Short Impact Statement: Spain offers almost 3× the population of some existing TSW DLC countries, a GDP over $1.5 trillion, and a language spoken by 580+ million people worldwide. With AVE high-speed lines, scenic coastal routes, and vibrant commuter networks, a Spanish DLC could open Train Sim World to a vast, passionate market—both in Spain and across the global Spanish-speaking community. It’s not just a route. It’s an opportunity to grow the game’s reach like never before. Full Proposal: Hello DTG Team and fellow players, I’d like to present a market and community case for why Train Sim World should consider developing an official Spanish route—and why I believe it could be a strong commercial success. 1. A Large and Growing Market Spain’s population: ~48.8 million (2024), nearly three times the size of the Netherlands (~18 million) and significantly larger than Switzerland (~8.7M) or Austria (~9M). Language reach: Spanish is spoken by over 580 million people worldwide. A Spanish DLC would resonate not only in Spain but also in Latin America, the U.S., and other Spanish-speaking communities. Economy: Spain’s GDP is around $1.58 trillion (2023), surpassing the Netherlands’ ~$1.12 trillion, with higher recent growth (2.5% vs ~0.12%). 2. Variety and Visual Appeal Spain offers a unique mix of: High-Speed (AVE) lines: e.g., Madrid–Barcelona, Madrid–Málaga. Regional and commuter services (Cercanías) across major cities. Scenic tourist routes: northern coastal lines, mountain passes, and heritage trains like the Transcantábrico. Different gauges and electrification systems, making gameplay varied and technically interesting. This diversity would bring something completely fresh compared to the UK, Germany, and US routes. 3. Community Demand Spanish routes have been requested regularly for years in the DTG forums and on social media. Many players seek new countries and environments to expand their collection. A well-marketed Spanish DLC could attract both existing players and newcomers from Spanish-speaking countries. 4. Why Spain Could Outperform Other Smaller Markets While countries like Switzerland, Austria, and the Netherlands have appeared in TSW, Spain offers clear advantages: Population: Smaller DLC countries range from 8 to 18 million, while Spain has ~49 million. GDP (2023): Smaller DLC countries range from $0.6 to $1.1 trillion, while Spain reaches $1.58 trillion. Global language reach: Smaller DLC countries have limited reach, while Spanish is spoken by over 580 million people worldwide. Route diversity: Smaller DLC countries offer moderate diversity, while Spain has high-speed, regional, scenic, and heritage routes. This isn’t “just another country” — it’s a gateway to a huge linguistic and cultural market. 5. The Opportunity for DTG I understand licensing and development complexity can be a challenge. However, the potential payoff could be significant: Increased sales in Spanish-speaking markets. Strong marketing opportunities (tourism appeal, cultural diversity). Expansion of the TSW player base into underrepresented regions. In short: A Spanish route would not only bring visual and operational variety to Train Sim World but also open doors to a massive, underserved market. If DTG is open to the idea, the community (myself included) would gladly assist in providing reference materials, route suggestions, and local insight to make it happen. Thank you for considering this idea, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Now it's time to explain what licenses there are in Spain, types of trains (some are well-known, like the TGV), etc. I’d like to highlight why Spain would make an excellent choice for a future Train Sim World 5 route and how it could bring both variety and commercial success. 1. Multiple Passenger Operators Spain’s passenger rail sector is diverse, meaning multiple branding and gameplay possibilities: Renfe Operadora – The national operator, running high-speed AVE, Avant, Alvia, Intercity, Media Distancia, and Cercanías commuter services. Ouigo España – A low-cost high-speed operator using double-deck TGV Euroduplex trains. Iryo – A private high-speed company using Frecciarossa 1000 trainsets (ETR 1000). With these operators, TSW could feature different service patterns on the same route—premium high-speed, budget high-speed, and regional commuter traffic all in one. 2. Freight Operators Freight in Spain is equally interesting, with a mix of national and private companies: Renfe Mercancías – The freight arm of Renfe. Medway Iberia – Operates container and intermodal freight. Captrain España – A subsidiary of SNCF, operating bulk and intermodal freight. Freight trains often share tracks with passenger services, allowing for mixed-traffic routes similar to German and British DLCs. 3. Variety of Train Types Spain offers unique rolling stock not yet seen in TSW: High-speed: AVE Class 100 (TGV-based), Class 102/112 “Pato”, Class 103 (Siemens Velaro), Ouigo Euroduplex, Iryo ETR 1000. Regional & Commuter: Civia EMUs, 449 series, 470 series. Freight locomotives: Euro 4000, Class 253 (Bombardier TRAXX), Class 319. The mix of different gauges (Iberian gauge, high-speed standard gauge, and metric gauge in some regions) also opens gameplay variety. 4. Why Spain Fits TSW Scenic diversity: From coastal routes like Valencia–Barcelona, to mountain passes in Asturias, to high-speed lines crossing the plains of Castilla. Traffic variety: High-speed trains, regional commuter services, and heavy freight—often sharing the same corridor. Market potential: Nearly 49 million residents, plus a Spanish-speaking world of over 580 million people, offering new sales opportunities. Tourism appeal: Many international players would be drawn to recreate routes they’ve traveled in real life. In summary: Spain offers everything Train Sim World thrives on—high-speed prestige services, busy commuter networks, challenging freight operations, and stunning scenery. By including Spanish routes, DTG could bring fresh gameplay, attract a wider audience, and expand into an underrepresented but passionate market. Thank you for considering this idea, and I hope to see Spanish rails in TSW in the near future.
