Creation Sharing Project Regionalbahnen Münster Und Münsterland

When asking Google, it is now that you have to pay for the Google API. Previously, you had $200 free credit that you could use every month. But unfortunately this rule is now gone and you have to pay for every request. It has been calculated that if I continue this project at this speed, it will cost me over 300 euros per month to be allowed to use the API. That is why I hope for a solution soon to continue this. Until then, unfortunately, the project has been stopped. Maybe DTG will come up with a solution.

 

Google Maps Platform monthly credit: Starting March 1, 2025, Google replaced the $200 Google Maps Platform monthly credit with a free usage cap for each Google Maps Platform API.

After looking at the pricing limits, you can make up to 100,000 requests per month for free, if I understand it correctly.

 

Yes indeed. Only I have 0 free requests. Which I find strange. It has cost me more than 300 euros in the past months. Twice I said that I am under 100,000 and they said that the new thing is that you have to pay for every request.

Since that happened I've been less active. But now the conditions have become more severe that you really have to pay for every request.
And also think that this will stop a lot of projects...

Of course I'm not sitting still. I've started making a fictional project.

 

This is very bad news indeed. Google is just getting more and more greedy.
I really hope that we can use something else other than google. Not just in TSW but Classic as well.

 

So I looked into this a little and found a way to avoid getting charged, so I was able to set quota to 350 calls a day.

Which should prevent the editor calling on google to provide tiles but it means you'd have to wait till the next day to use the maps again.

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So the calls are limited to 10,000 a month not 100,000. This is for static maps.

 

Maybe we should use one of those replacement map server overlays that are available.
Tell google, "sorry but we are not playing your games"

 

unfortunately DTG has apparently a contract with Google. there have made multiple requests to bing maps or openstreetmaps. But has been rejected by them.

 

Cause they provide really good maps.

 

Not always. I have seen some pretty poor google maps.

 

i have fit it in 5,000 calls but i have to pay for every call.
it depends on the country. the Netherlands has completely different rules than the UK and US for example.

 

Oh? I was unaware of this, is this in the editor settings?

Found it in derived data, it wasn't setup.

 

Being able to turn on an OpenRailwayMap overlay would be very useful for making sure you have your track layouts set up properly.
It does acually have an API. (www.openrailwaymap.org) You can even have your own Instance of OpenRailwayMap running on your own system (that would take up an aweful amount of data though. You would need to definately turn the DDC cache on for that.

 

So I've double check and by default the DDC saves to C:\Username\My Documents\My Games\UnrealEngine\Common

 

So keep an eye on API Requests. If it is 0 the image is cached, if it starts displaying numbers its requesting the image from google.
So 100 Requests is 100 Calls.

 

I once did it this way. But this is also almost impossible to do. Even though it saves everything for me, it still keeps loading every request. Which is why Google eventually put this project on hold for the most part.

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But fortunately I am not standing still. I have been working a lot on a fictional route.

 

Good luck to you, [Removed - Swearing, Jamie]

 

While i enjoy the amount of projects for non fictional routes, it would be extremely nice to have a well made fictional route for Tsw. The Brennitzer Linienstern for example seems to be a much fun route for TS while being fictional.
I dont know how large and complex your route is planned to be, but im excited for more info about it.
Also a good possibility to gain knowledge from it and use it for the Münsterland project after.
Is your fictional route inspired by a region or real route?
Dont know if you already planned it, but maybe open a new thread for this one IF its a long term project.
Wish you good luck and fun with it.

 

The fictional route is completely self-invented. I also use it to script things. With a lot of difficulty with google and the max tiles of 10,000 max I decided to make that as a 2nd project I usually have over 10,000 google tiles on the 8th of the month. So I'm going to work on that.

The fictional route is a fictional route that is not completed at first.

I am also still working on this project. But that is only once a month until I run out of tiles then I will start working on fictional again.

At the moment there is a lot of environmental construction around Gronau and the border on Munsterland.


Gronau(Westf) View on the first dutch signal.
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i stated working at the dutch side of the Route. That is a simple update and change.

 

i'm working at the signals on the dutch side of the border.
TSW:

Reallife:

 

Hey! Sorry to hear you're having a tough time with the track right now. Just a small tip: I'm not sure what it looks like at the moment, but the trees seem a bit too evenly placed. Maybe try adding a bit more variety and some extra bushes or undergrowth to make it feel more natural.

 

It is all 1 height at the moment. Since the details will come via my own photos and videos. And then I don't have google maps open. So I need to have a bit of an indication of where something is. When I have the houses standing I can look at them better in the videos

Until then, everything will temporarily remain at one height.

 

That's totally understandable. Thanks for clarifying.

 

Shell of the fictional station (Fictional project) The construction is still to come.

 

Project page of the Fictional route: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/fictional-windwalder-regionalnetz.93087/

 

Es gibt noch MapTiler idk ob es das auch für TSW Gibt

 

Maybe you can Upload this Route as Alpha

 

Moin, ich wollt nachfragen ob an diesem Projekt weitergearbeitet wird oder es Vorrübergehend pausiert ist.

