Regular players of German Train Sim World content may already be familiar with the DB BR 101 locomotive, which released as an Add-on in 2021 for the Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr and has been layers / substituted into many German route Add-ons since then.

These large, powerful electric locomotives arrived on the German network in the late 1990s to replace older express passenger locomotives like the DB BR 103. Its unique design is well known across the country hauling InterCity services between many of Germany’s major cities and destinations.


For this release, TSG team have dialled up realism and accuracy to the maximum along with the challenge of operating this locomotive in very fine detail. The cab comes in two variants: MFD and MFA, and features fully operational interactive screens to control and alter a myriad of options and settings for different aspects of operation. All of the screens and subscreens display information as they would in reality.

Additional tasks that the player can undertake go well beyond those available in a standard Train Sim World locomotive. These include:

• An extensive fault simulation, with fault clearing required in order to keep the train moving.
  
• Realistic door operation with TB0 and SSTF door control systems
  
• Real train data input (PZB / LZB Data entry)
  
• GSM-R simulation, down to individual cell towers
  
• A Machine Room (Engine Room) modelled which players can enter

The Machine Room includes all breakers and valves that players can interact with and is important for both start-up procedures and fault finding, so you may find yourself spending quite a bit of time here preparing and maintaining the locomotive in operation!


The fault-finding aspect to this release is unique among Train Sim World content. Quite often, faults are included in pre-prepared Scenarios, where players are required to act around them, using a set of instructions in game.

A series of Scenarios and Tutorials will be able to guide the player through the fault-finding process, which includes having to read and use the interactive fault-finding screens, that correctly display the faulty component. This can range from traction motors failing, to PZB failures or even a cascade of failures if certain systems start to blow out others.

A Manual will also be provided to assist players with this process and certain elements will require reading before embarking on services.


Developer and member of the TSG team Lukas explained this feature in our June Roadmap:

“This feature requires entering Max Speed and Brake Rate values to simulate PZB/LZB on a higher level. The Brake Rate is calculated through the train’s maximum weight and describes its braking performance in the current configuration, considering current available systems. The ZDE Panel then sets the PZB mode from these values. There is no switch as in the previous BR 101”.

The result of all of these additional features and complexities is that this locomotive will be an exciting, but rigorous challenge even for those who are very experienced with Train Sim World content and German locomotives currently in the game.

This idea of an ‘Expert’ loco may be familiar to those who participated in our TSW Player Survey earlier this year. Currently we don’t have any others planned, but we’re excited to hear your thoughts and feedback, so please let us know if this is something you’d like to see more of!


In addition to the work done to make the locomotive super realistic to operate, many other improvements have been made over the initial BR 101 release. These include:

• Sound improvements, utilising new sound recordings and upgrading older capture
  
• Newly refined physics

The DB BR 101 ‘Expert’ comes in two liveries for this release:

• DB Red
  
• DB IC

For players wanting a more casual driving experience, an accessible driving mode will be available in the main menu setting, which reverts functionality to a level typical of other Train Sim World locomotives and enables players to experience the improvements made to this locomotive without hitting the higher difficulty level.

Players that just want to experience the IC Steuerwagen can also use this feature.

The original DB BR 101 loco Add-on will remain on sale (but requires the Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr route Add-on in order to operate).


Included in this release is the much requested and eagerly awaited IC Steuerwagen, Bpmmbdzf 286.1 Cab Car and updated Bpmmz and Avmmz coaches.

Cab cars are commonplace on passenger trains throughout Europe, with the earliest designs even dating back to the late 1800s. The concept was primarily used on regional or urban traffic, where top speeds were 140 km/h and quick turnaround times for trains were a necessity.

It wasn't until the 1990s that cab cars were trialled for higher-speed, long-distance traffic. Tested up to 14cars and speeds up to 200 km/h, if successful, would allow for much greater flexibility of inter-city services throughout Germany. The tests were promising enough, that several batches of existing, but relatively new coaches were converted to have a cab retrofitted onto one end, and ballast added to increase their weight.

