I’ve been thinking about what would actually make Train Sim World better going forward, rather than simply asking for “more routes and more trains”. TSW already has a huge amount of content, and TSW7 is adding some really interesting things such as Freight Hauler, Live Weather, AI Conductors and the ICE 4. So instead of just making a massive wishlist of every train I can think of, I tried to focus on things that would actually make sense for TSW, could realistically be developed, and would improve multiple pieces of existing content. Here’s what I’d personally like to see. --- ️ CORE FEATURES 1. A proper performance & optimisation overhaul ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Honestly, this would be my #1 priority. Before adding more graphical features, I’d love to see TSW become more stable and consistent. Things like: - Less stuttering, especially around busy stations - Better CPU utilisation - Better memory management - Fewer crashes - Better texture streaming - Better performance on large routes - Improved AI performance - Better console optimisation - Faster loading - Fewer random performance drops between routes TSW has become a very large game, and I think optimisation is becoming more important with every new DLC. I would happily sacrifice some graphical improvements if it meant the game ran significantly better. --- 2. Bring modern TSW features to older routes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This is probably my biggest overall wish. When a new TSW version introduces something like better weather, passengers, lighting, AI or safety systems, I don't want those improvements to only matter for the newest DLC. I'd love to see a long-term effort to bring as many improvements as possible to older routes. For example: - Modern weather - Better passengers - Improved station ambience - Better lighting - Updated PIS - Improved AI - Modern safety systems - Improved audio - Better timetable functionality Basically: Please don't let older routes become obsolete just because they're older. --- 3. A permanent route preservation/remaster programme ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Building on the previous point, I'd love to see a dedicated preservation team return/continue working on older routes. There are so many fantastic routes in TSW's history that could become much better with modern technology. Instead of completely abandoning old DLC, give some of them a second life. Potential candidates could include things like: - Northern Trans-Pennine - West Somerset Railway - Main Spessart Bahn - Rapid Transit - Older US routes - Older German routes I'm not saying every old route needs to be completely rebuilt. Even relatively small improvements would be appreciated. A route you've already purchased feeling significantly better years later is a huge positive for the player. --- 4. A much better save system ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This feels like one of those features that should simply work extremely well in a train simulator. Some TSW services can take a long time, especially freight. I'd like: - Multiple save slots - Reliable saving during timetable services - Being able to quit and continue later - Better recovery after crashes - Properly persistent long-distance services If I'm halfway through a long freight run, I shouldn't have to worry about losing the entire service. --- 5. Better audio ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The soundscape is one of the things that can make a train simulator feel incredibly immersive. I'd love to see improvements to: - Sound looping - Wheel/rail sounds - Brake sounds - Door sounds - Pantograph sounds - Horns - AI train sounds - Station ambience - Passenger sounds - Doppler effects - Environmental audio I'd rather have fewer but much better sounds than hundreds of repetitive audio loops. --- 6. More intelligent AI and railway operations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ TSW's timetable system is already one of its strongest features. I'd love to see it taken further. Imagine trains actually reacting to the railway around them: - Delays - Signal checks - Platform conflicts - Overtaking - Trains being held for other services - More realistic freight paths - Knock-on delays - More realistic dispatching Basically, make the railway feel less like a timetable being played back and more like a living railway. --- 7. More depot and preparation gameplay ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'd really like to see more things happening before and after a service. For example: - Preparing a train - Brake tests - Coupling/uncoupling - Fuelling - ECS movements - Moving trains around depots - Preparing passenger trains - Shunting - Attaching locomotives This would make existing depots and yards much more useful. And importantly, it doesn't necessarily require enormous new routes. --- 