Creation Sharing Cologne Aachen 2023 Timetable (version 7)

State of work: At this point, all hours are finished.

TSW 5 will offer addition of these services:

• ICE T AI and depot moves around Cologne and one pair around Aachen
• Flixtrain AI and depot moves around Cologne, one service from/to Aachen playable on the entire route

How does it differ from the status quo?

• looping timetable: seamless transition from before to after midnight
  
• all passenger services running on September 13, 2023 with compatible rolling stock will be included (some only as AI)
• real times as much as possible (that makes some services very hard as there is little prep time)
• freight services that use loops and require waiting sometimes up to 10 minutes
• freight services that are following a real timetable with respect to rough times and loadout (timetable was only for portion from Aachen West to Belgium and back so the times for Cologne-Aachen are guesswork)

What lines/services are playable?

• RE 1 between Cologne-Aachen with Talent 2 as stand-in for Desiro HC
• RE 9 between Cologne-Aachen with mix of Talent 2 and Dosto+146
• RB 38 between Cologne-Horrem with BR 628 as stand-in for DB Talent 1
  
• RB 20 between Düren-Langerwehe and Stolberg-Aachen with BR 628 as stand-in for Euregiobahn Talent 1
• RB 25 between Cologne Hbf and Hansaring Siding with BR 628 as stand-in for LINT
• S 19 between Cologne Hbf and (yes) Aachen with BR 423
• S 12 between Cologne Hbf and Horrem with BR 423
• ICE 3M services between Cologne Hbf and Aachen using BR 406 with coupling services using BR 403
• ICE 1/3 depot moves from Cologne Hbf to depot and back
• freight services with varying loadouts between Cologne-Aachen using Vectron and BR 185 (substitution is possible)
• Eurostar replacement services with expert 101/cab car

These lines/services are added as AI only traffic:

• RB 21/28 using BR 628 as stand-in for RegioSprinter
  
• RB 27 using BR 425
  
• RE 8 using BR 425 as stand-in for BR 1440
  
• RE 4/5/6 using DB Talent 2 as stand-in for Desiro HC
• RE 7 using DB Talent 2 as stand-in for NationalExpress Talent 2
  
• RB 48 using DB Talent 2 as stand-in for NationalExpress Talent 2
  
• RE 18 using DB Talent 2 as stand-in for Flirt
  
• RB 26 using BR 425 as stand-in for Desiro ML
• RB 33 using DB Talent 2 as stand-in for BR 1440
• RE 22/RE 12/RB 24 using BR 628 as stand-in for LINT
• S 11 using BR 423
  
• IC/EC services with 101 and expert 101/cab car

Some special experiences are also included:

• two freight services with Class 66
  
• one heritage IC service with BR 103 (substitution with BR 101 possible)
  
• a set of scenario-like services combining BR 218, BR 204, freight and n-waggons

The regular timetable also includes services with nuances that make them stand out. Not every service is created equal. For example, try out RE 9 10921, RE 1 26855, RE 1 26857, RE 1 26854.
Düren becomes the hub of connections that it is in reality

Aachen depot at night full with services that are stored for the night (no static stock)


The S-Bahn actually drives twice a night to Aachen

Cologne can get quite crowded now


When can you play it? Now.

Where to find the pak file (use version 7)? https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/m...imetables/i4387-cologne-aachen-timetable-2023

What do you need to play it?

• Cologne-Aachen route itself (BR 406 services)
• New Journeys Expansion BR 423 (S 11/12/19) services
• Kassel-Würzburg (ICE 1/3 services)
  
• Vorarlberg+Vectron (majority of freight services)
• Dresden Riesa (RE 1/4/5/6, RE 9 Talent 2 services + RE 9 DoSto services, RE 7, RB 33/48)
  
• Vorarlberg+Dresden Riesa (BR 185 freight services with Zacns)
  
• Linke Rheinstrecke (one special service)
• Niddertalbahn (RE 12/22, RB 20/21/24/25/28/38)
• Duisburg-Bochum (BR 425)
• BR 101+IC coaches (IC services)
• South Eastern Highspeed + Dresden Riesa (two freight services with Class 66)
• BR 218 and BR 204 (set of special services)
• expert 101/cab car (IC/EC AI services, Eurostar replacement services)

Things to keep in mind:

• RB 20 east does not always appear on PIS, have seen it in Düren and can't find the reason
  
