The LIMAX (Liège Maastricht Aachen eXpress) is a (in full-length) new service from Arriva Limburg. As RE18 it connects the Belgian city of Liège with its magnificent Guillemins station via the Dutch Heuvellandlijn with Aachen (known from TSW2). The length is 85 km (52,8 miles) including the branch line to Kerkrade Centrum (according to BRouter). The RE18 is operated by a three-car tricourant Stadler Flirt 3; the RS18 (Maastricht Randwyck - Heerlen - Kerkrade Centrum) with a two-car monocourant Flirt 3 as a GTW-E (two and three car variant). It had the following stations: - Liège Guillemins - Bressoux - Visè/Wezet » (Border BE/NL) - Eijsden » (Voltage and safety system change; 3kV DC - ECTS «-» 1½kV DC - ATB-EG/ATB-VV) - Maastricht Randwyck - Maastricht - Maastricht Noord* - Meerssen - Houthem-St. Gerlach* - Valkenburg - Schin op Geul* - Klimmen-Ransdaal* - Voerendaal* - Heerlen Woonboulevard* - Heerlen - Landgraaf - (Branch line RS18 to Eygelshoven, Chèvremont and Kerkrade Centrum) - Eygelshoven Markt » (Voltage and safety system change; 1½kV DC - ATB-EG/ATB-VV «-» 15kV 16,7Hz - PZB) » (Border NL/DE) - Herzogenrath - Kohlscheid** - Aachen West - Aachen Schanz*** - Aachen Hbf. Stations with a * are only operated by the RS18 and skipped by the RE18. **Kohlscheid is used for the RB20/RB33 and skipped by the RE4 (RRX) and RE18. ***Aachen Schanz is skipped by the RE18; The RE4, RB20 and RB33 use that station. The RE4 (Aachen - Mönchengladbach - Düsseldorf - Hagen - Dortmund) can be driven with the BR111 in the simulator. The RB20 (Stolberg - Aachen - Herzogenrath - Stolberg - Langerwehe) is a Talent 1 DMU and for now non-existed in TSW. The RB33 (Aachen - Heinsberg/Essen) used to be driven by the BR425. The full line is electrified. Between Liège and somewhere between Eijsden and Randwyck the line had 3kV-DC and ECTS, between Eijsden/Randwyck and Herzogenrath the line had 1,8kV-DC and ATB-EG (with ATB-VV) and in Germany the line had 15kV-16,67Hz with PZB. Between Liège-Guillemins and Maastricht Randwyck traffic is left-driving. Between Randwyck and Maastricht, domestic trains drive on both sides; international on the left. Between Maastricht and Aachen trains are usually on the right side; in the Netherlands is driving on the left side an option in special cases. Between Landgraaf and Herzogenrath, as between Landgraaf and Kerkrade, there is just one track, so delays can easily spread out from there. A cab ride between Heerlen and Maastricht A cab ride from Heerlen to Aachen Hbf with Dutch comment What this line makes a bucket list for TSW, is that it serves three countries, of which two new in the game. It had three systems to switch within one route, which requires some concentration and gives options for error, so exciting. The Ardennen between Liège and Visè are spectacular and people can expect beautiful screens between Meerssen and Voerendaal. The ICE3M, BR111 and BR146 with Dostos, BR425 and freight trains are usable on this line. Basic statics of the NS V-IRM and Belgianrail Desiro Mainline are hopefully made too. The full line comes into service on 9 June 2024, but I know it will take more time until then to make this layout with trains. Picture from BRouter with the route. Liège-Guillemins North-view entrance of Maastricht with V-irm Valkenburg Heuvellandlijn view around Schin op Geul. More pictures of the stations on the line can be found at https://www.prorail.nl/series/spoor-in-de-spotlight/de-heuvellandlijn Station Heerlen, with the tricourant Flirt 3 on the left Chèvremont Eygelshoven Markt An old picture from Herzogenrath, with the BR425 as RB33 to Duisburg Aachen Schanz. Aachen Hbf is already in TSW and doesn't require pictures. Monocourant Stadler Flirt 3 from Arriva Limburg, operating the RS18 Tricourant Stadler Flirt 3 from Arriva Limburg, operating the RE18 (until 8 june 2024 only between Maastricht and Aachen) Stadler GTW-E from Arriva Limburg. The middle passenger car is not present on all trains. Flirt 3 interior, second class Flirt 3, first class Information screens on the Flirt 3 More information over the line can be found on this German-typed Wiki page.
Excellent Idea and I'm wondering why you went aachen to Liege via the Netherlands. The shortcut between Aachen and Liege is L37. For the Belgian side you're dealing with Memor II TBL 3kv DC 1.95m metalized carbon although safe for German and Austrian 15kv 16.7hz AC.
My idea was a route with more variety in railway systems, high frequency of service and a route through the Netherlands. Besides, Arriva is a daughter company of Deutsche Bahn, witch had supporting a lot of simulator routes already and makes it easier to get permission for this route already. The direct route via the HSL has not so much trains that it is worth it do purchase and via Verviers the trains runs on the Belgian systems for the whole run; platform 9 in Aachen Hbf can switch the electricity system to the Belgian one.
Thanks and for the game it has the voltage change feature with the screen saying to continue the journey please change voltage SEH power supply
From the live article for the route Zwolle - Groningen: This feature on the new route Zwolle - Groningen is visible on this line between Eygelshoven Markt and Herzogenrath. In this video at 10:20 (and 43:00) you see the wire changing from double to single or v.v.