8. Better multiplayer / Driver + Conductor co-op ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I don't think TSW needs to suddenly become a massive multiplayer railway MMO. But proper 2-player cooperative services would be fantastic. For example: Player 1: Driver Player 2: Conductor/Guard The two players would actually have different responsibilities. That seems much more realistic and achievable than trying to build an enormous multiplayer railway network. --- 9. A simpler community route editor ⭐⭐⭐ I know the existing PC tools are extremely powerful, but they're also complicated. I'd love to eventually see something like a: "TSW Route Builder Lite" where normal players could create: - Track - Stations - Signals - Scenery - Timetables - Basic services I'm not expecting a full Trainz-style editor. Even a limited creator system could massively extend the life of TSW. --- ROUTES I'D LIKE TO SEE I'm deliberately leaving out routes that are already announced for TSW7. These are the ones I'd personally consider particularly worthwhile. --- 1. Metro-North Hudson Line ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Grand Central → Poughkeepsie This would be one of my dream US routes. You'd get: - New York City - Grand Central Terminal - Metro-North - Dense commuter traffic - Hudson River scenery - Freight interaction - Interesting stations - Huge potential for layers And it would give TSW a completely different atmosphere from the existing US routes. --- 2. South Western Main Line ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ London Waterloo → Southampton/Bournemouth This seems like an obvious missing UK experience. It could provide: - Waterloo - Dense London commuter traffic - Fast mainline running - Regional services - Freight - Multiple train types And it would finally give us a proper reason to have things like the Class 444 and Class 450. I'd actually prefer something like Waterloo → Southampton initially, with the possibility of expanding later. --- 3. Expand the Dutch network ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Now that more Dutch content is coming, I'd much rather see the Netherlands developed as a network rather than isolated routes. Something involving: Amsterdam → Schiphol → Leiden → Den Haag or eventually: Den Haag → Rotterdam would be fantastic. The more Dutch routes that connect together, the more valuable every Dutch train becomes. --- 4. Liverpool → Manchester ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ A relatively straightforward choice, but a very good one. It could offer: - Dense passenger traffic - Multiple operators - Modern trains - Freight - Major stations - Lots of AI traffic It would fit TSW extremely well. --- 5. Chicago Metra ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ Chicago is such an important railway city that I'm surprised we don't have a proper Metra experience. Something like: Chicago → Aurora could be fantastic. It would give us: - Huge commuter operations - Double-decker trains - American signalling - Urban scenery - Freight interaction - A completely different US experience --- 6. London Liverpool Street → Ipswich ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'd really like to see more of the Greater Anglia network. This could introduce things like: - Class 720 - Class 745/755 - Modern East Anglia - London commuter operations - Freight And again, it creates opportunities for multiple trains to layer onto the same network. --- 7. A proper Scottish route ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'd love to see either: - Edinburgh → Glasgow - West Highland Line - Fife Circle - Edinburgh → Newcastle I'd personally favour Edinburgh → Glasgow because of the amount of traffic and operational variety. But the West Highland Line would obviously be incredible visually. --- 8. Austria / Vienna network ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Now that the ÖBB Railjet is happening, I'd love to see a proper Austrian route to go with it. Something around: Vienna → Wiener Neustadt or a Vienna S-Bahn/mainline route could provide a great combination of: - Railjet - Regional trains - S-Bahn - Freight - High-speed/intercity running --- 9. Hamburg → Bremen ⭐⭐⭐½ Germany already has a huge amount of representation, so this isn't my highest priority. But Hamburg is a major railway hub that would make a lot of sense. It could combine: - ICE - IC - Regional trains - Freight - Hamburg-area commuter traffic I'd rather see this than another small German commuter route that doesn't add much new gameplay. --- 10. Northern Italy ⭐⭐⭐½ Italy would be a fantastic addition. Ideally something that combines: - High-speed trains - Regional trains - Major stations - Conventional railway - Italian signalling - Mountain/coastal scenery A route shouldn't just be "here's a Frecciarossa." It should build an actual Italian railway ecosystem. --- 11. More