Wikipedia page about the Lahntalbahn route Note: All images and other footage are from the actual route itself except where indicated. The route on Google Maps Short information to note before: The Lahntalbahn generally origins at Koblenz and comes over Limburg (Lahn) up to Wetzlar and Gießen. However, the route is split nowadays between several services like the RB23 from Koblenz to Limburg (the route which is not included here), the RB45 from Limburg to Gießen as well as the RE25 as an express service from Koblenz to Gießen. The latter two services are used on this proposed route. The route nowadays is also operated by two companies, 1. the DB Regio Mitte and 2. the Hessische Landesbahn (HBL). Both split the services with each other. For this reason you maybe find two different liveries for the trains in this post. Length: 52 km (Limburg - Wetzlar) + optionallly 12,1km (from Wetzlar to Gießen): in total 64,1 km (Limburg - Gießen) Stations: 18 (Limburg - Wetzlar) + 2 stations to Gießen Hbf: 20 in total Operators: DB Regio Mitte Hessische Landesbahn (HLB) Trains: Alstom Coradia LINT 27/41 (DB BR 648): Bombardier Talent 1 (BR 644 version) - [As Layer from DLC "S-Bahn Voralberg"]: DB BR 612 (RegioSwinger) - [As Layer from DLC "Tharandter Rampe"] (could be used up to 2014 after some statements, but as same as the BR 826, some could be used still for services): DB BR 628 (legacy) - [As Layer from DLC "Niddertalbahn]: DB BR 642 Siemens Desiro Classic [As Layer from "Maintalbahn"]: Used as reinforcement unit between Weilburg to Grünberg over Gießen for the RB45. This photo is not from the route, but one I could found in HLB livery from short distance: Possible AI layers: RE20/RB22: DB BR 143 + Dosto cab car passenger service from Limburg to Frankfurt (Main) [Main-Lahn-Bahn] as layer from either DLC "Ruhr Sieg Nord", "Tharandter Rampe" or "Dresden Nahverkehr". Photo from between Eschhofen and Lindenholzhausen Holding in Limburg (Lahn) but also can run services up to the first station Eschhofen (km 4 ca.) and short thereafter when there is the junction with the tracks towards Frankfurt (Main). Crazy idea: This could be brought into the DLC as a one-stop service from Limburg to Eschhofen as both routes share this part of route. RB21: DB BR 642 Siemens Desiro Classic from Limburg to Wiesbaden als layer from the DLC "Maintalbahn" - Holding in Limburg (Lahn) but also can run services up to the first station Eschhofen (km 4 ca.) + As optional Reinforcement units for the RB 45 from Weilburg to Grünberg over Gießen. Again, here could be used as one-stop passenger service as well as both routes share the route up to Eschhofen. Gießen is also a big regional but also national knot for the german railway traffic and offers many more connections and lines, which potentially could be used to layer trains from other DLCs to this route. RE98/RE99: Stadler Flirt from Siegen to Frankfurt (Main-Sieg-Bahn), holding in Gießen like here on the picture, as layer from DLC "S-Bahn Zentralschweiz": ICE26: ICE3 or ICE1 from Karlsruhe-Hannover-Hamburg-Stralsund/Westerland (As layer from DLCs "Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen" or "Schnellfahrstrecke Kassel-Würzburg") - the ICE 26 connection is every 2 hours. nowadays the ICE4 or the ICE3 Velaro D is used, but since we don't have them in the game yet, the older models could be sufficient): ICE3 (maybe ICE-T) with the 612 to the right side in Gießen station, dated 2009: Location: The route is located at the southwest of Germany, between Cologne and Frankfurt (Main), covering the landscapes of Rhineland-Palatinate in the east to Hesse in the west. Koblenz already is in TSW in the DLC "Linke Rheinstrecke". Limburg is a relativley big regional station covering connections to the cities Frankfurt, Koblenz, Gießen, Wetzlar, Montabaur and Siegen. In this map the complete route of the Lahntalbahn from Koblenz is covered. Unfortunately, it didn't cover the 12 km portion from Wetzlar to Gießen. The route I propose starts at Limburg and goes towards east. However I will maybe propose the route from Koblenz to Limburg (service RB23) a different time. Remarkable spots of the route: The most iconic spot of the route is one of the most iconic train tunnel entries of the world I think in Weilburg, which has a castle made entrance. I was at this tunnel once. It's also extremely dangerous because immediately after the tunnel there comes a railroad crossing Take a look at it here: What you don't see in the video and the first 2 photos is that a bridge over the Lahn river comes short after this railway crossing as addtional sightessing spot. Short after the bridge comes Weilburg station to the left side in the background. So many things to see here for a short portion of railroads: The first video in this post has for the very first seconds an impression of both, the tunnel and the crossover over the street and the Lahn bridge. The Talent 1 exiting Limburg, in the backroung the river Lahn and Limburg's St. Georg cathedral. Also very nice and a remarkable spot of the route: Cab views: A video from passenger's view from Limburg (Lahn) to Gießen: Here is a LINK to the service timetable of the RE25 from Koblenz to Gießen, RB45 from Limburg to Gießen and RB23 from Koblenz to Limburg.
