I would like to suggest that the signalling system of older German routes get's updated to the standard of the newer routes. I'm afraid that this is something the preservation crew doesn't care to touch, since there are so many things that could go wrong, but I feel like this is really needed, and I would like to make a case for it, especially the Ks signals. Before I go into the details which routes need changes and why, I would like to emphasize that on the two latest routes out of Dresden, the signalling system works very well, so this version especially of the Ks signals from Dresden-Chemnitz could be used as a functioning prototype for other routes. No need to re-invent the wheel, the functionality is there and working, it "just" needs to be ported to these older routes. Rapid Transit: I spent a lot of time creating a scenario, only to be frustrated when passing green distant signals that require a PZB acknowledge. The corresponding main signal is showing a Ks2 aspect, so the Ks1 distant signal is absolutely correct, but the PZB magnet should not be active. That makes the route unplayable, as every distant signal could give you an emergency brake out of the blue. Not sure if that is a scenario editor specific problem, since I never experienced it in timetable mode, but at the same time I have never followed a train so closely in the sections outside of the tunnel towards Dessau - so this could be a general route problem that just rarely happens in timetable and has therefore not been spotted. Also the signals out of and into Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz are not showing the right things and trigger unexpected emergency brakings. These are glaring bugs that impact the experience significantly and need urgent fixing! In addition, the white light on the repeater signals of the Ks signals is wrong, but that is something working fine on the latest route. Ruhr-Sieg Nord: I'd say mostly visual changes (again the white light on the Ks repeater signals) and some improvements around Finnentrop and Hagen would be needed. At least no real functional problems apart from when going into Hagen platform 6, the distant signal should show a Zs3v with a 3 to announce the active 500Hz and the correct speed that is enforced from the signal. Main Spessart Bahn: I'd say mostly visual changes (again the white light on the Ks repeater signals) and some improvements around Aschaffenburg and Gemünden (especially when going into platform 1 at either station, the distant signal should show a Zs3v with a 3 to announce the active 500Hz and the correct speed that is enforced from the signal). Rhein Ruhr Ost: Especially the signals around Wuppertal on the S-Bahn line are bugged, showing aspects that are non-existent and triggering emergency brakings (in these cases the PZB is correct through and the signal is not showing the correct aspect). For example, signal 84 ZR15 at Wuppertal-Steinbeck shows an aspect that doesn't exist. Passing the signal P303 towards Wuppertal, just outside Wuppertal, gives a PZB 1000Hz. I believe this comes from that the next signal has a Zs3 for a speed limit of 50. However, with the aspect the distant signal is showing, nobody would expect the PZB and the speed limit. The distant signal should show a Vr2 aspect. And then in Wuppertal, the signal 86 ZU4 has the white light both in the upper and lower left corner. The upper makes sense, the upcoming main signal is closer than 1km, but the lower should not be there, a main signal cannot show that! These are glaring bugs that impact the experience significantly and need urgent fixing! In addition, the white light on the repeater signals of the Ks signals is wrong (as per standard on older routes ). Hauptstrecke Rhein Ruhr: Especially for the freight services towards Bochum, the last signals are showing wrong and weird aspects, the last one showing a weird mix of a Ks1 and Zs1 at the same time. Additionally, approaching Bochum, the distant signals should show a Ks1 for a Ks2 main signal, but they show a Ks2 aspect. In addition, the white light on the repeater signals of the Ks signals is wrong (as per standard on older routes ). Schnellfahrstrecke Köln Aachen: The Ks signals suffer from two basic problems, which are a combination of what has been seen before: - the white light on the repeater signals of the Ks signals is wrong - the distant signals should show a Ks1 for a Ks2 main signal, but they show a Ks2 aspect These are glaring bugs that impact the experience significantly and need urgent fixing! Hauptstrecke München Augsburg: Same as SKA, especially towards Mammendorf on the S-Bahn there are some odd places when it comes to PZB and Ks signals. Entering Pasing from Mammendorf on the S-Bahn tracks also has some signalling issues, not showing junction speeds properly. In addition, some signals at Augsburg leaving towards München trigger a 1000Hz for no reason. These are glaring bugs that impact the experience significantly and need urgent fixing! Hauptstrecke Hamburg Lübeck: Here the Hv signals got a new odd bug where the repeater signals are not showing the white light (which they should always do in contrast to Ks signals and which works fine on every other route). Towards Lübeck, especially on freight services, the Ks signals are not showing the right aspects for entering the yard area. Dresden Riesa and Dresden Chemnitz: As said before, the signals are superior on these routes. There are some places where the signals have seemingly not been set up correctly for the situation, but overall the system is good and shows no systematic errors like on all previous routes. So as a TLDR: the signalling system on the two recent Dresden routes should be ported back to older routes in order to fix glaring bugs on most routes, whereas others would benefit from a bit of fine-tuning. Towards the community: What oddities have you discovered? I think the more information we can collect here, the easier it will be to convince TrainSim-Adam and his team to look into this
An update is needed, however i think they struggle right now to keep control over the existing bugs on every front. So im not sure they start such a project with changes on the signalling. My personal opinion is older routes should get the features of new ones, not just signalling, also the advanced brake modes since riesa dresden.
I agree, it is a tough situation, but I personally feel like properly working signals is much more important than for example moving level crossing barriers - I only see them closed anyway. I feel this time could be better invested, for example in making the signals work properly
Fair point though. With the updates now finished the crew could focus on signalling. But no, dresden chemnitz has wrong crossings againg . What the heck is wrong with dtgs developing proces. I thought the idea was the preservation stuff being standard in new routes.
I'm not sure why, with older German routes, they don't just quietly retire the TS1-era rolling stock and replace it with the new Dresden versions. There really is no reason to keep the MSB 146 or the RSN 143 around, since better versions exist. Same goes for the freight wagons. (This would also simplify the Pres Crew's job, since they don't have to upgrade sounds or add LD compatibility or the new PIS system- just swap in the new loco, done and dusted.)
Exactly and for that the purchase of Riesa-Dresden is required to give these routes layers. Had to Message support on why the better Riesa-Dresden DB BR146.2 and DB BR143 didn't show up on Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen and Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr.
