Route Dutch Route: Dordrecht – Rotterdam – Den Haag – Haarlem – Schiphol – Amsterdam

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by jerhur1991, May 16, 2026.

  1. jerhur1991

    jerhur1991 Member

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    [​IMG]

    Overview

    I would love to see a modern Dutch mainline route added to Train Sim World 6 featuring the core Randstad corridor between:

    • Dordrecht
    • Rotterdam Centraal
    • Den Haag HS / Den Haag Centraal
    • Haarlem
    • Schiphol Airport
    • Amsterdam Centraal
    I believe a modern 2020–2026 era would work best for this route because it represents the current Dutch railway network with its dense passenger traffic, modern rolling stock, and highly active commuter operations.

    This route would represent one of the busiest and most operationally diverse railway corridors in the Netherlands and would introduce a completely new style of gameplay to Train Sim World.

    Unlike many existing TSW routes that focus primarily on either high-speed or regional gameplay, this route would combine:
    • dense intercity traffic
    • high-frequency commuter operations
    • busy junction management
    • airport rail operations
    • mixed stopping patterns
    • constant signal interaction
    • complex Dutch railway operations
    The result would be a route where the player is constantly engaged from start to finish.

    Why This Route Would Be Great for TSW

    The Dutch railway network is uniquely suited for Train Sim World because of its:
    • extremely dense timetable
    • short headways between trains
    • heavy passenger traffic
    • complex station operations
    • high operational intensity
    • constant interaction with signaling systems
    This route would provide gameplay focused on:
    • precise timetable adherence
    • rapid station stops
    • managing traffic congestion
    • navigating complex junctions
    • handling varying service patterns
    • maintaining speed through busy corridors
    Unlike routes where long stretches are spent cruising at constant speed, this route would keep players actively engaged almost continuously.

    The corridor between Rotterdam, Schiphol, and Amsterdam is especially interesting because trains are constantly:
    • overtaking each other
    • crossing junctions
    • switching tracks
    • entering busy station throats
    • interacting with local, regional, and long-distance traffic
    This creates a highly replayable experience with a strong sense of a living railway network.

    Included Rolling Stock

    To keep the project realistic while still delivering a highly active Dutch timetable, the route could focus on two core trains that define modern Randstad operations.
    Core Passenger Trains
    • NS VIRM double-decker EMU[​IMG]
    • NS SLT (Sprinter Lighttrain)[​IMG]
    This combination alone would already provide:
    • intercity operations
    • high-frequency Sprinter services
    • overtaking gameplay
    • dense station traffic
    • varied stopping patterns
    • realistic Dutch railway atmosphere
    The VIRM would handle the backbone of longer-distance intercity services, while the SLT would provide the intensive stop-start commuter gameplay that defines the Randstad network.

    Potential Future Add-ons or Layered Content
    • NS ICM “Koploper”
    • NS SNG
    • ICNG
    [​IMG]
    • DB ICE International (AI)
    This would allow the Dutch network to expand naturally over time without requiring too many new trains for the initial release.

    Service Patterns and Gameplay Variety

    One of the strongest aspects of this route is the amount of overlapping passenger services operating across the Randstad corridor.

    Rather than functioning as a single linear route with only one type of operation, the network between Dordrecht, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Schiphol, Haarlem, and Amsterdam supports a large variety of service patterns that would create an extremely busy and replayable timetable in Train Sim World.

    This would allow players to choose between:

    • longer intercity runs
    • short commuter services
    • high-frequency Sprinter gameplay
    • airport operations
    • dense urban traffic
    • fast limited-stop services
    • busy junction management
    Dordrecht – Rotterdam – Schiphol – Amsterdam Intercity
    [​IMG]

    This would form one of the backbone intercity services of the route.

    Gameplay features:
    • limited-stop high-frequency intercity operations
    • busy station approaches
    • overtaking Sprinter services
    • constant signal interaction
    • dense passenger traffic
    • high operational intensity
    Major stations include:
    • Dordrecht
    • Rotterdam Centraal
    • Schiphol Airport
    • Amsterdam Zuid
    • Amsterdam Centraal
    This service pattern would create highly engaging mainline gameplay with continuous traffic interaction.

    Den Haag Centraal – Amsterdam Centraal Intercity
    [​IMG]

    Another important operational layer would be the intercity services between:
    • Den Haag Centraal
    • Schiphol Airport
    • Amsterdam Zuid
    • Amsterdam Centraal
    These shorter intercity runs are important because they create:
    • overlapping traffic patterns
    • additional timetable density
    • constant arrivals and departures
    • more varied gameplay opportunities
    This would help the route feel like a living railway network instead of only a single end-to-end corridor.

    Rotterdam – Schiphol Airport Services
    [​IMG]


    This section would be especially busy due to:
    • airport passenger traffic
    • high-frequency operations
    • constant train movement
    • heavy platform activity
    • mixed intercity and commuter traffic
    The Schiphol corridor would likely become one of the most operationally intense sections in the entire route.

    Dordrecht – Den Haag Centraal Sprinter
    [​IMG]

    One of the key commuter gameplay services would be the Sprinter corridor between Dordrecht and Den Haag Centraal.