More... Another cab view from Gießen towards Limburg: The Bombardier Talent 1 departing from Limburg (Lahn) station towards Gießen: A documentary about Limburg station with german commentary (you can see a lot of trains and get a good view from the station): Recordings of mainy connections including the RE25, RB45 to Gießen and the RB20 to Frankfurt (Main) Hbf, anywhere between Limburg and Eschhofen: The RegioSwinger at Runkel: The LINT 27 near Villmar: Two LINT 27 in Gießen Hbf: Again in Gießen station: At and near Leun / Braunfels: Both next pictures at Gräveneck (left is the Lahn river): At Stockhausen: And here in Weilburg: Limburg station (filmed from direction towards Frankfurt and Gießen). You can see the location directly within the city, to the right station building and the bus sation and parking places: Actually the same angle as before but far far back, so that you can see the Lahn river, the St. Georg cathedral and the route proposed here up to the left with the station left at the horizon: Aerial view of Limburg station from direction north west:
More videos: A short documentary (with german commentary) about Giessen Hbf: Real sound recording of the Alstom Coradia LINT 41 BR 648: Another passenger filming of the RE25 starting from Limburg towards Giessen, we can see some buildings of Limburg like the big parkhouse close to Limburg station but thereafter also a short peak at the Lahn. The RE25 departing in Gießen towards Koblenz: A few shots of the Lahntalbahn in spring: More to add tomorrow....
Thank you very much, driverwoods. I think the route is a good fit to what DTG actually looks for (around 60km in its maximum length, double track, 18/20 stations, frequent service timetable with one RegionalBahn service which stops at every station and one Regional Express service just going through and not stop everywhere - very similar to the traffic on other DLCs). And the biggest benefit probably is that many trains (3 in total) which drive on this route already have been created for other DLCs, and give the ability for layers from the DLCs "Vorarlberg" for the Bombardier Talent 1, "Tharandter Rampe" for the RegioSwinger (DB BR 612) as well as optionally "Niddertalbahn" for the BR 628 - which I don't quite know if it is used still on the route yet since I found no pictures, but from my first proposed route the Oberwesterwaldbahn (Limburg - Au) I found also out that some good maintained BR 628s are still in use there. So it could be possible that some of these sometimes also drive on the Limburg-Gießen route, in case the others need to be repaired in the depot. As far as I did my research, I think that the BR 628 shall be part of the main rolling stock of Niddertalbahn. Thinking about if you could mean the other way around, I think there is no layer from NID for the BR 628 to take to the Vorarlberg DLC yet, as far as I know. Apart of that, I know you know many routes on this world, Can I ask you a question? Did you saw that tunnel entrance in the first post, a 2D-like castle building on the Weilburg Tunnel? I think this is pretty unique for anywhere on the world, isn't it? Did you ever saw something like that any where else? Would be really interested if you know more of this kind. I was once at this tunnel entrance back in 2005 when there also were a big festival event called "the Hesse day" and the city was filled up with thousands of people, coming to there all over the state and partwise even the country because of some concerts and events like an oldtimer rallye etc. I was really impressed by that as a child. It's so cool. The other entrance on the other side also has a similar building at it. It's very creative. Another cool circumstance is that the spectacular entrance is not the only point of interest there. Short after the the tunnel exit of the Weilburger Tunnel, there comes a railroad crossing, followed immediately by a bridge over the river Lahn and thereafter the train station of Weilburg. Pretty remarkable and astonishing piece of railroad there, just within a few meters.