• be prepared to change directions within a service
  
• S-Bahn/RB 25 starts in Cologne Hbf are HARD: with only 1 min total standing time, you have less than 1 min to get started to keep the timetable
• if you run late to Cologne Hbf, you might easily get additional delays as the dispatcher has to wait for a clear track (as in reality)

Known issues:

• RE 9 10929 might be a bit late at the start (30s delay)
• BR 442 with more than 3 parts is missing bogeys: will fix that by using only 3 and 6 part trains

 

I recommend using the munich augsburg ICE 3 instead of the KWG ICE 3 as the ICE 3 from KWG is a TOD4 vehicle and may not look good with its lighting on KAH, a TOD3 route, where the MAG ICE 3, a TOD3 vehicle, would do a better job in looks.

also, appears you are competing against Joe, who is already officially working on a new timetable for KAH aswell, and its already busier than Dresden-Riesa's timetable

 

Since that timetable is also a passion project, I don't see a problem with multiple new timetables. The more the merrier.

Plus, I believe mine will have a different experience than the one from Joe.

As for the ICE 3: I wanted to minimize the required DLC and figured that more people might have Kassel-Würzburg nowadays than Munich-Augsburg.

 

fair enough about the ICE 3 part. especially since there will be an update to a certain enhancement pack for the KWG variant of it anyways at some point, the better that this variant of the ICE 3 is being used more by then

 

Yay, more timetables! Maybe evetually all the older routes will have amazing gameplay with these

 

Can you clarify how precisely the timetable "loops"?

 

Sure: the timetable runs for 24 hours and afterwards it starts from the beginning again.

What this practically means: you have a service that ends short before midnight, the time jumps post midnight, and then all the services that start at 00:xx will actually start. Without a looping timetable, all the blueprints have run their course at the end of your simulation time (24 hours in this case) and won't start again if you cross into the next day.

 

Are you sure this will work?

 

It's worth noting that this is historically accurate as the 628 have ran the RB38 Route in reality

 

Can you sub for the 628 with the 642? I don't own the 628 atm but i still want to enjoy your timetable

 

2martens: Thank you for your work!
I drove the RE 1 (26825) and the timetable worked wonderfully.

Can your force the game to use a National Express Repaint for RE 7 and RB 48 service?

 

I'd also prefer the 642, not because I don't own the 628, but because it looks more familiar with the 644. A mix of both would give us a little more variety.

 

Yes, as I've tested it.

I can also now refer to the pak file: https://www.trainsimcommunity.com/requests/view/12569
I've also updated the original post with the link.

As for the 642: I don't own the DLC so I cannot use it for the timetable. I could look into allowing substitution however. Plus, I found it quite nice to have a speed track for the 628 between Horrem and Köln-Ehrenfeld. Finally a main line section to fully see it in action.

I'm not aware that I can force a particular livery from the Creators Club. Even if I could, I'd rather not depend on unofficial content for the timetable.

Aside from the announced special service, there are some other surprises that simply come from the real timetable. Not every RE service is exactly the same, some differ in details.

To make sure that all the AI trains from the portals can enter the main track, I had to split up sections so that your train doesn't block the entire route from the start. Unlike reality, I cannot dispatch beyond in a staggered manner:

Reality
dispatched to Düren, train enters a point between Horrem and Düren: dispatch further from Düren to Langerwehe

Game
dispatched to Düren, train stops in Düren: only then it can be dispatched to Langerwehe

 

You can add a 'go via' without 'Dispatch beyond' between Horrem and Düren and then a dispatch beyond on the 'stop at' in Düren to achieve this. I think DTG have done something like this on the original DRA timetable when approaching Dresden Neustadt from Meißen on the S-bahn.

 

But wouldn't it only dispatch to the Go-Via instruction initially?

 

this looks great. I was waiting to play the route again until the new timetable got released. even with new yourneys it's still a bit quiet. but Düren and Köln look amazing. working on Salzburg - Rosenheim myself and I already strife to get as busy of a timetable as you have made.

 

Yes, but if you place that a few meters after a Hauptsignal (that doesn't act as a Vorsignal to the next one), the train will be dispatched in time without encountering any adverse signal unless another service occupies this, which shouldn't happen on a default main line.