    Key stops include:
    • Dordrecht
    • Zwijndrecht
    • Barendrecht
    • Rotterdam Lombardijen
    • Rotterdam Blaak
    • Rotterdam Centraal
    • Schiedam Centrum
    • Delft Campus
    • Delft
    • Rijswijk
    • Den Haag HS
    • Den Haag Centraal
    This service would provide:
    • continuous acceleration and braking gameplay
    • short station spacing
    • constant signal interaction
    • tight timetable management
    • high-density commuter operations
    This type of gameplay would work perfectly with:
    • NS SLT
    • NS SNG
    • future modern Dutch commuter stock
    Den Haag Centraal – Amsterdam Sprinter Services
    [​IMG]

    In addition to the intercity operations, the corridor would also feature Sprinter services between:
    • Den Haag Centraal
    • Leiden Centraal
    • Haarlem
    • Amsterdam Sloterdijk
    • Amsterdam Centraal
    These Sprinter services would add an entirely different gameplay rhythm compared to the faster intercity runs.

    Gameplay characteristics would include:
    • frequent station stops
    • continuous acceleration and braking
    • tight commuter timetables
    • heavy rush-hour traffic
    • constant signal interaction
    • dense urban operations
    Because these Sprinter services operate alongside faster intercity traffic, players would also experience:
    • overtaking operations
    • traffic management challenges
    • platform congestion
    • busy junction interaction
    • dynamic timetable layering
    This would significantly increase the operational depth and realism of the route by making the Randstad corridor feel like a true high-density commuter railway network rather than a simple end-to-end passenger line.

    These services would work especially well with:
    • NS SLT
    • NS SNG
    • future Dutch commuter EMUs
    Sprinter Services Towards Haarlem and Amsterdam
    [​IMG]

    Additional Sprinter patterns continuing north toward:
    • Leiden Centraal
    • Haarlem
    • Amsterdam Sloterdijk
    • Amsterdam Centraal
    would add even more operational depth to the route.

    These services would create:
    • varied stopping patterns
    • different service lengths
    • heavy commuter traffic
    • dense layered operations
    • high replayability
    Why the Dutch Network Would Feel Unique in TSW

    The Netherlands would bring a completely different operational style compared to existing countries in Train Sim World.

    Key unique characteristics include:
    • high-frequency scheduling
    • compact but extremely busy infrastructure
    • large modern stations
    • short station spacing
    • dense overhead wiring and signaling
    • continuous traffic movement
    • Dutch ATB safety systems
    • multi-track corridor operations
    The gameplay would feel less about raw speed and more about:
    • rhythm
    • precision
    • traffic awareness
    • operational flow
    • timetable discipline
    This would make Dutch operations stand apart from German, British, and American routes currently in TSW.

    Major Gameplay Highlights

    Rotterdam Centraal

    [​IMG]

    One of Europe’s busiest and most modern stations featuring:
    • dense intercity traffic
    • multiple converging lines
    • constant arrivals and departures
    • complex station approaches
    Schiphol Airport Station
    [​IMG]

    A unique underground airport station with:
    • heavy passenger traffic
    • nonstop train movement
    • intercity and international operations
    • intense timetable pressure
    Amsterdam Centraal
    [​IMG]

    A highly recognizable terminal station offering:
    • busy platform management
    • layered traffic
    • complex routing
    • dense urban atmosphere
    Haarlem Corridor
    [​IMG]

    A visually distinct section with:
    • urban and suburban transitions
    • coastal Dutch atmosphere
    • intensive commuter operations
    Need for more Dutch routes in TSW

    Another reason this route would be valuable is that Train Sim World currently only has the Zwolle - Groningen route.

    The new route would introduce:
    • new operational gameplay
    • new train designs
    • modern Dutch commuter intensity
    • a highly requested route by the community
    It would also significantly increase variety compared to repeatedly seeing similar German rolling stock across many routes.

    Realistic Development Scope

    One of the strongest advantages of this proposal is that, despite the route connecting several major cities, the Dutch railway network is extremely compact and operationally dense.

    This means the route would deliver:
    • constant gameplay
    • high service frequency
    • busy station operations
    • strong timetable variety
    • continuous player engagement
    without requiring the extremely large route lengths often seen on long-distance high-speed routes.

    The focus of this proposal is not route length, but rather:
    • traffic density
    • operational complexity
    • service variety
    • replayability
    • modern passenger operations
    This makes it a much more realistic and achievable project for Train Sim World while still offering one of the busiest and most immersive railway experiences in the game.

    Why Players Would Enjoy This Route

    This route would offer:
    • one of the busiest passenger operations in Train Sim World
    • constant gameplay engagement
    • modern Dutch railway atmosphere
    • high timetable variety
    • dense station operations
    • complex traffic interaction
    • modern EMU-focused gameplay
    • a fresh operational experience unlike existing TSW routes
    Most importantly, the route would feel alive almost every minute of gameplay.

    Rather than long quiet sections, players would constantly interact with traffic, signals, station stops, and operational challenges across one of Europe’s busiest rail networks.

    Thank you for considering this suggestion.
     
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  2. Ilba8765

    Ilba8765 Well-Known Member

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    After the initial introduction of the dutch railways, a more challenging route seems like something to look forward to!
    Even if it means we see the SNG return, but a welcome for the Virm included or as a DLC would also be great.
     
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  3. jerhur1991

    jerhur1991 Member

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    Yes and the ICNG as loco add-on for the HSL line.
     
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  4. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Bring It On and I do remember my mum using the airport railway station in fact she took a picture of an icng
     
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