With their cab equipment reflecting the controls indicative of locomotives at the time, cab cars would allow for IC trains to dwell for less time at major terminals, the only notable difference from a driver's POV being the distinct lack of engine room ambience behind them.

In-game the IC cab car can be operated in as much detail as the DB BR 101, with the option for a more accessible mode which defaults the settings to a correct set up and turns off the safety systems.

The throttle of the cab car is similar in style to that of the BR 111, in that it has a run down, hold, run up segment, and also a manual control segment.


On release, the DB BR 101 ‘Expert’ will have (copied) timetable services on Nahverkehr Dresden and Bahnstrecke Salzburg – Rosenheim route Add-ons. The latter will also have 3 Scenarios available to play.

Of course, players will also be able to utilise the locomotive on any Germany route Add-on in Free Roam and neither of the above routes are a requirement to do this.

Train Sim World® 4: Expert DB BR 101 & IC Steuerwagen Loco Add-On will be available from 8th August on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for €35.99/£29.99/$39.99


Join Lukas, Jan and a special guest... a real-world locomotive driver on both YouTube and Twitch for a preview of the DB BR 101 ‘Expert’ tomorrow, Wednesday 31st July at 6.00pm UTC.

Find out more about Train Sim World 4 by following @trainsimworld on Twitter, Instagram[www.instagram.com], Facebook[www.facebook.com], YouTube, Twitch[www.twitch.tv], and TikTok[www.tiktok.com].

The Class 158 returns courtesy of Skyhook Games with a new look, new timetable, new interior and new gameplay across Scotland’s Train Sim World routes!

For the release of Scotland’s variant of this popular and widespread diesel multipe unit, Skyhook Games have made extensive changes to elements of both the interior and exterior.

In the above walkaround video, taking place in Train Sim World’s Training Center, Adam takes a detailed look at the changes, which range from the addition of a snow plough at the front of the train and the distinctive blue and white ScotRail livery, to many noticeable alterations inside the train.

The exterior PIS has also been altered to better reflect that seen on ScotRail’s Class 158 variant.

Interior changes include:

• A completely new interior: New seat, table and luggage rack models
  
• New interior PIS
  
• Bicycle and accessible areas
  
• Interactive door panel
  
• Altered cab interior, including a different style of reverser
  
• Overhauled lighting
  
• Changes to the interior walls
  
• Relevant signage throughout

Naturally, the unit also has features in common with the East Midlands Trains variant seen in the previous Midland Main Line release, such as the GSMR panel and responsive Guard Buzzer that sounds when closing the doors.

If you’re keen to see the difference between the two, Skyhook Games recently posted a comparison video highlighting some of the differences and similarities between both Class 158 variants:

The Routes and Gameplay

Edinburgh - Glasgow

A new timetable will be available in the ScotRail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow route Add-on for players that purchase the ScotRail Class 158 Add-on.

This new timetable will include, as playable services:

• 144x services between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street, of which 18x are run with the Class 158
  
• 69x services between Edinburgh and Polmont for Dunblane, of which 42x are run with the Class 158
  
• 12x services between Glasgow and Eastfield Depot, 2x of which are run with the Class 158

The remaining services will be run by the Class 385, including 62x services between Glasgow Queen Street and Croy for Alloa.

In addition, AI services representing the Fife Circle Line services will run out of the map using both the Class 158 and, for players that own Fife Circle Line, the Class 170.

Players with Great Western Express will also see AI traffic featuring the GWR HST, to represent 63x ScotRail I7C services to Aberdeen (an out of the map location) running from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. The GWR HST will remain unchanged, in its GWR livery.

72x AI services utilising the LNER Class 801 Azuma will appear for players that our East Coast Main Line.

25x AI depot runs will also feature, using the GWR HST and Class 801 from their respective Add-ons for players that own them.

Edinburgh Trams will also feature, as they do in the original full timetable.
The Class 158, Class 170 and GWR HSTs will also feature as static stock throughout the route.

