After recently revisiting the Luzern to Sursee route from Rivet Games, I came away frustrated by how much of a missed opportunity it was. This should have been a busy mainline route with a bit of something for everyone (almost like a Swiss version of something like Koln-Aachen or Dresden-Reisa), but it instead feels empty and half-finished. What I am proposing is a route expansion that would roughly double the length of the route, add new rolling stock, and include a new timetable. (Note: this does not include bug fixes, which should be happening regardless) RouteThe expanded route would go from Bahnhof Luzern to Bahnhof Olten, adding 9 new stations and 24km of new track. The new stations are: St. Erhard-Knutwil Wauwil Nebikon Dagmersellen Reiden Brittnau-Wikon Zofingen Aarburg-Oftringen Olten Olten sits between Zürich, Bern, Basel, Luzern, and Biel; and is one of the ten busiest stations in Switzerland. The station, which is served by around 1,100 trains a day (including Eurocity, Intercity, Intercity Express, InterRegio, RegioExpress, and S-Bahn services), would provide the route with a major station on both ends, and would allow for more interesting gameplay opportunities, which I will go into more detail later. Rolling StockOne of the issues with the current route is that only one piece of rolling stock is included (the Stadler FLIRT) and since there are no other routes that feature the SBB, no other trains can sub in. That is why I would include the Re460 with mark IV carriages and cab car. The Re460 would add playable Intercity and InterRegio services to the route, as well as AI services at Luzern and Olten. ServicesThe expanded route could provide significantly more services than is currently possible. New services would include: IC 21 Basel-Lugano This service would run nonstop between Luzern and Olten every 2 hours in each direction. IR 15 Geneva Airport-Luzern This service would run between Luzern and Zofingen every hour in each direction, stopping at Sursee. IR 27 Basel-Luzern This service would run between Luzern and Olten every hour in each direction, stopping at Sursee and Zofingen.
Aargau S-Bahn S29 Sursee-Turgi This service would run between Sursee and Olten every hour in each direction, stopping at St. Erhard-Knutwil, Wauwil, Nebikon, Dagmersellen, Reiden, Brittnau-Wikon, Zofingen, and Aarburg-Oftringen. It would use the existing RABe 523. Luzern S-Bahn S9 Luzern-Lenzburg This service would run between Luzern and Emmenbrücke Gersag every half hour in each direction, stopping at Emmenbrücke. It would also use the FLIRT. Luzern S-Bahn S99 Luzern-Hochdorf This service would run between Luzern and Emmenbrücke during rush hour, again using the FLIRT. In addition, RegioExpress services, which currently end at Sursee, would continue to Olten (their final terminal irl), stopping at Wauwil, Nebikon, Dagmersellen, Reiden, and Zofingen. AI services would include: Luzern IR 70 Luzern-Zurich (Every hour) IR 75 Luzern-Konstanz (Every hour) + a variety of Luzern S-Bahn services Olten ICE 12 Berlin-Interlaken (Three times per day) (ICE1 from Kassel-Wurzburg would sub in as layer) + Intercity, InterRegio and S-Bahn services that I can't find much info on right now ICE1 at Bahnhof Olten
As riveting pieces go, landscapes and the like are stunning. However, traffic lights exist that are dark and completely unlit. Also, the driver in the driver's seat looks unnatural - is it the same in the real car?
You are missing SBB-CFF-FFS Rabe 502 & 503 operates the long distance services towards Genf Flughafen IR15 while 503 runs Mailand Milano Centrale to Olten. If you want Freight locomotives you are looking at the following SBB-CFF-FFS RE474 ES64F4 Traxx RE484 remember that Swiss 1.45m Carbon Strips are compatible with Italian 1.45m Copper Strip 3kv DC. The Wider pantograph strips 1.95m Metalized Carbon are used in Germany and Austria 15kv 16.7hz Punktförmige Zugsbeeinflussung France 1.5kv DC for the two Freight locomotives I mentioned
Really great idea! Rivet have done a few british routes so I think it would be time for another Swiss one for sure! The Re460 is a must have for sure, but I would think that maybe IC2000 coaches might fit better for the purpose on this route since the IR75 uses them
Amazing suggestion!! The route itself is really nice and fun, I already enjoyed it lot of times. but it feels bit dead with only the Flirt.... This suggestion would make the route better. Sadly route expansions aren't a thing yet in the game, but adding that stock would atleast make the route better! Hopefully this is something that would come to the game, first day purchase for me!
Thanks for the comment. If the IC2000 coaches would be more appropriate, then they should be included instead. I wasn't sure what coaches to include when I was writing the post, as I live in Canada and have never been to Switzerland.