On my MSB timetable I have added a go via to all services from Gemünden to Aschaffenburg between Langenprozelten and the Nantenbach curve so ICE services entering the route from Würzburg (or vice versa) will be prioritised without needing dependencies. Most of the time the ICE service will be out of the way before the active service reaches the merging point between both routes and can continue without issues. If not it just adds to the immersion imho, as it happens IRL too that an RE54 or a freight service has to wait for an ICE to pass.

I'm just not sure what happens on an LZB line, you might give it a try to see if it's possible for non-LZB traffic.

 

Did you implement new stations in the station directory for more PIS choices? I'm struggling with how to figure that one out

 

Hello 2martens, great project to make a new modern timetable for SKA. To your recent uploaded mod I have a view questions, because the mod don't work for me:
Are all DLCs necessarily required that the timetable work or just SKA?
1. Is there an extra icon for your timetable shown beside "New journeys" and "original timetable", 2. or do I have to go on one of those timetables and select this services.
1. If yes, no new icon is shown in my menu.
2. If yes, no new services is implement to the timetable in my case.
Does it only works in free roam and/or only for the services to the hours 11, 15 and 16?
I just started a S19 Service towards Dütren, but the Cologne main station were as empty as normal.

Sorry I am very confused that there is no change on the route because the picture shown on TSC were very promising.

Did I do something wrong, the mod works and I don't realise it? ( A sign for this could be that my loadingscreen were black)
Or is there an other problem?

Thank you for reading

Greetings

 

I did explore it a bit: I copied the station directory to my plugin directory and was able to add more stations to it (without providing coordinates). I could select these on the "enter portal" instructions as additional destinations, but I was not able to make them show up on the MSB Doppelstock wagons. The destinations did show up on HRR BR425 and MTB BR642 stock (if I'm not mistaken) and the station PIS, be it in some distorted way, I suspect because the route is quite old and wasn't provided with the full capability. I came to understand however that making a copy of the station directory makes the route appear twice in TSW itself and might break the timetable mod because it is then not assigned to a fully functional route, so figuring out if it is achievable and if so implementing it on the route is still on my todo list.

edit: not sure if this question was supposed to be answered by me, but anyway

 

MSB and HRR stock both use the old PIS system where they did seperate textures for each.
BRO 425 uses the new dynamic system where it pulls the destinations from the directory so you probably used this?
Anything newer than TSW2 Rush hour uses the new system I think.

 

For the NX repaint Hannah uploaded a .pak one on TSC. It should work by setting either it as the main vehicle or creating a custom formation with a custom substitiution tag an making it sub in at 100%.

 

Yes, if it works then a third timetable will appear. It should work only with Cologne Aachen, albeit only with limited service amount.

But I couldn’t test it.

As for the station directory: I didn’t add anything as that belongs to the route and cannot be changed in a timetable.

I’m using the BR 425 from Duisburg Bochum as I don’t have Bremen-Oldenburg and also heard that the 425 from there had problems.

The Talent 2 from SKA appear to not show any destinations and the 628 has problems with umlaut stations like Köln where it only shows all letters preceding the umlaut.

 

Thanks for your help,
in my case no new tt icon is shown, I could imagine another mod somehow remove the functionality of your mod.

 

I think I have correctly applied the layer settings as otherwise they won't be simulated. So it should work in theory as there are Cologne-Aachen only layers. But I don't know 100% how it works. It would help if DTG finally provided an official way to cook those plugins and distribute them without having to go commercial and become a 3rd party dev.

 

Had this weird signalling on the IC 9999 service.

 

Whats the Problem with that expect a little white light is missing?

 

The first is an advance signal for the main signal. The main signal allows you to proceed but also indicates that the next main signal is showing stop. Therefore, the advance signal shows green as there is no limitation of speed at the main signal it is connected to.

 

Ah sorry, mistaken the main signal for an advance signal. My bad!

 

Solid work! I am wondering the same thing here, that an updated station directory is a precursor to a mass copy-paste of the entire route itself. Not that it seems impossible, but certainly is much bigger then "add some stuff to the directory and off we go".

 

It's nice that you worked on Köln Aachen, can't wait to play the new timetable!

 

I'm struggling with a similar problem as 2Martens. If an ICE service is driving from Köln to Aachen (or vice versa) is looks like the LZB system is blocking 10 km of track ahead. Therefore some local trains, especially around Düren are having to wait a very long time before they can crossover for example.

However, the thing with the "go via" instruction is that the high speed trains will hit the LZB braking curve well before they pass the "go via" instruction and therefore have to start braking. Not very realistic.
Ideas anyone? How have you solved this 2Martens?

