This is an updated version of my previous suggestion, with tons of new information and visualizations. the Frankfurt mentioned here is the one at Main, not the one at Oder (otherwise this would be a VERY long route, hehe) The highspeed line Cologne-Rhine/Main (DE: Köln-Rhein/Main) is a line which connects several stations and Cologne main station to Frankfurt main station between highspeed tracks, being used by Intercity-Expresses. For a better overview, I am going to list up everything in chapters: - Maps and Stations - Why it won't be The New Longest German Route - About the Highspeed Line and The Stations - New Trains and Layering/Substituioning Trains - Conclusion - Pictures Maps and Stations On the highspeed line between Cologne and Frankfurt are 5 stations, which makes it a total of 7 stations. there are two more displayed, but since this is more about the high speed line, we don't need these two (Wiesbaden Main Station and Cologne/Bonn Airport Station). Short list of the stations: - Cologne Main Station - Cologne Messe/Deutz - Siegburg/Bonn - Montabaur - Limburg South (Limburg Süd) - Frankfurt Airport Long-Distance Station - Frankfurt Main Station Why it won't be The New Longest German Route I quickly measured the length of Kassel-Würzburg (from Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe to Würzburg Main Station), since that's currently the longest german route in Train Sim World, and then the line between Cologne Main Station and Frankfurt Main Station. As you can see, KWG measures about 185 to 186 kilometers, while Cologne to Frankfurt "only" measures about 176 kilometers, which will most likely be the second longest route, but not the new longest one. Does that mean little bit less work? Dumb question. About the Highspeed Line and The Stations The line is being operated by Deutsche Bahn, basically the main german railroad operator. The route is almost entirely equipped with LZB cables, while completely supporting PZB and, of course, Sifa, but that one is a train-only safety system, so it's not that important for now. On the highspeed line, trains can drive up to 300 kilometers per hour, which will make this route the first german route to go to speeds up to 300 km/h. It also got a decent amount of 7 stations, as stated above, so it won't be that boring like KWG, with only 3 stations. We already know Cologne Main Station from our beloved Cologne-Aachen route back in TSW2. It's being visited by several german and also french (not represented in TSW) high speed trains, and some regional traffic too. Cologne Messe/Deutz is not really that important for the high speed services, it is just an inbetweening station, most ICEs just drive through the station without a stop. Edit: Cologne Messe/Deutz is actually pretty important, some ICE services stop there instead of Cologne's main station to not overfill it with trains. I didn't know this before, thank you 2martens for bringing this to my attention. Siegburg/Bonn is located near Cologne between the two cities Bonn and Siegburg, a station with two platforms, being visited by ICEs and some DB Regio trains and I believe S-Bahn traffic too. It has the main tracks in the center where some ICEs pass by, and the platforms are on outer tracks that seperate from the main line for roughly 450 meters. Between Siegburg/Bonn and Montabaur is quite a large gap, but let's continue there: Montabaur's station also has two platforms, same as Siegburg/Bonn, also being visited by ICEs and some trains operated by HLB (Hessische Landesbahn) on the outer side of the northern platform. Limburg South is the only station in germany that is ONLY being visited by ICEs. It also has a bridge underneath it's ceiling-y building, where you can spectate the passing trains from above. The Long-Distance Station at the Frankfurt Airport is being visited by ICEs and another type of trains, but I forgot which, possibly also some by DB. Finally, the Frankfurt Main Station. It is mainly being operated by Deutsche Bahn, containing many DB Regio trains/services aswell as ICs and ICEs. New Trains and Layering/Substituioning Trains New Trains (and recycled ones): - ICE 3 Neo, DB Class 408, Maximum Vehicle Allowed Speed (MVAS): 320 km/h, Equipped with PZB/LZB/Sifa + AFB - ICE 4, DB Class 412, MVAS: 265 km/h (12 and 13 car formations), Equipped with PZB/LZB/Sifa + AFB - (Recycled for AI) DB Class 146, Equipped With PZB/LZB/Sifa + AFB - (Recycled for AI) DB Dosto Cars, Equipped With PZB/LZB/Sifa - (Recycled for AI) DB Class 425, Equipped With PZB/LZB/Sifa Layering/Substitutioning Trains: - ICE 3, DB Class 403 and 406, from KWG and KAH, MVAS: 330 km/h, Equipped with PZB/LZB/Sifa + AFB, can sub into some services of the ICE 3 Neo - (AI) ICE 1, DB Class 401, from KWG, MVAS 280 km/h, Equipped with PZB/LZB/Sifa + AFB - (AI) Vectron, RP Class 193, from DRA, MVAS 200 km/h, Equipped with idk PZB/LZB? but certainly Sifa and AFB - some more that don't come to my mind right now Conclusion This route has been suggested multiple times, and is one of the most popular routes in germany, both IRL and (wished) for TSW. It is also pretty special because it would be the first german route with a top speed of 300 km/h. It would be so nice to see this coming to TSW at some point, right? Pictures Picture Sources: - Wikipedia DE - Google Earth
I would like to add that Cologne Messe/Deutz is actually VERY important for ICE traffic from/to Frankfurt. Most ICEs that drive from Cologne to Frankfurt don't stop at Cologne main station but at Deutz in the two lower tracks that form a curve.
Long term planning this should be merged Schnellfahrstrecke Köln Aachen by making the Aachen Frankfurt Central Station playable via Airport runs playable. Keep in mind some Aachen trips are combined with a Hollandstrecke Duisburg Oberhausen Emmerich am Rhein Zevenaar Arnhem Utrecht Amsterdam Centraal trips you need to separate that section at Köln Hbf because there's a 16 carriage 406 version in game.
Very nice route suggestion, you certainly have a point in the comparison of an existing high speed line route Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe to Würzburg. Frankfurt - Cologne is so much more interesting and even for anyone who is not fascinated by high speed, the stations are still an attractive point to drive through. Plus it's about time to be able across the Rhin of a bridge that can only be seen' (Koln-Aachen) for now.
another addition as information, on Montabaur, Limburg South and probably Siegburg/Bonn aswell, the center mainline tracks count for platform numbering aswell, so we have platform 1 and platform 4 on the outer ICE stop tracks, and the center ones count as platforms 2 and 3 for some reason, so please if this route ever gets to go to TSW, please don't put platform 2 on the other one on the highspeed stations!
have I mentioned the eddy current brake is usable on this route? idk how it works but I've read somewhere it's unlocked for service braking usage soo maybe that could be implemented if the route ever comes to TSW. I noticed the eddy current brake go down at a moment when a train arrived at one of the stations on the highspeed line, might also be visible on some videos online.
There has been another thread created for the Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Rhein/Main recently, here: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/next-german-route-sfs-köln-rhein-main.71835 But your thread is by far the more informative and better one. However, I don't understand that so many people are against a new highspeed route in Germany. AFAIK we only have Kassel-Würzburg, München-Augsburg and Aachen-Köln, but all of those not with such a Vmax as Köln-Frankfurt I guess. Could bring a whole new experience to have a route with such high speed. Well, to be honest I created a scenario for Dresden-Riesa on which I could speed up to 300 km/h from Coswig up to Riesa. LoL. However doing so in a real timetable would be something different. Matt should have said they refrain from the line also because of the busy timetables of Frankfurt regarding the performance. But I think this could be done. The high speed line Köln-Frankfurt runs through the Westerwald, a place I grew up. Never were on the route itself nor drove on it, but I know Montabaur and Limburg. Used to be there quite often. I also proposed a Westerwald route lately, the Oberwesterwaldbahn which runs from Limburg Lahn (Hbf) to Au (Sieg), north of SFS Köln-Rhein/Main. There is also the Unterwesterwaldbahn which runs from Limburg to Siershahn over Montabaur (should be the same station used for both routes). I would be happy if one of our Westerwald routes would ever come to TSW.
