The Netherlands comes to Train Sim World! Spoorlijn Zwolle – Groningen, with the ICMm and SNG Sprinter, is out now! Goedemiddag! Goedemiddag! Goedemiddag! We're back expanding into new countries with the introduction of the Netherlands into Train Sim World 5. Spoorlijn Zwolle – Groningen has two brand-new trains and a new operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen along with plenty to see, do and learn for both new and veteran TSW players. If you're keen to read up on the ATB Safety System, you can do so in our separate article. We've also added to this the information about Signalling and OHLE from the our FAQs for more specific information about the release. The Route: Zwolle – Groningen The route covers 107km between the cities of Zwolle, in the province of Overijssel, and Groningen in the province of Groningen, the ‘capital of the North’. The line between Zwolle and Groningen owes its lineage to the State Railways Construction Act of 1860, which would see the construction of the Netherlands’ first three major State-owned railway routes, linking key large towns and cities. Zwolle - Meppel was built as part of Line A, with Line C branching off at Meppel to continue towards Groningen via Assen. By 1870, the connection between Zwolle and Groningen was complete. Zwolle Station, at the southern end of the route, was designed by Nicolaas Kamperdijk and built by the Rijkswaterstaat in 1866. It is one of two Staatsspoorwegen first-class Waterstaat stations in the country, awarded first class for its size. In 2023, the station served over 44,000 passengers. The station has a bike shed with spaces for 5,800 bicycles, one of the largest in the Netherlands! Bicycles are of course a huge part of Dutch culture and transportation. Cyclists can therefore be seen as occasional traffic throughout the route. Along the rest of the route, players will pass through the 6 intermediate stations, adorned with NS signage in the Dutch language and unique PIS as well as the unique trackside signage that will inform drivers of how to operate their trains along the route. The Trains ICMm Koploper Operating intercity trains with its uniquely styled ‘cockpit’ is the ICMm ‘Koploper’. The ICM received the nickname Koploper, because it had what's called a "walk-through head". The unique design of the ICM has their cabs located on the roof, which initially allowed through gangways between coupled sets. The cab has a central driving position, elevated high above the track! The speed indictor runs lengthways across from left to right, much like that of older American cars, with a shaded bar indicating the current speed. Independent handles are used for the brakes and power. SNG Sprinter Also included is the SNG ‘Sprinter’ EMU. The Sprinter New Generation trainsets are part of the CAF Civity family of regional passenger trains and were introduced to replace older push-pull locomotive hauled services. In March 2015, NS allowed travellers and staff to choose possible interiors. Interested parties could choose from three interiors, with seats for the first and second class, and folding seats. The results have been an important factor in the interior choices of the new Sprinters. Initially, the SNG trains had a dark blue front. While this colour met EU standards, the combination of the dark colour and large window made it difficult to see the train at level crossings. NS would repaint 150 trains it already had, while new trains would be delivered with the new yellow colour. Timetable and Scenarios A varied timetable accommodates both new trains with both express and local services running along the length of the route. There is a total of 339 playable services. ICMm services will run between Zwolle – Meppel and the full length limited-stop between Zwolle – Groningen. On average each of these patterns is half-hourly in each direction. Some of these services will have Conductor Mode available. SNG3 services will run Zwolle to Groningen (stopping), Meppel to Zwolle and Assen to Groningen. These patterns run half-hourly on average, with the Assen – Groningen services only running in the morning and afternoon rush hour. Like the ICMm, a selection of services will have Conductor Mode. At Zwolle, AI services run by both trains will go in and out of the map representing trains serving out-of-map locations. At Groningen, coupling procedures will take place to make double units and similarly uncoupling to split services up. There will also be playable ECS / Depot movements at Groningen Europapark and at Onnen. Including ECS moves, the ICMm has over 150 services, and the SNG3 has over 170 services. Additional Services layers A selection of static, AI and a handful of playable services will be available for players that own other Train Sim World Add-ons. The two playable freight services are operated by the DB BR 193 Vectron from Frankfurt-Fulda, hauling Zacns stock from Dresden-Riesa on what is an otherwise a relatively freight-free corridor. A small number of short G6 shunting moves will unlock with the G6 loco Add-on. Falns wagons from the BR 155 Add-on will appear as static stock. The Add-ons required to unlock the full list of layers are: DB G6 Shunter loco Add-on Dresden-Riesa Frankfurt-Fulda BR 155 loco Add-on Ruhr Sieg Nord Rhein-Ruhr Osten The full timetable including additional services layers, will be available across all platforms (including 8th Generation Consoles). ATB Vectron Update We previously mentioned that the DB BR 193 Vectron from Frankfurt-Fulda