 

You can add a go via with 'dispatch beyond' enabled and add an exit 'go via' instruction to the preceding service when leaving the station with a dependency to the instruction following the first go via.

E.g. if you haven an RE1 service that stops at Horrem and an ICE2 service that passes through the instructions would look like this:

RE1:

1. stop at Horrem platform 6 (Dispatch Beyond)
2. Load/unload (Dispatch beyond)
3. Go via Horrem west (Dispatch beyond + dependency to ICE instruction 2; place this just west of Horrem on the main line)
4. Stop at Düren...

ICE2:

1. Go via Horrem track 5 (Dispatch beyond)
2. Stop at Aachen Hbf (dependency from RE1 instruction 3)

That way the RE service will always leave Düren before the ICE service and the ICE will only stop at Düren if the RE service is delayed. In the mean time the braking curve will not initiate for the 'go via' instruction if both services are on time.

The only downside is that if the RE service is significantly delayed, the ICE will not take over priority to stay on time, as it probably would in real operations.

Edit: note that I didn't look up the track numbers, I just assumed the southernmost track is platform 1.

 

Okay, thank you for your explanation! I have all my services separated in different timetable layers, so dependencies are going to be difficult without having the ICE and the RE services in one layer. But it looks like that is something I will have to offer to make this possible.

 

You can add dependencies between layers: it's a bit less convenient but it is possible: just drag the dependency arrow from the lead instruction to the tab of the layer of the dependent service. After a second or two you'll jump to this layer and you can attach the dependency arrow to the instruction. Just make sure that that instruction is in view before starting to drag to make it a bit easier. You won't see a line connecting both instructions, but their dependency 'boxes' will be filled and you can see that the correct instruction is attached by clicking on 'Break link to..." when right clicking on the dependency box.

 

Awesome! I'll simulate the timetable and report back if it works.

Update: it works! The ICE isn't blocking the whole route now and the local train can depart in front of it. Still plenty of time before the ICE will catch up. I drove the ICE and nothing appeared in front of me. Thank you!

 

Great information about the Go-Via and dependencies. Currently all S12/19 traffic is implemented and 1/3 of S11. Will try to close out S11 and RB25 today.
Will have to see if I retroactively add all the dependencies between ICEs and regional traffic.The S19 services going to Düren and from Düren back to Cologne use dependencies so that no deadlock occurs.

I'm curious to see how the performance in the game will be on this timetable with all the services. Cologne will be absolutely packed with all the services.

 

Great to hear you're making progress! Nice work!

 

Have tried the thing with the Go-via and dependency and it actually works perfectly. Have applied it to all the ICEs from Aachen to Cologne so they shouldn't have an artificial slowing at Horrem.
Furthermore, I believe I was able to remove some more artificial red lights on approach from RE 9 services to Cologne as there is no actual conflict between their departure in Horrem and their arrival in Ehrenfeld.

Currently outstanding (each only 3 hrs complete):

• RE 8 (Ehrenfeld to Köln Hbf, AI only)
  
• RB 33 (Aachen Hbf, AI only)
  
• RB 27 (Ehrenfeld to Köln Hbf, AI only)
  
• RB 26 (AI only at Cologne)
  
• RB 20 West (Aachen to Stolberg, with player services)
• RB 20 East (Langerwehe to Düren, with player services)
  
• RB 38 Horrem-Bedburg (AI only)
  
• RE 7 (Köln Hbf, AI only)
  
• RB 48 (Köln Hbf, AI only)
  
• RB 24 (Köln Hbf, AI only)
  
• RE 22 (Köln Hbf, AI only)
  
• RE 18 (Aachen Hbf, AI only)

With the expert BR 101 + cab car, another 14 AI only IC services could be added around Köln Hbf as additional layer.

After the current state simulates without errors, I will create a pak file again to test it in game. In editor the performance of Cologne was already problematic.

 

Today, I got the pak file created and loaded it into the game. And it still works amazing, on my machine the performance is great. Next to the missing services, there are some areas of improvement:

• allow replacement of BR 628 with new one from Maintalbahn (once I have that addon)
• using clearly identifiable formation names (there are two different 442s used and each set unlocks different services and you need the formation which I created to unlock them all)
  
• adding times for off-world stops for ICE services (low priority as its visual only)

I also noticed some minor problems on the few services I looked at. Will improve those problems. But will also upload today's pak to the same website the previous version was uploaded to.