LG,

 

Moin
Ich arbeite noch daran. Aber aufgrund der Einschränkungen von Google wird es ewig dauern.

Ich hoffe, bald bessere Neuigkeiten zu berichten.

Ich kann bereits berichten, dass ich an der Modernisierung einiger Bereiche der Infrastruktur arbeite. Beispielsweise wird eine komplett neue Oberleitung installiert. Auch in Gronau und auf niederländischer Seite gehen die Arbeiten langsam voran. Aufgrund der monatlichen Höchstgrenze von 10.000 tiles von Google werde ich jedoch möglicherweise nur den Raum Gronau-Münster abdecken können.

 

I've transferred the route to TSW6. However, I've noticed that the ground is there, but the editor can't detect it. I'll try to see if I can do anything else, but I'm afraid it won't work.

If this isn't the case, there's no other option than to restart the project. But then there would be stages to stay within Google's 10,000 tiles per month.

 

The AI Train between Enschede and Hengelo is now in test

I have chose the make a little parkt also in the netherlands for the project. It will be a extra line in the project (And also Hengelo - bad bentheim - Rheine - Münster have) is still a idea

But with 10,000 tiles per month from google is it a mess to make. I'm already at 5k in 11 days.

 

I'm slowly but surely getting started on this project. I've loaded and saved the tiles. This gives me the space to work on the scenery between Enschede (NL) and Gronau (Westphalia).
I've updated the infrastructure so it's now better positioned. There are no more strange spots. I've also worked on the signals in the Netherlands. There are a few special signals there.

For example, the main signals (according to the KS regulations) have a German sign.


And the advance signals have a German advance signal board. There's also a PZB (Public Transport Board) on the route now, just like in real life. So only German diesel trains can run at these times. No more Dutch trains.

The route is made in parts due to the limitations of Google Maps.
1. Enschede (NL) -> Gronau (Westf)
2. Gronau (Westf) -> Metelen Land (-?? Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt)
3. Metelen Land (-?? Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt) - Steinfurt Borghorst
4. Steinfurt Borghorst -> Altenberge
5. Altenberge -> Münster-Häger (-Münster (W) Zentrum nord)
6. Münster-Häger (-Münster (W) Zentrum nord) - Münster(Westf)Hbf

In parentheses, this is only if I have enough space and tiles left. There's a 10 km gap between Münster-Häger and Zentrum Nord, so I'll probably get my tiles there. The same applies between Gronau (Werstf.) and Metelen Land.

I'm also trying to see if I can get the signals to work via the TAB key, which would create a sort of laser gun feel. Unfortunately, it's not possible to actually create this via laser gun.
The level crossings would work via signal activation and via signs.

Departure time displays will also be displayed at intermediate stops (where it's not listed). This is because some stations have complex departure times.

If these lines are correct, the RB51 will also be built in parts.

Unfortunately, this is the only solution I can find through this project. I'd like to keep it a free project. If I'm forced to exceed 10,000 tiles, I'll unfortunately have to create the payware. This would mean the route would cost 29.99 per license. And I want to avoid this.

 

Hi Thijs, I’ve been following this route’s development for quite some time now, and I must say: It’s looking great! You seem to have a real talent for building tracks and stations. As for the tiles, if you absolutely have to exceed 10.000 tiles, I would be open to the idea of making the route payware (this is my opinion). I think €29,99 is a bit much, but I’d definitely pay for it if it’s one single route from Enschede to Münster and has good quality.

Groetjes!

 

Just be aware of the EULA, that you only are allowed to do payware via the "official" way, otherwise you could get into trouble. Maybe it's a solution to do it via something like gofundme or Patreon to have people support you that way instead of "buying" it?

 

I'm trying to keep it free. But then the route will be released in sections.
10,000 tiles equals approximately 100 Square Kilometers (That's in TSW 15x15 map) That's about 10km of track and environment building.

1. Enschede (NL) -> Gronau (Westf) (Currently in scenery build)
2. Gronau (Westf) -> Metelen Land (-?? Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt)
3. Metelen Land (-?? Steinfurt-Burgsteinfurt) - Steinfurt Borghorst
4. Steinfurt Borghorst -> Altenberge
5. Altenberge -> Münster-Häger (-Münster (W) Zentrum nord)
6. Münster-Häger (-Münster (W) Zentrum nord) - Münster(Westf)Hbf

I tested it once. If I build and load non-stop for a month, it costs me around 30 to 60 euros for tiles at the end of the month. That equates to 1 million requests to Google Maps.

I do save the tiles on my PC these days, so I only have to load each tile once from Google data. That really helps me work faster.

But if this doesn't really catch on with the community, I'll be forced to charge a fee.

The Dutch signals have been taken from Zwolle-Groningen, but with a few adjustments. Like the German signs and the Triangle on a white surface.

The latter is a unique sign in the Netherlands. There are only 6 of them, all on one railway line. This sign indicates a shortened braking distance (in case of slippery conditions).

So, the environment is slowly coming together. I've placed all the level crossings and scripted them. However, I can't test it because the editor is crashing again when I play it in the editor.

I'd already thought about that. But I don't need it right now. I can still keep it free.