Fife Circle Line

3 Scenarios will also be available to play in the Fife Circle Line route Add-on, including a Scenario involving mixed working coupled to the Class 170. Skyhook Games are awaiting the addition of the Leven branch into the Fife Circle Line before developing a new timetable that includes the ScotRail Class 158.

Cathcart Circle Lines

It will also layer in as AI into the new timetable that released with the Class 380 and the recently remastered Cathcart Circle Line route Add-on, filling in for services that would normally be run by Class 156s. There will also be a short, playable ECS move.


Train Sim World 4: ScotRail Class 158 DMU Add-on is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £12.99/€15.99/$16.99

Train Sim World Compatible: ScotRail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow is out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam. It is available for £29.99/$39.99/€35.99

Train Sim World 4: Fife Circle Line: Edinburgh - Markinch via Dunfermline & Kirkcaldy route Add-on is available now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £29.99/€35.99/$39.99

Today we have an update that focuses on preparing for the release of the Scotrail BR Class 158 from Skyhook Games on Thursday but also brings a range of various improvements across UK and US content in Train Sim World 4 for Cathcart Circle Line, Midland Main Line, Peninsula Corridor, Edinburgh – Glasgow, Scotrail BR Class 380, Cargo Line Volume 1 – Petroleum and more.

This update should be available on all platforms from 13:00 UTC / 14:00 BST, please allow up to 24 hours for updates to come through.

Cathcart Circle Line

• Added Class 158 to Cathcart scenario planner
  
• All station lighting should turn on when it gets darker
  
• Fixed a crash when playing the ‘Dr Snow’ scenario
  
• Fixed a crash when playing the ‘Semi Circle Service’ scenario and overshooting a platform

Midland Main Line
EMT BR Class 158

• Improved snow visuals appearing on the couplers
  
• Ensure weathering effects appear correctly on the exterior

Edinburgh – Glasgow

• Updated PIS displays for the new Class 158 timetable

Cathcart Circle Line

• Added Class 158 to Cathcart scenario planner
  
• All station lighting should turn on when it gets darker
  
• Adjusted fox sounds around warehouses. These should be audible at nighttime with clearer weather.
  
• Fixed a crash when playing the ‘Dr Snow’ scenario
  
• Fixed a crash when playing the ‘Semi Circle Service’ scenario and overshooting a platform
  
• Fixed an issue during the ‘Dr Snow’ scenario where there was an incorrect ‘Unlock Doors’ objective next to the load passengers objective.
  
• Fixed an issue during the ‘Semi Circle Service’ scenario where the ‘Enter the Train’ objective would not update
  
• Fixed an issue during the ‘Press Release’ scenario where the passengers fail to board and embark from the Class 380

Midland Main Line

• Returned a floating collectable ticket machine near Sileby station safely to the ground.
  
• Fixed texturing issues on warehouses at the north end of Loughborough station
  
• Fixed an issue with trains clipping the roof of a train shed at Etches Park Depot

EMT BR Class 158

• Improved snow visuals appearing on the couplers
  
• Ensure weathering effects appear correctly on the exterior
  
• Fixed a texture issue so that Cab A and Cab B will be correctly displayed
  
• Various localisation improvements for raildriver controls

Peninsula Corridor

• Various fixes to ensure MP36PH-3C, F40PH-2CAT, Bi-level coach and Nippon tutorials can all be completed as expected.

MP36PH-3C

• Fixed an issue where the loco failed to move after completing the setup

Bi-level Cab Car

• Fixed an issue where the cab car failed to move after completing the setup

Edinburgh – Glasgow

• Updated PIS displays for the new Class 158 timetable
  
• Fixed a typo of “timetable” in the menu
  
• Various localisation improvements

Scotrail BR Class 380

• Localisation improvements to French and German tutorial text

Centro Regional Railways Class 323

• Fixed an issue with tail lights being turned on incorrectly during the ‘Outstabled but Stable’ scenario

Cargo Line Volume 1 – Petroleum

• Fixed an issue where rear tail lamps and brake pipes were incorrectly attached to the rear of the train.