I believe until they get it right with the performance, they could crop the route down to the Frankfurt Airport long-distance station, which would be, in my opinion, enough already for this route.
If you just mean Frankfurt Hbf to Frankfurt airport, I guess the crucial point is the Hauptbahnhof which is Matt's point of fear for the performance. If you mean Köln to Frankfurt (Airport), I would agree and would also propose this, if Frankfurt Hbf is just a step too high for current TSW. Technically, another portion of the route would also be possible just like Montabaur-Frankfurt (Airport) or Köln-Limburg, with the option to extend to Frankfurt later on.
I believe staying inside Frankfurt for one route would make lesser sense than only Cologne to Frankfurt Airport, but yes, it's the latter. I just hope we get to see part of that route at all. As I said, they could only do Cologne-FrankfurtAirport for now, and somewhen in the future extend it to Frankfurt Main Station, who knows
For this route I think the S-Bahn and Regional network should be included as well like Köln Deutz, Cologne Kalk, Cologne Frankfurter Str.,Cologne-Bonn Airport, Porz, Troisdorf, etc. To at least get some extra services around d Cologne which shouldn't be a big deal, only frankfurt HBF is "The beast" (Quoting to Matts Stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/8T-zATL3y_M?si=vbFfsLxptDV-DrDr [9:26:30]) which is the only major trouble maker
I also think a S-Bahn system of Cologne/Köln would be really cool, just like the Dresden S-Bahn system in DRA. Plus the airport would have so many potential (maybe even with arriving or departing airplanes just like on Gatwick in London Commuter). For me there is too less train traffic on Hamburg-Lübeck to enjoy this route completely. Another german S-Bahn would be so great. Many of us germans want Berlin but I guess they are scared even more of Berlin S-Bahn than of Frankfurt's S-Bahn connections. Thank you for attaching the link, altough I have to dare to say the link is still not really working. I would have tried to paste the time stamp in to the URL myself, but almost 9 and half yours seems to be not right for a 2 hour video. But YouTube sometimes messes things up, so I can understand. For your interest, I asked Matt a question myself in the 2-day stream about the progress of EbuLa, he replied but anyhow my comment has been removed from chat so I can't find it yet.
Yes, this is true. I were on time in Köln-Deutz in my life, 20 years ago. And I can confirm as well that Cologne-Deutz is used as substition to the main station (which is not from away to add - just a couple of hundred meters over the Hohenzollernbrücke) for many connections. Some trains like the TGV almost stand in Köln-Deutz while they just wait for the entry to the main station. The Hohenzollernbrücke is actually a very good point for trainspotting and watching trains from a short distance.
now that I think about it, honestly it makes sorta no sense, because they managed to do Munich Main Station without issues, I mean okay it does lag a little bit but you still can tweak graphic settings and for PC/Steam players add -DX12, but other than that idk
And as I also said in the other thread, they could just shrink the services and the timetable of the Frankfurter S-Bahn and only fill it with the connection to Cologne if necessary. I mean having Frankfurt Hbf and streets with no AI services is better than having no Frankfurt at all. But I guess the overall performance of the route - Köln, Frankfurt, the varied landscape between - might be the problem for some reason... we just can't understand it.