The Talent 1 found in Vorarlberg can't be used on the Lahntalbahn as it's the electrified version that only the ÖBB operates. The BR 642 (Desiro Classic) that comes with the new Aschaffenburg-Miltenberg route can be used though, both for AI and some playable services
Thank you for this information. However, I think the basic train model for the 643 is almost exactly the same. It's a difference which has more importance in real life than tweaking a virtual model but it's also not that easy as I think they said that in free roam mode, certain electrified trains can't be used on diesel routes because of that, which is still kind of weird to me, considering we're talking about a game. Technically, the 643 could be set to run on water if they want to. I think adjusting a few options in the UE4 settings and render this train new in this model, would be way easier than remodeling the complete train from scretch. The BR 642 as a substitution could be used, but would not be authentic enough I think. This train is a little too different from its outside look to match the 643. However, if this would be the easiest way to incorporate that train and this route, I would rather go with that than not having it. P.S. I'm struggling the most with the concern if they would model the LINT 27 (BR 648). That would be probably be the biggest issue I guess.
Since I can not attach more files above, here is more: The BR 628 in HBL livery on the route: Freight traffic on the route: Near Leun/BRaunfels: Here more pictures of the passenger trains: RegioSwinger (Br 612) at Runkel: At Gräveneck station: In winter: Steam locomotive at Leun:
Platform bridge at Leun station: At Stockhausen station: The 612 near Weilburg: 628 near Runkel: In Aumenau: RegioSwinger 612 near Aumenau:
Some more pictures about the fascinating tunnel portals at the Lahntalbahn railway, much of them in and around Weilburg. While being the castle-like tunnel near Weilburg station is probably the most impressive, the similar tunnels also provide a cool feel and remarkable spots of the road. Take a note how they differ between the portals! North portal of Schmiedekopfs-Tunnel: South portal of Schmiedekopfs-Tunnel: South portal of the Weilburg tunnel: Here from above, it actually are three tunnels, from left to right - car, ship and train tunnels (south side): North portal of Weilbuger train tunnel: North portal as seen from Weillburg station (a bridge over the Lahn is also in between): A video from the Weilburger Lahn loop, gives you an impression about the 3D relations of the Lahn, the station, the city and the tunnels to each other:
Easier perhaps, but adjusting the model (cab at least, probably more), researching and implementing the new physics, creating a new livery and adding new sounds is enough work for it to be more "creating a new train" than "reusing content from another DLC". I didn't suggest to use it as a substitution. The BR 642 itself is used (or was used, not sure how up-to-date the info is) on the route Wiesbaden—Limburg (→ AI traffic in Limburg) and on the route Weilburg—Gießen—Grünberg (→ playable services).
Oh, I didn't understand it right. Cool, thank you for the information. I didn't know that and didn't even thought about to mention trains just used for the AI traffic. Maybe I will need to do more research and provide this and the other trains I could find into the main post above. Another train which could be used for the short portion between Limburg and Eschhofen I think is the RB20 towards Frankfurt, a Dosto train. Don't know the exact Model yet but it has to be one of those used in the other german routes. I also added some more pictures and a video about the tunnels near Weilburg recently to the thread. I think these tunnel portals are pretty special.
So, thanks to the input from stateoftheartjonas giving me some useful information regarding the BR 642 Siemens Desiro Classic which can be used as reinforcment units of the RB45 between Weilburg and Gießen and as an AI layer between Limburg and Eschhofen (1. station after Limburg at c. km 4,0), it made me thinking about the more additional AI layers this route can have and I've updated the main post much with new train connections and layer possibilities. A funny thing which came to my mind with the BR 143 + Dosto cab car train on the RE20/RB22 line from Limburg to Frankfurt (Main) [Main-Lahn-Bahn] as well as the BR 642 on the RB21 line from Limburg to Wiesbaden [Ländchesbahn] is that DTG actually could implement these as "one-stop" services as both of these routes share the portion of this route up to the first station Eschhofen (km 4 ca.). And yes, I'm serious. Just hinting at what potentially could be possible. Another thing to mention is that Gießen station has a lot of regional but also 1 ICE connection to consider. So, technically you could have an ICE3 layer from SKA or KWZ in Gießen station. Plus, the Stadler Flirt from the SLC S-Bahn Zentralschweiz could be used as the "Main-Sieg-Express" RE98/RE99 in Gießen. There probably could be many more AI connections brought to Gießen, but I can't cover them all. These are just two possible examples.