Union Pacific Heritage Collection

• Various localisation improvements for raildriver controls

West Cornwall Local

• Various localisation improvements for raildriver controls

Holiday Express: The Runaway Elf

• Various localisation improvements for raildriver controls

Find out more about Train Sim World 4 by following @trainsimworld on X/Twitter, Instagram[www.instagram.com], Facebook[www.facebook.com], YouTube, Twitch[www.twitch.tv], and TikTok[www.tiktok.com].

Skyhook’s Saltire Sprinter is almost here! With gameplay coming to both Edinburgh – Glasgow and Fife Circle Line, there’s plenty of Scottish action to be had with the ScotRail Class 158, releasing on 25th July.


The Class 158 DMU remains a common sight around the UK’s real world railway lines, venturing as far south as Cornwall and into the upper reaches of the Scottish Highlands through various operators. They were built between 1989 and 1992 and dubbed the ‘Express Sprinter’ to differentiate them from the other members of the Sprinter family.

Players of Skyhook Games’ Midland Main Line route will already be familiar with the East Midlands version of this popular DMU, which has since layered into other routes such as Glossop Line and Train Sim World 4’s East Coast Main Line.

Class 158s first entered service in Scotland in September 1990, eventually becoming part of the ScotRail fleet. The contemporary ScotRail variant has been developed by Skyhook Games to add traffic and gameplay to all three Scottish route Add-ons available in Train Sim World 4. This has involved overhauling the exterior to match ScotRail’s patriotic blue tones and branding.

Skyhook have also made changes to the exterior PIS display, as depicted in the above screenshot. Other screenshots in this article were captured prior to this being implemented.

The changes don’t stop there though! Alternative headlight clusters, an integrated snow plough (for those harsh Scottish winters) a new passenger interior and revised cab layout all single this variant out from the EMT version. The new passenger interior consists of all new seat, table and luggage rack models, completely new lighting and even adjustments to the walls.

Similarities however include the interactable GSMR panel, as well as the responsive Guard Buzzer that sounds when closing the doors, which were updated to close slightly quicker following the Midland Main Line updates that were released a couple of months ago.

As is the case in the real world, the Class 158 will be able to couple and work in tandem with the Class 170 from Fife Circle Line, allowing for mixed working in one Scenario as well as some AI services using this arrangement. Players will also be able to couple and uncouple 158s and 170s in Free Roam.



A new timetable will be available in the ScotRail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow route Add-on for players that purchase the ScotRail Class 158 Add-on. This new timetable will include both Class 385 and Class 158 services, as well as a number of AI service layers from other Train Sim World Add-ons, for players that own them.

These include:

• ScotRail Class 170 (Fife Circle Line)
  
• LNER Class 801 Azuma (East Coast Main Line)
  
• GWR HST (Great Western Express)

These services are representative of the ScotRail HST trains that run on the real-world route, utilising former GWR HST sets. The trains will remain unchanged, in their GWR livery.

The full timetable (including both playable and AI services) provides train movements between Edinburgh and Glasgow, as well as off-the-map locations at: Alloa, Annisland, Dunblane, Cowdenbeath, Glenrothes with Thornton, Aberdeen and London King’s Cross.

In addition to this new timetable, there will also be 3 Scenarios for the Edinburgh – Glasgow route.


3 Scenarios will also be available to play in the Fife Circle Line route Add-on. Skyhook Games are awaiting the addition of the Leven branch into the Fife Circle Line before developing a new timetable that includes the ScotRail Class 158.


It will also layer in as AI into the new timetable that released with the Class 380 and the recently remastered Cathcart Circle Line route Add-on, filling in for services that would normally be run by Class 156s. There will also be a short, playable ECS move.

Wanting to see the ScotRail Class 158 in action? Keep an eye on Skyhook Games’ socials, including Twitter/X, YouTube and Tiktok for some video content planned between now and release.