French conventional railway ⭐⭐⭐½ France needs more variety. Rather than another isolated high-speed route, I'd actually prefer a conventional SNCF route with: - Regional trains - Intercity trains - Busy stations - French signalling - More interaction with the existing French content --- 12. Switzerland ⭐⭐⭐½ I'd absolutely love Switzerland. Something around: - Zürich - Bern - Basel - Gotthard would be amazing. But I also recognise that this would probably be considerably more difficult than expanding an existing country. --- TRAINS I'D LIKE TO SEE 1. Class 91 + Mk4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This has to be near the top of my UK wishlist. Especially with ECML content. A properly simulated Class 91 + Mk4 set would be an amazing addition and would add a completely different feel to the ECML. --- 2. GE Genesis ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Probably my #1 American locomotive request. The reason isn't just that it's iconic. It's incredibly useful. Amtrak + potential commuter operations + future US routes = lots of potential layers. This is exactly the type of locomotive TSW should prioritise. --- 3. Siemens Charger ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another extremely useful American locomotive. It could potentially appear with several different operators and would give TSW a modern US diesel that could be reused across multiple routes. --- 4. NS VIRM ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ If we're going to keep expanding the Netherlands, this would be an obvious choice. It's distinctive, useful and could layer across multiple Dutch routes. --- 5. Class 444 / Class 450 ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ These would make perfect sense alongside a South Western Main Line route. They'd also establish an entire new operator ecosystem rather than just adding another isolated train. --- 6. DB BR 189 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A modern German freight locomotive with lots of potential. I'd love to see more serious freight layers across the German network. --- 7. BR 232 Ludmilla ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Another major German freight locomotive. Especially useful for older/historical German content. --- 8. BR 220 / V200 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ I'd like to see more classic German diesel operations. It would also help TSW diversify beyond the huge number of modern electric DB trains. --- 9. Frecciarossa 1000 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the trains I'd most like to see from a completely new railway ecosystem. But I'd only want it if it's accompanied by a proper Italian route. --- ❌ Things I DON'T think TSW needs to prioritise There are plenty of cool ideas that I don't think make sense right now. ❌ A giant worldwide open-world railway Sounds amazing. Probably a technical nightmare. I'd rather have smaller but extremely detailed connected networks. ❌ A full Trainz-style editor Would be awesome, but I'd rather have DTG spend those resources improving the actual game. ❌ Full MMO-style multiplayer Again, cool idea, but probably not worth the enormous development effort. Start with Driver + Conductor co-op. ❌ Endless small German commuter routes Germany already has a lot of content. I'd rather see existing German routes improved and connected through layers. ❌ More isolated high-speed routes I think we've reached the point where another high-speed route isn't automatically exciting. Give us: High-speed + regional + commuter + freight on the same network. --- MY TOP 15 OVERALL If I could hand Dovetail a single list, this would be it: 1. Major performance/optimisation overhaul 2. Permanent route preservation/remaster programme 3. Bring TSW7 features to older DLC 4. Better save system 5. Better AI + dynamic railway operations 6. Metro-North Hudson Line 7. South Western Main Line 8. GE Genesis 9. Class 91 + Mk4 10. Siemens Charger 11. Expand the Dutch network 12. NS VIRM 13. Liverpool → Manchester 14. Chicago Metra 15. Greater Anglia / Liverpool Street → Ipswich --- Final thought I think the future of TSW shouldn't necessarily be about having the biggest number of routes. It should be about making every route and every train more useful. I'd much rather have: 1 route + 5 trains + lots of layers + dynamic AI + freight + realistic operations than: 5 routes + 1 train each + very little interaction between them. The best direction, in my opinion, is: Better core simulation → better old routes → better AI/operations → connected networks → highly reusable trains → new countries. TSW already has an enormous amount of content. Now I'd love to see Dovetail focus on making that content feel like one living railway simulation, rather than a collection of separate DLCs. That's ultimately what would make me most excited for the next few years of Train Sim World.