Currently, the game detects 601 playable services. Some more will come with the RB 20 but otherwise that's the ballpark of playable services to expect.

 

So far the RB 20 and RB 38 got finished. I added substitution for the 103 so any 101 should work for the player without appearing for AI services.

Substitution is also enabled for BR 628. That will likely allow 642 and 612 to be played by players. But those won’t appear on AI services. That’s because I couldn’t find a way to only allow 642 but prevent 612.

I added a set of services utilizing BR 218, BR 204, containers and n-waggons. These are very involved. I won’t spoil everything but look for the service numbers with 90xx using either BR 218, BR 204 or the Karlsruher Cab.

The longest set of action: drive with Karlsruher Cab from Düren to Cologne, switch to BR 218, uncouple and drive as light loco to Stolberg, couple to freight train and drive to Aachen. This set is split into 3 playable services.

I will make a new pak file available with these changes within the week.

 

The pak file is now in testing. I found out that the playable service count is now 683.

For some reason, two BR 628 can be substituted by a BR 422, which I definitely don’t want. Will have to see how I can exclude that. 612 is not available for substitution apparently which is good.

101 works for substitution.
With the freight substitutions, I need to check why BR 182 and BR 155 can only substitute for Class 66 and not Vectron or BR 185.

I will stick with KWG dostos and BR 146 as the DRA versions don’t work with PIS. Will likely exchange the KAH 442 for a formation of the KWG 442 that uses the middle waggon 2 times.

Formation names already make it easier to distinguish between different formations for different service patterns. Will continue that.

But I detected also some issues regarding RB 20 and wrong headlight orientation, too little setup time, wrong description texts. Those will be fixed before the pak file gets released.

 

would be great if you could use the Dostos of SRM because there is a great Soundmod for them, and for the 146 i would use the DRA one cause the KWG one dont have any safety systems simulated.

 

I had the same issue with the Talent 2 subbing in for 6 car sets, it must have the same substitution tags as the 642. Annoyingly the substitution system isn't very flexible or easy to work with.

 

The DRA can be selected by the player. But for the AI trains I want a version where the PIS works. And when I started the DRA version, the destination display stayed empty.
And I've just played with the KWG version. PZB works fine as it should. It does have a quirk with SIFA though: if you press SIFA often enough, it works. But there is no warning period, it goes immediately to emergency brake mode. That obviously isn't very nice.

SRM is what route?

 

SRM=Salzburg-Rosenheim, they got the newest Dostos and for me the Bug with DRA 146 is fixed since the last Update

 

Have put the route on the wishlist. But I won't pay the full price just for yet another variant of DoStos and other stock I already have or am not interested in. So that would have to wait until that route is available at a sizable discount.

If you refer to the problem with PIS as the bug, I will continue to have a look.
Update: Even on DRA the 146 of DRA does not have PIS working and I'm on the newest version on Steam.

 

The new version of the pak file has been uploaded.

Changes:

• freight substitution of BR 155 and BR 182 works
• BR 101 subs for BR 103 (this should include the expert 101)
• BR 218/BR 204/n-waggon services
• RB 20 finished
• RB 38 finished
• BR 628 has substitution enabled (unsure if BR 642 can sub in)

Playable service count now at 755 total. Anyone with BR 642 and the editor, what geographic regions does the 642 have? Based on that, I may be able to enable it to appear without me having it.

 

Absolutely amazing! Saw 26 other trains on platforms/along the way in the Talent 2. Do you have a PayPal or something? I think at least some modest amount is due for this.

 

Version 4 is now uploaded.

Changes:

• RB 33 finished
• RE 18 finished
• RB 48 finished (includes some depot moves)
• RE 7 finished (includes a depot move)
• 4 EC services (usually operated with SBB stock, but due to their licensing changes we won't see SBB stock)
• ICE 12/18 starts work now

Will finish the timetable as planned on TSW 4. As soon as information is available on how PC Editor works with TSW 5, I will look into that.

The timetable holds spots for ICE T services (AI and depot moves) which could be added with TSW 5 as well as Flixtrain. Accurately, Flixtrain does only operate from Cologne on Wednesday which I model in the timetable. But if I use the Fr, Sat or Sun for that part of the timetable, it would include one Flixtrain per day from/to Aachen plus 3 services from/to Cologne only.