Train Sim World 4: ScotRail Class 158 DMU Add-on will be available 25th July on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £12.99/€15.99/$16.99

Train Sim World Compatible: ScotRail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow is out now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam. It is available for £29.99/$39.99/€35.99

Train Sim World 4: Fife Circle Line: Edinburgh - Markinch via Dunfermline & Kirkcaldy route Add-on is available now for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £29.99/€35.99/$39.99

Get some of the latest Train Sim World 4 Add-ons with 30% off the London Overground Suffragette line and Semmeringbahn Add-ons.

If you're interested in taking advantage of more recent releases like the DB BR 218 or ScotRail Class 380 loco Add-on, but don't have the relevant route Add-ons, then now is a good time to get both, with the recently Remastered Cathcart Circle Line still 50% off and the Hamburg - Lübeck route Add-on a whopping 70% off!

If you're looking to celebrate an English summer by coming home to more routes and locomotives then take advantage of big discounts on:

• Birmingham Cross-City, 50% off
  
• Thameslink Class 700, 70% off
  
• Flying Scotsman loco Add-on, 70% off
  
• Spirit Of Steam: Liverpool to Crewe, 70% off

There are also savings to be had on Train Sim World 4 route Add-ons from Europe! Including:

• Semmeringbahn, 30% off
  
• Bahnstrecke Salzburg Rosenheim, 35% off
  
• Maintalbahn, 45% off
  
• Railpool BR 193 Vectron, 70% off

[/b]
[/list]
And for those wanting big, bold American locmotives and breathtaking urban and rural scenery across the USA and Canada, there's content on sale too:

• Sand Patch Grade, 70% off
  
• Amtrak's Acela®, 70% off
  
• Canadian National Oakville Subdivision, 60% off
  
• Northeast Corridor: Boston Providence, 60% off

[/b]
[/list]
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2362300/Train_Sim_World_4/

New to Train Sim World 4? We have a series of helpful tutorial videos explaining how to download the game and its Add-ons on Steam:

Find out more about Train Sim World 4 by following @trainsimworld on Twitter, Instagram[www.instagram.com], Facebook[www.facebook.com], YouTube, Twitch[www.twitch.tv], and TikTok[www.tiktok.com].

As our previous article outlined, these striking EMUs were actually first introduced onto the rails some 14 years ago. Despite this, they still appear sleek and different with the unusually angled corridor connections and pointy headlight clusters at each of the cab ends.

They form part of the wide and varied ‘Desiro’ family of trains, which includes the DB BR 642 DMU seen in Maintalbahn and the Thameslink Class 700, which coincidentally released as a loco Add-on for Train Sim World exactly one year ago today!

The Class 380 varies quite significantly from both of these however, not only in appearance, but by being powered exclusively by overhead wires and being formed of 3 or 4 coaches.

Like the Class 385 from the Edinburgh – Glasgow release, the cab features an interactive display screen in a confined area, as well as fully functioning gangways that are folded outwards using a switch prior to the coupling procedure.

The Class 380 will also receive the Suspension Update that has been implemented into other Train Sim World 4 locomotives and units. We’ll advise when this happens in future patch notes. You can read more about these Suspension Improvements and see the current list of locomotives that have this feature in our July Roadmap.

The loco Add-on will see almost 200 services become playable with the Class 380 in both formations, including clockwise and anti-clockwise services, Newton services along both circle branches, turnback shunts and depot moves.

A full breakdown of the new Cathcart Circle Line timetable can be found in our Timetable Deep Dive Article.

There are also 3 Scenarios to get stuck into, in addition to the Training Center Tutorial. Two of the Scenarios are as follows:

In the Press Release Scenario: Players are required to take a train from Shields Depot to collect dignitaries at Glasgow before doing two circuits of the Cathcart Circle, including a coupling and uncoupling demonstration at Glasgow between runs.

And in the Dr Snow Scenario: You fight the weather itself as you take control of a train prone to the freezing temperatures. Brake regularly to keep the brakes warm or they'll freeze up and throw the train into an emergency stop.


