadami Line features just the KiHa 40, but there were times on the line when it really was just KiHa 40s, so it's not really an issue. The TGV route or Luzern-Sursee are really bad however, because they only feature one train, even though the real life areas should feature more, so the routes feel empty.
I never understood why for example.. on Luzern Sursee, The existing BR 185 Traxx couldn't just have been given a treatment with ETCS functionality. It could've been the bare minimum.
I also don't think austria is dead (funny metaphor, eh?). It will just take a lot of time as dutch and german routes also need their resources. One major problem with austria is: right now, ÖBB has a lot of other things to do like trying to make the westbahn driveable again. Even before the flooding, ÖBB didn't have any time to help DTG with a reference trip (which is why the ÖBB 4024 has Talent 2 sounds). Now, they will have even less time. I don't think ÖBB is a license issue. It's more that they won't help DTG with anything due to other tasks which are of course more important. So i don't think it's the end of the line, but it might take more time for another austrian route.
I’m surprised DTG haven’t looked at some of the more approachable Eastern European countries such as Czech Republic or Slovakia. Poland probably a no, no as their State Railway seems committed to working with SimRail. SNCF also must have worked with them on LGV so worth an approach or how about Italy or Spain (language barriers permitting).
Who says they didn't but decided it's not something for DTG? As you very well know it's a lot about having expertise in a railway system. And it seems they decided to go into dutch territory. As much as I'd love to see eastern europe in TSW, I think that's something for a 3rd party with people who live there. And as we know that RSSLO and Train-Motion are officially 3rd partys, I'm sure at some point we'll have something from czech or the balkan states.
yeah making the salzburg timetable I really hoped to see a new route or train on the horizon to add to it as I do miss some still. I'm glad Freddie has already made a lot of what I need. I know from other games branching out into new countries because their team is able to comfortably support the ones they have, and then realising oh no we have so much work now. I expected there to be a long wait. but seeing nothing makes me a bit worried . nonetheless, there's a lot of other cool things to wait for. and if there's a half year gap on austria only means the next route will be made after DTG or another developer has learned more on the previous release.
Following SBBs new licence policys, id say yes. Dont expect any (good) swiss mainline content in any sim. Even TSC has surprisingly few SBB DLC, rivets Gotthardbahn and then some 3 rd party stuff, all of which leave a lot to be desired to say the least. The great railway country Switzerland is, in sims its not. Unless SBB changes their mind about sims, its just not doable to recreate SBB content in a realistic way.
There might be more of RhB in the future, but for SBB mainlines i dont see any hope in the future seeing them in TSW (at least for a realistic implementation)..
I'm almost 40, but SSBs statement that they will not allow nor help devs to make their content gets me almost as furious as a little kid can get, when they really want somethig while shopping with parents and they just say "no". You know what I mean Making unbranded content is not an option I believe, the access is steel needed for research, sounds etc. After playing Rivets Berninalinie I finally decided to visit the country and see those places with my own eyes, also discovering that the train tickets cost twice as much as I first thought. So I've left a lot of money there.
So I just wanted to bring this one up again. Currently I’m in Graubünden for a few days of holidays. While being here I (as usually) took my camera and went to railfan the RhB trains. This time might be one of the best ones regarding weather and traffic! And that brings me here: Swiss mainlines are probably steering towards the sidings in this game. But I hope RhB doesn’t! There is so much potential left regarding lines and rolling stocks! So I wanted to take this opportunity and invite Jasper_Rivet to this thread and to hope that maaaaaybe he could say something regarding Rivets future in TSW5 apart from fife circle line- and if we can hope for another banger like Berninaline- or even new rolling stocks for Bernina? I know you can’t say anything specific but a simple “don’t loose hope” or “who knows ” would be more than enough
I'd love to see the Surselva line, best from Chur to Disentis and not just from Reichenau-Tamins like in TSC The part through the Ruinaulta (Rhine gorge) is just gorgeous. The Ge 4/4 II would need a serious update though... A Capricorn would be nice too, but I seriously want Rivet to update their rolling stock before they produce new stock. Both the Allegra and the Ge 4/4 II sound and drive nothing like the original. Especially the Ge 4/4 II is so clunky it doesn't even feel like a real train... The TSC ones were bad like most trains you can get on steam (except for a few good 3rd parties), but for TSW the standard should be much higher...
There are several areas that always seemed to be very busy in a small size. Switzerland would be one that you could model a huge part of the rail network in a very small route size. Also the Netherlands. Netherlands is what, 60 km wide and 120 km long? Switzerland is similar in size. Could almost do the whole country in a couple maps =-)
No. Switzerlands railway Network is 5317 km long Size of the country doesnt matter, it has a very very dense network. Even villiages with some 100 people see more daily trains than most US metro areas in a week ^^
But id very much like the idea of more RhB routes from rivet If they maintain berninas Quality. Something like albula would be awesome or the Rest of bernina Line with proper BEX coaches
That’s what I thought. The Allegra is fine for me but the Ge4/4 II should be so much better since it’s such a nice loco! I almost had tears in my eyes as I saw a tutorial of how to drive it when the route came out- the physics were perfect!!! My biggest wishes would be: - Surselva Chur-Disentis with an updated Ge4/4 II (and bring the liveries from the two packs to the new standard too!!!) - Albula with Ge4/4 III and Glacier Express coaches. The Allegra and Ge4/4 II could sub in with the existing coaches - ABe4/4 III with BEX coaches and line extension from St.Moritz to Ospizio Bernina for Berninaline
The Ge6/6 in TSC is quite nice. As I’ve mentioned previously, the throttle is not a cruise control and you actually have to drive the thing.
Thatˋs Surselva line- my absolute favorite route for especially that reason: it’s fast but still has amazing views while until a few monts ago Ge4/4 II were still the main workhorse there