would receive an update enabling ATB functionality and other features. These were described in detail by Foobian in our previous article. Unfortunately we have not been able to include these changes ahead of the release of Spoorlijn Zwolle - Groningen, and they will be included in an upcoming post-release update. Scenarios Also included are a selection of Scenarios that feature situations such as failed trains for recovery, wrong-line running and the replacement of an IC train with the SNG3. There’s also collectibles to find and route tasks to perform: Place Route maps Repair Model windmills Stand-up fallen bicycles Clearing fallen tree stumps Mastery Posters We can now confirm that a new type of Mastery, in the form of Mastery Posters, is now live in Train Sim World 5 on certain routes. These were first introduced into Cardiff City Network. A new style of poster can also be unlocked in Spoorlijn Zwolle – Groningen, by completing specific challenges. These are only available for players logged into Dovetail Live. Train Sim World 5: Spoorlijn Zwolle – Groningen route Add-on is out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for €39.99/£32.99/$44.99 For anyone yet to have upgraded to Train Sim World 5, there is also the Train Sim World® 5: Dutch Regional Edition available on all of the above platforms for €39.99/£34.99*/$44.99 *Note: on Steam the UK price will be £32.99
I've seen some video's about this. The trains look good, the scenery is quite ok, but the concrete overhead line portals are not what they are in real life. They are to wide, the poles seem to small and to thin, and the overhead lines hang on both tracks at hangers. In real life they change at every portal, 1 track on a hanger, the other one on a pole hanger. This picture shows how it was in real life. This picture was taken before de Dutch Railways modernised these portals al little bit somewhere in the mid-90s. The Y-Hanger in the middle was changed in a Half Y-hanger then. To be honest for nearly 40 Euro's I aspected this better.... Greetings, Erwin
Beautiful work, is 1 of my favorite routes, hopefully Dutch material and a route will be released in the future
There is NO manual for ICMm and SNG Sprinter, seeing that it is a completely new safety system. Why? And all the new TSW players will be fumbling around and with questions that will abound.
The Dutch dlc is really good! It’s definitely the best work of DTG so far. The route and track is detailed and catches the Dutch look really well. Windmills, water, grassfields, houses and the track itself feel very Dutch. The stations also are very well done. Lots of detail and the right objects. Only thing with this route is that it’s maybe a bit boring because there aren’t many stations. The space between stations is long and the track is very straight in most parts. Matt mentioned this himself during the preview stream.. The ATB system is fun and easy to learn. I’m already familiar with driving without a HUD so that’s nice! Then the trains; apparently NS gave access to DTG and this is very noticeable. The trains are beautifully modeled and fun to drive. Maybe the SNG is bit to fast but not sure if that is in real life the case. The Koploper is a great addition to the sim, definitely has the best view from cabin. Special mention are the sounds. I always get frustrated if sounds are not good but they finally got it right in this DLC. The traction sound of the ICM is really good and small sounds like opening doors all seem very realistic. The DLC is expensive but if this is the new standard then I’m ok with that. Two new trains, new systems and new country with lots of detail seem fair to me. I really hope DTG will do more Dutch routes with more interesting places like Amsterdam, Haarlem and Schiphol airport for example. I also hope NS will continue to help DTG to develop new trains. It shouldn’t stop here
l agree with you, it definitely is the best work of DTG so far out classes Cardiff City Network by a country mile. Obviously l cannot comment on its accuracy but it looks quite authentic comparing it with google earth and photos of the stations along the route. Top marks DTG a great result.
Still haven't bought this new route, perhaps the disclosure of a new territory since it has got its own core .pak file. I have most of the freeware routes and Christrains Dutch rolling stock in TSC. Including Zwolle Groningen (and also Zwolle-Emmen, Zwolle-Deventer-Arnhem) and some other nothern Netherlands lines. I agree with the TSW route being a little bland with pretty trains at the same time, not very different from TSC's, which offers the same experience and a much greater variety in rolling stock, scenario's, free roam and tinkering possibilities in the route editor. But since it is new territory by I suppose a new group of developers, this was to be expected, they did deliver a quality first product. It is like the premiere TSW 0 routes of 7 years ago, very well done for a first effort But TSW has learned me that follow up and expansion doesn't necessarily mean 'more is better'. NS only has like 6 or 8 different IC, IR and RE train sets, and loco hauled services are limited to international expresses and cross border freight.
Look what has just been launched on video! Cabride on real train, of the Zwolle-Groningen route! Coincidence?.... After looking it, ... the TSW Route is really good! Only difference are the storks, not flying when the train pass, on the sim!... Credit for the video, to Cabview Holland channel.