The Class 380 layers into the newly Remastered Cathcart Circle Line route Add-on. Like the West Somerset Railway Remaster we released in February, these updates have come courtesy of Game Designer Liam and introduce TOD4 lighting, new scenery and route details, updates to the Class 314 and much more!

Also like the WSR Remaster, these updates are completely free for players that own both Train Sim World 4 and the Cathcart Circle Line route Add-on.

The full list includes:

• TOD4 Upgrade
  
• Updated route scenery, landscape and foliage
  
• Updated track and signal visuals
  
• Updated the Class 314 with new lighting, rain effects and added GSM-R
  
• Updated Glasgow Central lighting, scenery, PIS and passenger spawn locations
  
• Updated all stations with new lighting and passenger spawn locations
  
• Added new lighting to the bridges around Glasgow
  
• Added scenery for the disused Netherton Goods, Crossmyloof and Dumbreck stations
  
• Added scenery and track for the disused Smithy Lye sidings
  
• Added scenery and lighting for Shields Depot
  
• Added interactable player bench at Glasgow Central and Pollokshields East

In addition, a completely overhauled timetable, featuring more playable services and a whole host of AI (including the Class 801, rail tours and more) is available for players that purchase the Class 380 loco Add-on.

With other Scottish Train Sim World releases being released both in the past and future, there are a number of ways in which this content layers together. Skyhook Games ScotRail Class 158, which adds content to both Edinburgh – Glasgow and Fife Circle route Add-ons, will feature as AI in the new Cathcart Circle Line timetable once that has released, as will the Class 170 and Engineering Express Class 66 from recent Rivet Games releases.

We’ll be providing further details on the ScotRail Class 158 release very soon.

Train Sim World 4: ScotRail Class 380 EMU Add-on is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £12.99/€15.99/$16.99

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2789570/Train_Sim_World_4_ScotRail_BR_Class_380_EMU_AddOn/

Train Sim World 4: Cathcart Circle Line route Add-on is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for £24.99/€29.99/$29.99

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2375917/Train_Sim_World_4_Cathcart_Circle_Line_Glasgow__Neilston__Newton_AddOn/


If you’re new to Train Sim World 4 on Steam and have yet to play Cathcart Circle Line, we have a Twin Pack available which provides both the route Add-on and the Class 380 in one purchase.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/43147/Train_Sim_World_4_Cathcart__Class_380_Twin_Pack/

• Dovetail Direct: Summer 2024 – New announcements coming August 20th!
  
• DB BR 218 – Released last month!
  
• Scotrail BR Class 380 & Cathcart Circle Remaster – Arriving July 11th!
  
• Scotrail BR Class 158 by Skyhook Games – New Screenshots and details
  
• Expert DB BR 101 by TSG – New Screenshots and questions answered
  
• UK Route Developed by Just Trains – New Teaser and initial details!
  
• “In The Depot” Projects – Small mentions to upcoming add-ons still being developed
  
• Summer Core Update – DE and UK fixes released, US improvements coming soon!
  
• Suspension Improvements – Coming end of July!
  
• Inside Development – Community Suggestions & The LAMPOIL Process
  
• Steam Summer Sales Final Call – Ending Thursday July 11th at 17:00 UTC!

And just to cover the changes from the previous graphic:

• Added "UK Loco" to 4-6 Month Add-ons (1st Party)
  
• Added “Dovetail Direct: Summer 2024” Section
  
• Added 6 new add-ons in the Dovetail Direct section
  
• Re-Added Formation Designer Creators Club Functionality to 0-3 months
  
• Removed “DB BR 218” from 0-3 months (This has released)
  
• Removed "Summer Core Update (DE & US)" (This has released)
  
• Removed “Cathcart Circle Line Remaster” from 0-3 months (This has released)

Welcome to July everyone! Today we have lots of exciting news to share, including the date announcement for our next major Dovetail Direct event!

