Paris commuter: RER C – St-Quentin-en-Yvelines → St-Martin-d’Étampes Dear friends, today I'm presenting my idea for a new Train Sim World route We're going to France, a country that is far too underrepresented in TSW. To be more precise, we're going to Paris, its capital, which has a lot to offer to railway enthusiasts in particular. My proposal is, so to speak, the counterpart to the (admittedly rather poor quality) LGV Méditerranée. It is the so-called RER line C, one of the five lines of the Paris RER (Réseau Express régional) hybrid rapid transit and suburban commuter network, which is roughly comparable to the London Overground or the German S-Bahn. Spoiler: TL;DR TL; DR Spoiler: TL;DR Proposed route: RER C line in Paris, present day Distance: 85 km from St-Quentin-en-Yvelines to St-Martin-d'Étampes Key landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Seine River, Versailles Major stations: Versailles Chantiers, Gare d'Austerlitz, Bibliothèque François Mitterrand, Juvisy-sur Orge Rolling stock options: Z 5600, Z 8800, Z 20500, Z 20900 Total stops: 37, with a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas Unique gameplay: High-frequency services, tunnels under Paris, iconic city views Fixes the broken French image in Train Sim World Table of contents Generalities The route course Rolling stock Z 5600 Z 8800 Z 20500 Z 20900 Key stations Reasons for this route Photo Gallery Bonus: Cab rides Summary General information Opened in 1980, this highly branched line crosses the Paris metropolitan area. It connects the north, west and south of the city, running through the heart of Paris. With 75 stops over a distance of 162 kilometres, it is the second longest line of the RER, mainly due to its many branches. In many places, it shares tracks with the major lines, for example those that terminate at Paris-Montparnasse or Paris-Austerlitz, two of the 6 major Paris stations. Like all RER lines, the RER C is characterised by its high frequency. More than 500 services carry around half a million passengers every day. Route & Map Hardly any RER C service has the same origin and destination as the other, as the RER C route map has heaps of branches. I'll simply insert a map to give you a better understanding: To include every single one of these branches would go beyond the scope (that would be 162 km), so I would limit myself to the section „St-Quentin-en-Yvelines - St-Martin-d'Étampes“. This starts and ends in a suburb of Paris but runs along the southern side of the river Seine through (or under) the centre of Paris. A journey from one end to the other would take about 1h50, covering about 85km. Here’s an edited version of the map, cutting out the irrelevant parts: Rolling Stock 4 multiple units would be suitable rolling stock here. I will leave it open as to which of these trains will be used (or even all of them?), as all these trains belong to the RER C and are not assigned to any specific services. These 4 trains are: Z 5600 Built from 1982 – 1985, the Z 5600 is a double-decker commuter train, used on RER line C as well as on the Transilien (another Paris suburb train with a generally lower frequency and less stops) lines R and V. This train only runs under 1.5 kV DC, which it draws from overhead catenary, and is part of the so-called Z2N family (like all the other suggested rolling stock), which is a series of double-deck EMUs. Z 8800 The dual-current variant of the Z 5600, which also runs under 25kV@50Hz AC. Besides the RER C, they are also in use on the Transilien lines U and V Z 20500 The Z 20500 dual-voltage double-deck EMUs, also part of the Z2N family, can be seen as a more modern version of the Z 5600/8800. The 200 trainsets, built from 1988 – 1998 and modernized several times, are in service on the RER lines C and D, as well as on the Transilien lines P, R and V. Typically, one trainset consists of either 4 or 5 coaches and they reach up to 140 km/h. Z 20900 These trainsets are optically as well as technically pretty similar to the Z 20500. They were ordered in 2001 mainly to replace former rolling stock and differ only minimally from the Z 20500. Such differences are e.g. their appearance in 4-car trainsets only, a new IGBT-based traction chain or a new door closing alert system. Each of these trainsets can be coupled with each other, which means they can be used even more flexibly. Interesting stops: Here I've listed some stations that stand out on the journey: St-Quentin-en-Yvelines - Montigny-le-Bretonneux: The northern terminus of the route. It is also a stop on the Transilien lines U and N. Versailles Chantiers: The largest stop in Versailles, approx. 500 metres from Versailles Palace. A few long-distance trains also stop here (including TGV) Javel: Offers a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower. The tunnel under the city center begins just behind this station. Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel: Underground railway station at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. (I didn't find a good photo for this ) St-Michel-Notre-Dame: Located partly below the Seine and the Île de la cité in the center of Paris. Offers connections to the RER line B and the Métro 4. Gare d'Austerlitz: One of Paris’ major stations that connects Paris with central and southern France, but does not see high-speed trains. The RER stops in the underground part of the station. Bibliothèque François Mitterand: Stop at the French National Library. Also used by trains on the major lines to Paris-Austerlitz. The tunnel under the city centre ends behind the station. Choisy-le-Roi & Athis-Mons: Located almost directly on the south side of the River Seine. Juvisy-sur-Orge: Major stop for long-distance trains too. Brétigny: Marks the city limits. From here it becomes very rural. Why this route? The RER C line offers a unique and immersive experience for Train Sim World players by providing urban as well as suburban environments. The line crosses through the heart of Paris, showcasing iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, as well as lesser-known, but equally picturesque suburban areas This route would also introduce a new type of service: the high-frequency, versatile RER trains that operate through busy central stations and quieter outskirts alike. Moreover, this line serves as a major connection between several prominent Parisian stations and suburbs, giving players a detailed view of Paris’ rich rail infrastructure. On this route, players could experience a balance between slow, scenic runs and high-density, urban rail operations. It‘d be just the perfect counterpart to the LGV route we currently have in the game with its high frequency of services and stops. Gallery I‘ve put together some images taken on the line to make this more comprehensible for you : Bonus: Cab rides Fortunately I‘ve found two cab rides on exactly this line, each of which shows the opposite direction: North → South South → North Summary In summary, the proposed RER C route is a comprehensive, immersive journey through both Paris’ iconic city center and its charming suburbs. With its 85-kilometer section from St-Quentin-en-Yvelines to St-Martin-d'Étampes, players would experience the mix of urban, suburban, and semi-rural environments that define the Paris region. The route offers plenty of interesting stops, from key landmarks like the Eiffel Tower to vital railway hubs like Gare d'Austerlitz, making it appealing not just for train enthusiasts but also those curious about Parisian rail life. The variety of rolling stock, including the Z 5600, Z 8800, Z 20500, and Z 20900, would offer a well-rounded experience of Paris’ iconic transit system. Overall, this route would fill a significant gap in Train Sim World’s French offerings, providing a challenging yet scenic ride through one of the world’s most famous cities. Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, thoughts or opinions, feel free to share them below! Spoiler: Image sources Image sources General Header Background Image: https://flic.kr/p/Ntxgff RER C Logo (in Header Image): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:IDF_RER_C_logo.svg SNCF Logo (in Header Image): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logo_SNCF_2011.svg Separator between TL;DR and Content section: https://flic.kr/p/2nmUy77 Official RER C map: https://malignec.transilien.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Nouveau-plan-de-ligne-avec-navette.png Rolling Stock Header Image: https://malignec.transilien.com/2014/08/22/point-sur-la-situation-post-incendie-2/ Z5600 Image: https://flic.kr/p/2fVcR8f Z8800 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Z_8800_in_Choisy-le-Roi,_2019.jpg Z20500 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Z_20500_IDF_Mobilités_Ligne_P.jpg Z20900 Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Z_20900_du_RER_C_-_Transilien_SNCF.jpg Stations St-Quentin-en-Yvelines station image: https://lagazette-sqy.fr/2019/10/08...s-entre-paris-montparnasse-et-la-gare-de-sqy/ Versailles Chantiers station image: https://www.interparking-france.com/parking-paris/de/park/parkhaus-versailles-gare-des-chantiers/ Javel station image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RER_C_-_Gare_Javel_7.JPG SM-ND station image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gare_Saint-Michel_-_Notre-Dame_-_RER_C_2023_1.jpg Austerlitz station image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_-_Gare_d'Austerlitz_(23246658931).jpg Bibliothèque FM station image: https://www.voltage.fr/vous-ne-comprenez-rien-au-nouveau-plan-de-transport-du-rer-c-nous-non-plus Choisy-le-Roi station image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gare_de_Choisy-le-Roi.JPG Juvisy station image: https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Juvisy_RER_C_Coté_Nord.jpg Brétigny station image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gare_de_Brétigny_08.jpg Gallery https://flic.kr/p/NXaUn2 https://flic.kr/p/2nGpnbZ https://flic.kr/p/2ova38A https://flic.kr/p/2gnadjs https://flic.kr/p/2ecXbSx https://flic.kr/p/2oZsHyY https://flic.kr/p/2m9CGm3 https://flic.kr/p/QBUD6n https://flic.kr/p/2o9vd6F
