Hello everyone, here is a route suggestion for Train Sim World: the ~140 km long Donautalbahn from Ulm Hbf to Tuttlingen, set in the year 2013. Why the year 2013? Back in 2013, the Baureihe 611 was still operating IRE services along the line. Thanks to its active GNT tilting technology, it could run at higher speeds through the winding sections of the Danube valley. The line also offered a varied mix of regional passenger and freight traffic, making 2013 an interesting period for a TSW route. Route Overview & Scenery The Donautalbahn is a non-electrified diesel railway, with the section between Ulm and Herrlingen being double-track, while most of the route further west is single-track. Ulm Hbf to Sigmaringen: You drive through historic towns and landscapes, passing stations such as Blaubeuren, Ehingen, Munderkingen, Riedlingen and Mengen. The highlight is definitely Schloss Sigmaringen, which can be seen directly from the railway. Sigmaringen to Tuttlingen: This is the most scenic part of the route. The railway follows the Danube through the Upper Danube Valley, surrounded by limestone cliffs, forests, tunnels and numerous bridges. Stations Along the Route: Ulm Hbf Ulm-Söflingen Blaustein Herrlingen Gerhausen Blaubeuren Schelklingen Schmiechen Allmendingen Ehingen (Donau) Rottenacker Munderkingen Rechtenstein Riedlingen Herbertingen Mengen Sigmaringendorf Sigmaringen Hausen im Tal Beuron Fridingen (b. Tuttlingen) Mühlheim (b. Tuttlingen) Stetten (Donau) Nendingen (b. Tuttlingen) Tuttlingen Nord Tuttlingen Zentrum Tuttlingen Passenger Services IRE / RE Line Ulm Hbf – Sigmaringen – Tuttlingen – Donaueschingen – Neustadt (Schwarzwald): Mainly operated by the BR 611, utilizing GNT tilting technology. RB Line Ulm Hbf – Sigmaringen: Regional services are operated by the BR 628 and BR 218 with N-Wagen "Rotlinge". RB Line Ulm Hbf – Ehingen / Munderkingen: Regional services operated by the BR 628. Ringzug services Sigmaringen – Tuttlingen – Immendingen: Historically operated by BR 650 Regio-Shuttles. For TSW, these services could be represented using the BR 628, avoiding the need for an additional BR 650 DLC. Naturpark-Express: Seasonal excursion services through the Upper Danube Valley. Freight Traffic & Local Hubs (c. 2013) Ulm Rbf: Central marshalling yard and starting point for freight services towards the Danube valley. Ehingen (Donau): Significant paper mill and industrial freight traffic. Schelklingen / Blaubeuren / Allmendingen: Cement, lime and stone traffic generating heavy freight trains. Rottenacker / Munderkingen: Industrial freight and local sidings. Mengen: Important freight and interchange location for the surrounding region. Sigmaringen / Herbertingen: Local industrial and tank traffic. Rolling Stock for Freight Traffic DB BR 294: Shunting and local feeder services between Ulm and the surrounding industrial locations. DB BR 218 / BR 232: Heavy freight services between Ulm, Rottenacker, Mengen and Sigmaringen, including industrial and bulk freight. V 100: Local freight, shunting and transfer services, particularly around Mengen and Sigmaringen. Why this route would be great for TSW: For a route of around 140 km, the Donautalbahn offers an incredible amount of operational variety. The combination of single-track operation, passenger services, GNT tilting trains, industrial freight and scenic Upper Danube landscapes would make every run feel different. Plus, with the BR 628, BR 218, BR 294 and V 100 already existing or announced for TSW, Dovetail Games or 3rd-party developers would mainly need to focus on building the route and BR 611 to create a very varied timetable.
This route would be a fantastic addition to TSW, especially since it isn't a standard double-track electrified main line. The scenery is also stunning, as the route winds through picturesque valleys featuring towering rock formations. Furthermore, many suitable trains, such as the Class 612, 294, and 218, already exist. If a 140 km route is too extensive for the developers, they could simply release the Ulm–Sigmaringen section. That covers just over 90 km and, in my opinion, offers more interesting operational variety.
For the Class 612, a more modern Timetable is needed tho. At least around 2018 thats when the 612 slowly replaced the 611. But yes, if the Route ends in Sigmaringen would be nice as well. I only added the part to Tuttlingen because of the scenic danube valley. And if the Class 612 is the main "loco" it needs to be reworked and for a modern Timetable a Class 622 is needed for the RS3 Ulm - Munderkingen and Ulm - Sigmaringen. The RS3 Ulm - Sigmaringen only operates early in the morning and late in the night. And because DB Regio has its Problems the 628 untill today sometimes takes over the RB53 Sigmaringen - Aulendorf, which on the Route goes till Herbertingen.
Of course, I would love to see the route in its full length and with new, appropriate rolling stock, but we know DTG avoids DLC that requires too much effort.
I'm a bit late to the party, since I don't check the suggestion forum that often lately But I wholeheartedly support the idea! It would add a lot to TSW overall. -Finally a new diesel-only route, and a rather long one at that. -Switching from double-track to single-track (or vice versa) in the middle is something we haven't seen yet on German routes. -A huge variety of services and rolling stock, no matter which era the route will take place in, giving this route something to do for almost every taste. -A very beautiful part of Germany which hasn't been covered in TSW so far. Hot take: This would have made a much better core route and a bigger selling point for TSW7 than what we ultimately got. Well, maybe for TSW8... Fun idea: have the 611 as the route's own vehicle and the 232 as deluxe loco