Yes, I think so too. Let's count them and give them some reason, shall we? 1. Tunnel Troisdorf (627 m) 2. Siegauentunnel (2.502 m) 3. Ittenbachtunnel (1.145 m) 4. Aegidienbergtunnel (1.240 m) 5. Kluse-Tunnel (168 m) 6. Rottbitzetunnel (990 m) 7. Günterscheidtunnel (1.130 m) 8. Ammerichtunnel (755 m) 9. Fernthaltunnel (1.555 m) 10. Deesen-Tunnel (67 m) 11. Oberhaider-Wald-Tunnel (1.270 m) 12. Dernbacher Tunnel (3.285 m) 13. Himmelbergtunnel (2.395 m) 14. Wahnscheidtunnel (735 m) 15. Dickheck-Tunnel (570 m) 16. Eichheidetunnel (1.750 m) 17. Eichen-Diekenscheid-Tunnel (400 m) 18. Tunnel Lange Issel (1.015 m) 19. Tunnel Elzer Berg (1.110 m) 20. Limburger Tunnel (2.395 m) 21. Wörsdorfer Tunnel (525 m) 22. Idsteintunnel (2.069 m) 23. Niedernhausener Tunnel (2.765 m) 24. Helllenbergtunnel (552 m) 25. Schulwaldtunnel (4.500 m) 26. Tunnel Breckenheim (1.150 m) 27. Kelsterbach-Tunnel (994 m) Quite a large portion of the route of tunnels, isn't it?
quite big amount of tunnels and quite lengthy aswell. idk how much there is left to model out then, but definetly more hidden in tunnels again. well the route would still be good because of so many other reasons, but oh well
The tunnel list wasn't made to show the route would be bad or boring. I created the list to show where they can save some resources to build and performance to replicate the scenery, just similar to Kassel-Würzburg as you proposed.
For Frankfurt S-Bahn that's known in TSC as S5/S6 lines the latter one merges with Niddertalbahn at Bad Villbel. Berlin S-Bahn meant S25/S26 Heart of Berlin as seen in TSC. For the Cologne S-Bahn we only have S12/S19 lines SKA with 423 Expansion. I see this route being merged with SKA forming SFKA High Speed Line Frankfurt to Aachen via Cologne. Remember the game has 16 carriage set of DB BR406 which means you split the Amsterdam Duisburg section from Brussels Aachen section in Cologne
Would be nice if we could have a new S-Bahn system in TSW, not just need to buy TSC, another game, and deal with its inferior graphics. Not acquired TSC yet and probably won't because I save money for some TSW DLCs, but I appreciate and consider TSC though.
Let LZB basically drive you end to end? The only thing that's even more "banger" is the Eurotunnel...
there is still stuff to do, idk why people don't like LZB? also, theres none in Cologne and Frankfurt so you still gotta do stuff there
damn, dude, now I want to drive this, added to my second spot on top wishlist, right after Munchen - Nurnberg (with highlight being the BR102 + special dostos, 190 km/h)
oh lord what i would give to have this in game! imo this what dtg should've released instead of kassel wurzburg!
This indeed has a lot more variety than KWG. although KWG is fun if you drive it not on AFB and throttle max but try to conserve energy with the hills, especially in the ICE1. the three stations don't have much to offer and almost every service is the same. The mix of S bahn and other regional traffic plus the extra stops would make this route very interesting. Especially because LZB ends at Köln and Frankfurt Flughafen. Driving into Frankfurt Hbf from Flughafen is a very busy and interesing slow bit after going 300 on a high speed line and would be very cool to have been added. but with how busy it gets I would understand Frankfurt Hbf is too big for TSW. The same for extenting the entire SKA to it. Although very cool, seems unrealistic to current standards. hopefully in the future it's possible.