Wow! Awesome work, I loved the graphics and the organized format of this proposal. You kept it direct but added enough information for a very informative post. I'm not usually a fan of French railways, especially after the blandness of the LGV TSW route, but this proposal sold me. The scenery and city atmosphere gives the RER route a very 'lived-in' feeling, and I do enjoy urban and city railroading. I also like the looks of the older 5600 and 8800 stock; they look almost as if the designers started building locomotives then said "nah, let's make it an EMU". The newer stock has almost a Sydney, Australia EMU feel to them. Great proposal! I would love to see more!
First of all, incredible presentation quality! Well done ! I found someone who has (unlike my own proposals) the gift of synthesis... I imagine that the main path (Pontoise-->Saint-Martin-d'Étampes) would be preferable. Of course, I'd also prefer some suburban action! As you said above, Quentin-en-Yvelines (or even Massy, why not?). Again, wonderful proposal! PS. I admit that I'd also love to see Line J, with VB2N+BB 27300 and Z50000s (in "Carmillon" and "IdFM" liveries) . It will definitely be one of my next proposals!
Thank you for your feedback! I‘ve also thought about suggesting this path first, but it after checking timetables it seems like there are no services operating on this relation in the present day (which is where I wanted to locate this route on the timeline). In addition, this would mean an even longer journey (> 2hrs) and spending almost double as much time underground, which made me remember that sometimes less is more Perhaps I may have focused a little too much on the centre of Paris up there. But a very large part of the route leads mainly through the suburbs, so don't worry, there's no shortage of suburban action here! I was just wondering whether it might not even be realistic that we could get all 4 proposed trains. After all, two of them are pretty similar to the ones they are based on…
Certainly an idea, but I'm afraid that only one train on such a highly frequented line would create a certain monotony that would be paradoxical to the multifaceted nature of Paris' railway infrastructure and could detract from its representation. And of course it wouldn't hurt if other rolling stock from neighbouring lines appeared on the route, yet another reason to welcome other French suggestions on this forum! (But we do need a starting point somewhere, don’t we? )
Great presentation , It makes you want to see the RER I think we should also add Regio2N (Line N) and Z8800 (Line U) to be able to drive them on the common route of line C between St Quentin and Versailles Chantier (for Line U)/Viroflay (Line N) + AI RER D at Juvisy
This post was ridiculously well done... As for the route, yes! 100%, I want this and I bet many more will. We desperately need French commuter routes.
Thanks again On that note, I think I'll put another post about the RER network in general on here soon if there's interest. I've noticed that it's been part of a few suggestions on this forum, but nobody has really explained what it is and how it works, which makes it incredibly difficult for people who have never heard of it to understand And of course the expertise of you all is always welcome too
Impressive suggestion! This like be so cool if this became a reality, idea of having more routes in the city is very much appreciated. And the return of the SNCF of course.
Awesomeee summary and awesome suggestion! This as second french route would be perfect, really want something SNCF commutering
Hey there, It's super nice to see how you all support my idea! Thank you so much for that! I promised in a previous post that I'd put another post about the RER network here for anyone who doesn't know anything about it. I think I'll find enough time for that at the weekend, but for now I've discovered this great English-language video that explains everything pretty well, take a look! PS: After watching this, is there anything else you're particularly interested in? Then perhaps I could go into more detail about your interests in my upcoming info post!
