It doesn't say 'shunting' . It says 'playable Zacns tanker freight' and that's exactly what you got. Those wagons aren't shunted at Onnen IRL either. They are delivered with an electric locomotive, disconnected, strapped to an NS 6400, and driven off to wherever they need to go (Delfzijl, Roodeschool, or Eemshaven). They're laughably small, too. I used to live on the Stadhouderslaan in Groningen, 25 meters from the track; in the morning I'd see a loco heading north with 4 or 5 wagons, in the afternoon it came back light-loco. So you can be angry or you can just accept that what DTG created is prototypical and accurate. You don't like it, then don't buy it.
What I did say is that calling a 5-minute G6 drive “gameplay” worth highlighting in a roadmap/marketing context is weak, especially compared to other routes where “freight gameplay” actually involves player interaction - shunting, splitting, re-coupling, etc. You can argue it’s prototypical. Sure. Realism is great - but gameplay still matters. Watching a train roll 900m and stop isn’t exactly engaging, regardless of whether it happens that way. I’m not mad because it's realistic. I’m disappointed because it’s barebones. I’m allowed to critique that without being told to “be grateful” or “don’t buy it.” That’s not discussion - that’s deflection.
Zwolle-Groningen isn't a freight heavy route in real life, so it makes sense for it not to be one in TSW either. Freight is mostly going from Rotterdam to Germany and onwards, or Rotterdam to Belgium and onwards. Freight to Germany can take three border crossings* that are a lot faster than going over Groningen. Not to mention that the actual border crossing at Groningen has been closed for about 15 years now because the bridge on the German side has been out of service for all that time. So Groningen only gets a small bit of freight, intended for the industry in Delfzijl or the port of Eemshaven for Norway and Sweden. * At Deventer>Bad Bentheim (1500V DC + ATB), at Zevenaar>Emmerich (accessible from Betuweroute at 25 kV and ETCS) and Venlo>Mönchengladbach (15kV AC + PZB)
You are right, this is what it is IRL. Wat I would like though, is a better recreation of these services. Delivery of the wagons from Delfzijl (to the right, electrified track on Onnen). Then arrival of the Vectron with tankers, decoupling and coupling to the other rake, and then transport with the Vectron back towards Zwolle. And of course the return journey with the G6 (NS 6400 ) towards Groningen. Now only half of that is playable.
Regular freight these days (not even every day) is tankers from Evonik in Delfzijl to Hagen Vorhalle yard (For the Evonik plant there). Special transports are sadly really rare, somewhere last year there was a big military transport from Eemshaven: https://eemshavenonline.nl/havenonl...chtwagens-en-een-locomotief-klaar-om-te-gaan/
At least it makes the yards a bit more populated. I think that's the biggest gain. Shunting isn't Zwolle-Groningen's selling point. Never was.
People keep referring to the NS6400, but that's no longer an NS-operated loco, is it? Wouldn't it need another license to include the 6400?
No, it is indeed a DB Cargo loco now. Originally NS Cargo, and around since before the merger with DB Cargo (to form Railion) and the renaming to DB Cargo again. The G6 is a reasonable placeholder for now. Just too bad the G6 isn't available in livery designer, or else I would have already painted it DB red
So i've gotten to play a bit more and i just really enjoy it. Dutch ATB is a very fun system to use IMO- combined with the clear and intuitive trackside singage and signalling, this route has a lot of potential for no-HUD runs. Hopefully the ATB-fitted Vectron appears sooner than later, and maybe they could throw us a few more freight services with that patch? I noticed the Koploper has a 160kph setting on its ATB display- maybe we'll get a route where it can go that fast? Anyway, my only complaint is that i want more Dutch content now lol!
There is currently no line where the ICM may drive 160 kph. Most lines in NL are maxed at 140. Main exception is HSL (Hogesnelheidslijn) where Eurostar trains and intercity direct (No ICM) can go faster. Also some places where ERTMS is being implemented, where trains can get to 200kph. The ICM will not get ERTMS anymore due to its age.
A signal display question. While watching cab ride videos, the display box where numbers for speed reductions are displayed, I sometimes see either a flashing or non flashing 'X'. Just curious as to what it means since my searches of Dutch signals has not shown this aspect.
"Een witte X brandt onder het groene sein; dat betekent dat goederentreinen nog niet mogen vertrekken. Als de X knippert, betekent dat dat de goederentrein langzaam mag doorrijden, met een zodanige snelheid dat de trein bij een volgend sein kan stoppen." (edit) signals for heavy freight: so when the X is on, freight trains cannot depart yet. when the X is blinking, freight trains can depart with slow speeds, ready to stop at the next signal There seems to be 'G' too, that means continue following the main signal source:https://encyclopedie.beneluxspoor.net/index.php/Lichtseinen
I believe ICM is also limited to 140 kph, since I think it doesnt have the ATB+ or vv or how it is called (?)... only the SNG can, I think... but maybe someone more knowledgeable will correct me here
I believe that's a WUBO. https://www.infrasite.nl/glossary/waarschuwingsinstallatie-bij-uitzichtbelemmerende-objecten/
I've seen H and G show up at Breukelen on the signal just before the line diverges to Utrecht and Woerden, I think they are pretty rare though.
btw guys any advice on how can I tell which service for ICM has 2x formation? I really like the train, but driving it in only 3cars formation, eh, looks kinda tiny
This driver give his opinion on the route also gives some insight on how some systems work, very useful
No, you can't use ATB, because you can't reach the required speed with ATB on. Without the bonus points, gold or platinum is impossible.
