During the presentation of the Lindau-Bludenz Lucas have mentionned upcominc cross-border routes. They said that for example France-Germany is complicated because there is a lot of differences between signaling systems and overhead wires. So what international route we can except from DTG ? Köln -> Brussels-South between Germany and Belgium. +Extension of the ICE 15 service +New Country : Belgium +New trains for the SNCB/NMBS (Belgian railway) +Nice scenery +The ICE 3 can go up to 300 km/h now (Finally) +The signaling system is quite simple in Belgium (A mix of British and German) -New country so lot of development -Add 100km to the route -New model for at least one Belgian train -New signaling system And A route between France and Germany +France's and Germany's signaling are already present in the game -A least one new train must be modeled as the only French Train (The TGV Duplex) can't go in Germany What do you think and what is your guess ?
Yet they did France-Germany for TSC with Strasbourg-Karlsruhe. They've already got some French assets thanks to Marseille-Avignon too. So I doubt we'd have to rule out France-Germany cross-border. I do hope with cross-border they do not refer to anything within the UK. Despite the UK apparently being countries within a coutry, it all feels like the same country to me. Personally I'd love to see TSW4 venture into new countries, but I fear anything cross-border will venture into countries we've already got, like another Germany-Austria or something that crosses the Swiss border. Not that I mind seeing more Austrian or Swiss content. Anything is better than the same old 3 countries.
I'm sure they are planning something for France. But the crown piece probably will be a Belgian route. Just like formula 1 drivers like our circuits, train drivers will like our rail network (unlike real life Belgian passengers)
Now we have a Vectron (on DRA) maybe we could get a Germany > CZ route? Other than that I’d like a France > Germany.
I do hope a SKA extension to Brussels becomes a reality (my profile pic shows the ICE3 in Brussels North station ), but I don't think we should hope for it anytime soon: Between Aachen and Brussels-South you have 4 (or 5) major stations, that would require modelling, adding AI traffic and most importantly: any of these stations can result in licensing issues. Liège Guillemins, of which I'm not sure how easy it is to get a license to model it, as it's a very famous building by Calatrava which might be protected by a very strict license. It has 9 through tracks, of which a few of 450 meters to accomodate a twin TGV set. Leuven, that's quite large (9 through tracks, 4 end tracks and 2 bypass tracks, a peculiar glass overspan (again: might require some licensing) and a ton of diverging routes and bridges to the north) Brussels North, with 12 through tracks Brussels South, with 21 through tracks and 1 dead end track (Brussels Central, with 6 through tracks, below surface) All that doesn't mean it isn't feasible, but knowing how long the route is and how much work will have to be done before the actual modelling can begin makes that I'm not hoping much. I do hope however that it will come to TSW one day: not only does it provide two different signalling systems and 3 different power systems (German 15kV AC, Belgian High Speed 25kV AC and Belgian 3kV DC), it also requires switching from right hand drive in Germany to left hand in Belgium. If the route from Brussels to Eupen would also be added that would provide an amazing amount and diversity of traffic: International ICE 79 (Brussels - Frankfurt) from Brussels South to Frankfurt, stopping in Köln, Aachen, Liège, Bxl North and terminating in Bxl South. Thalys 9400 (Paris - Köln (- Dortmund)) stopping at the same stations and providing the option to layer into HRR Nightjet 50425 (Brussels - Wien, stopping at the same stations and providing layering options to any future German and Austrian content) (if the route to Eupen is added, the international stopping service from Aachen to Welkenraedt might also be added) Belgian IC 01 (Ostend -) Brussels - Eupen, stopping in Bxl South, Central and North, Leuven, high speed to Liège and continuing on the slow line to Eupen, giving some RSN vibes with a lot of tunnels, tight curves and beautiful scenery. IC 12 and IC 14, riding the same route up to Liège (for IC 14) and Welkenraedt (for IC 12) Numerous stopping services (s-bahn like) between Brussels and Leuven and around Liège Let 's keep hoping