The good thing is, that some 3rd party creators like pilot21 work on Frankfurt HBF which could be used to create Schnellfahrstrecke Rhein Main
The Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Frankfurt runs through the Westerwald region, and even crosses over the route I'm currently building, the Oberwesterwaldbahn. In fact, at exactly this cross over point between Staffel and Elz where also the motorway A3 runs over, there is the offshoot to the Unterwesterwaldbahn. You can see it here: Fun fact is that for my route project, I even build (of course just in a rough early state only) around 6 or 7 km of the SFS Rhein-Main between Limburg South and tunnel Elzer Berg, including Limburger Tunnel - one of the largest tunnels at the route. You can have a view on it here. Please be aware, that this wasn't meant to be perfect and in the time between I recorded this video (4th of February) and now, the scenery already enhanced a lot. The journey starts where Limburg Süd should be located, continues north towards Montabaur, running over the Lahntalbrücke near Limburg, Limburger Tunnel and finally stopping anywhere at the long straight before tunnel Elzer Berg and at the fields before Elz and Staffel. The piece of road you see next to it, should be the A3 motorway. I hope performance wouldn't drown completely when placing any kind of vehicles on it. And another fact, I even asked pilot21 if we could do the project together. But the biggest problem for now is the LIDAR data for Rheinland-Pfalz, which for my own project I'm patiently waiting for to be released hopefully this summer. But one thing I would like to add about the people being hyped about this highspeedline. After my research in the last weeks and months (and even dating back to my post above from October - where I didn't even created anything in the Editor), let me say this: The route might not be as nice and desireable as you think. It consists of various tunnels, in fact and as I said in one of the posts above, 27 in total, covering big portions of the route. I personally prefer landscapes and countrysides to drive on to, but regardless of the tunnels, me too I would like having this racetrack as well.
Hey, I just picked up that message from today that it will be closed for traffic due to the renewal of tracks between Frankfurt Stadion and Siegburg, 1 month this summer from 16th July to 16th August. https://www.hessenschau.de/wirtscha...v2,ice-bahn-frankfurt-koeln-sperrung-100.html
oh wow. good thing those days I'm taking the nightjet over the Linke Rheinstrecke instead of traveling during the day over that line.
Lukas said it's never happening unfortunately, because of how large Frankfurt Hbf is What you see at München right now is testament to this
I know what they said, I saw/heard it myself, but two things to that: Pilot21 who was working on that S-Bahn route in the area of Frankfurt also made models etc for Frankfurt Main Station, and if that ends up being fine in terms of performance then there is a chance otherwise this route could just be cropped down to Cologne Main Station to Frankfurt's Airport Long Distance Station, eh? wouldn't be too bad.
Frankfurt(Main)Hbf could be built, but not immediately for this route. There are other directions where Frankfurt(Main)Hbf could be built first, like Aschaffenburg, Mannheim, Königstein or Gießen. If one of those routes is made, the template of Frankfurt could be reused for this route. Köln (Cologne) Hbf from the Köln - Aachen line could be used for the other side. The line Los Angeles - San Bernadino is an example where this option is used.
It's too large for DTG, but not so for one third party project already about to create Frankfurt. And if DTG wouldn't believe in this project, I don't think they would make a contract with him. DTG didn't wanted to build Frankfurt Hbf in the first place to not lose time and effort for a project that in the end couldn't be released because of performance problems the traffic would bring. So if the Main-Weser-Bahn isn't ditched and they signed him for a different project, I would say DTG somehow changed their mind in this regard. At least for not releasing this as a first party and DTG own created project. Apart of the actual Schnellfahrstrecke to Cologne running over Limburg Süd, there is also a RegionalExpress connection to Limburg (Lahn) - the main station of Limburg, the Main-Lahn-Bahn. I already created the basic scenery for Limburg and about 3 kilometers towards Eschhofen (the first station after Limburg to Frankfurt) is also already laid.
Been a while - but I found another good reason why this route is a good idea We have Cologne-Aachen, we have Kassel-Würzburg, now we have Frankfurt-Fulda, connecting to Kassel-Würzburg via route hopping. Folezz has once worked on his Cologne-Düsseldorf route, however he's become silent in the past few months, and some signs have shown that he may have become a 3rd party developer for TSW, meaning the route might officially come to TSW. To top this entire thing off, the highspeed line this thread is about could join together these routes to make a massive 5-part superroute, all connected via route hopping, the new feature in TSW5.
Out of curiosity, how much resources would the extra 2 stations require? If they're there, and not too intensive, then they are worth considering
The best thing about this route is the variety of ICE, S-Bahn, and some short regional services, which is something that Kassel-Würzburg doesn't have. And it's a route I drive on almost daily to university.