The workaround is to start with ATB/Deadman off, run through the tutorial until it releases you from the 80km/h objective, slam on the brakes, and then enable ATB/Deadman. You'll have to run the rest of the way under 40km/h to avoid tripping ATB, since the tracks don't give a proper signal, but there should be sufficient distance to pick up enough points (@65 per segment) to hit gold. I've done so for both trains. Platinum is likely not possible unless you run in reverse for a few segments. One shouldn't have to do so in order to get gold on a tutorial, but that's another issue . . .
Platinum wouldn't be possible for either train anyway, as there isn't enough distance to get to 1500 points even with 65 points per segment. 1410 is the maximum when driving normally. For the defective Training Center introductions such as these ones, instead of doing the ol' back-and-forth, I prefer to just do an extra lap of the track.
thats why I tend to avoid anything scenario related, and mostly only do timetable runs on any route... Journey Mode used to be a good entry point for me, but once I managed to learn how to control different trains, I play almost exclusively the timetable mode ... sometimes I do Journey for memories' sake
I live in Groningen, so I thought I'd share some comparisons to the real life route. I mostly know the nortern part of the route pretty well. All the stations are modelled really well. The route as a whole does a great job of capturing the real life atmosphere of the route. And the trains are fantastic. IMO this is the best DTG route thus far and on par with JT and TSG content Some feedback regarding the part of the route near to where I live: This is the Ring Groningen (km-post 81,6) as it was in the months before september 2024. The tunnel is the new part, the viaduct on the left was the old part. The tunnel was opened in September 2024, and the viaduct was demolished after that. Both the viaduct and the tunnel existed simultaneously during construction, but there were never cars driving on both at the same time. So the tunnel should be empty (status during construction) or the viaduct should be removed altogether (after construction). Helperzoomtunnel (km 82,7) The cars are not following the right path and clipping through the wall and onto the bike path. The tunnel after that (83,1) contains cars, where in real life it's only for bicycles and pedestrians. After that, the small tunnel (73,3) is so small IRL, you can hardly walk upright in there, but in game, there are cars driving there. Right after that, the level crossing (73,1) should have barriers and lights. The path running alongside the track between this point and the next crossing has cars on it, this is also a path for bicycles and pedestrians only. Further up the route, right before the viaduct over which the N34 crosses the tracks (km 63), the road running parallel is way more busy than in real life (I would, know as I regularly take a small detour along there to work to spot the trains ). Lastly, the double check-in points at some of the stations: You can check out with NS here and check in with a local operator (Arriva or Blauwnet) for their trains. These double sets of check-in points are correct for Zwolle, Groningen and Europapark. The blue points can also be found in game in Hoogeveen and Assen, which is not correct (only NS there). Furthermore, the color (unbranded 'Blauwnet') is correct for Zwolle, but not for Groningen and Europapark: this should mimick Arriva and therefore be turquoise. Playing on PS5, and really hoping for more Dutch content in the future
It does seem that whoever built this route, for the most part knew their stuff when it comes to optimisation and efficient assets and textures. However still managing to portray a well detailed and convincing world and landscape.
It seems DTG have learnt from the first TSW5 routes where problems with optimization occur, and they applied those lessons in the more recent routes. Ludwigsbahn wasn't that bad in that aspect, Groningen is even better. Although I am positive about that, I still wonder why these lessons aren't applied to fixing Frankfurt, as IMO this is the worst existing example of stutters, blurring and crashes in the TSW5 era. I hadn't experienced real issues in a while, until I started Frankfurt yesterday for an S-Bahn run (with stutters and ending in a crash). And, San Bernardino was never a problem in this area from the get go. Also puzzling how they got this right at the first attempt....
On the topic of layers for the freight services, the Roadmap article lists the 'Ruhr Sieg Nord' route as required for a layer, does anyone know what this adds?
It's actually the BR 155 loco DLC that adds the stationary wagons at Onnen yard. You also need RSN installed to make that work.
Thanks, so having already got Fulda and the G6/RRO, I just need the Dresden route to open up the playable services. Pity I missed that in the sales, I'll keep an eye open next sale!
It's called a WUBO (Waarschuwingsinstallatie Uitzicht Belemmerend Object). In this game there is an error with it. The lights shouldn't be flashing when aproaching. Because that means there is an other train coming towards you on the same track.
In the ICMm there are these switches in the cabin. The switch on the right is in the wrong position (this is a spring loaded switch). De neutral position is in the center. When pushing it up the interiorlights goes on, pushing it down the interiorlights go off.
You haven't lost much) There are only two end-to-end cargo rides on the Vectron and three short trips on the G6. With all the undeniable advantages of the new route, there is frankly nothing to do there. Services on ICM and SNG are monotonous and boring. As a result, after a few days of playing, interest is lost. We have to go back to the old routes, where the developers took a responsible approach to the issue, so that on the route, no matter how beautiful or optimized, there was really something to do, besides how to move from point A to point B.
Something has been nagging me since I saw the preview stream. The heron nests did not seem right to me. Last night was watching a recent video from Cabview Holland which was in the area of the DTG route. We passed a number of nest locations, and it hit me. DTG has placed all of their nests on the cross member of the catenary support just inside of the top piece of the upright. In actual fact different pairs of birds build the nest inside of the top piece or they build the nest to include this top piece. So now I am satisfied. Can see why DTG did what they did, so no longer a problem. Screen grab from the Magnificent view from the cab: Fog on the Zwolle - Leeuwarden line! 2025 video of Cabview Holland.
ATB can only give speed restrictions of 40, 60, 80, 130 or 140 kmh, so if the track speed is say 120kmh then it can only restrict you to 130. You should actually see the ATB speed below the track speed when approaching a lower speed restriction because the ATB speed will drop before the restriction so the train is at the new speed before the start of the restriction.