We also have a range of new screenshots and details for upcoming Train Sim World 4 add-ons, including the highly anticipated Scotrail Class 380 & Cathcart Circle Remaster, arriving this week on July 11th. We’ve also got new information from Skyhook Games for the Scotrail Class 158, and the TSG team on the Expert DB BR 101 locomotives, both releasing soon, and a quick update on additional projects from both first and third party teams.

For development insights this month, we wanted to re-visit the “how community suggestions are used” topic and explain the LAMPOIL process we use when choosing what routes to develop. Additionally, we’ve got a confirmed list of locomotives included within the Suspension Improvement update, coming later this month.

Finally, don’t miss out on a range of amazing Steam discounts for Train Sim World 4 and all of our compatible content! The sales end on July 11th at 17:00 UTC!

We’ll be live tonight (Tuesday, July 9th at 18:00 UTC / 19:00 BST) to talk you through this full article and you can find a stream event link at the end.


Today we’re announcing our next Dovetail Direct, coming on August 20th, 2024, at 14:00pm UTC!

If you’ve not caught one of our Dovetail Directs before, they’re exciting live events packed with all new announcements across many of the titles we develop at Dovetail Games and with our partners.

This year, we’ve got loads of news to share, and not just for Train Sim World, but also for brand-new projects, as well as more news on an upcoming Roblox Tycoon experience we announced earlier in June, and a check-in on City Transport Simulator: Tram! Be sure to mark your calendars and set a reminder on the YouTube event above.

As a note, due to the Dovetail Direct, there will not be an TSW August Roadmap.



Last month we released a thundering new diesel-powered locomotive, coming from the TSG team, with the DB BR 218! Taking up both passenger and freight duties on Hauptstrecke Hamburg – Lübeck and Maintalbahn. Explore 48 new services, 4 scenarios and endless express style possibilities using Free Roam that can also bring the loco to Linke Rheinstrecke, or Niddertalbahn, where it is also seen in the real world.


Scotrail BR Class 380 & Cathcart Circle Line Remaster

Get ready to hear the otherworldly Desiro hum echoing through Glasgow's suburbs as you complete loops around the Cathcart Circle Line with the upcoming ScotRail BR Class 380, arriving into Train Sim World 4 on July 11th! Check it out in our Class 380 First Look showcase:

Alongside this release, the Cathcart Circle Line will be Remastered, and, excitingly, this launched earlier today!

Featuring a massive list of improvements to bring the route right up to TSW4 standard, here are a reminder of the key headliners, setting us up nicely before the release of the Class 380 later this week:

• New Timetable
  
• TOD4 Upgrade (latest lighting, volumetric clouds & fog)
  
• Updated route scenery, landscape and foliage
  
• Updated track and signal visuals
  
• Updated Class 314 with new lighting, rain effects and added GSM-R
  
• Updated Glasgow Central lighting, scenery, PIS and passenger spawn locations
  
• Updated stations, new lighting and passenger spawn locations
  
• Added scenery for disused Netherton Goods, Crossmyloof and Dumbreck stations
  
• Added scenery and track for the disused Smithy Lye sidings
  
• Added scenery and lighting for Shields Depot
  
• Added interactable player bench at Glasgow Central and Pollokshields East

And for those who aren’t sure what we mean by Remaster, these changes will come for free to anyone that already owns Cathcart Circle Line in Train Sim World 4!

If you're playing on Steam and have yet to play Cathcart Circle Line, you can get this route Add-on at 50% off until 11th July. If you own Train Sim World 4, your purchase will automatically update the route to the Remastered version.

If you someone who is now eagerly anticipating the release on July 11th, then be sure to head right into our Scotrail BR Class 380 Timetable Deep Dive article[live.dovetailgames.com], which includes over 3200 words of history, research, service details, new screenshots of the Class 380 and much more, all passionately written by our Product Marketing Coordinator James, to give you the full picture.

Scotrail Class 158 – Developed by Skyhook Games

Coming later this month is Skyhook Games’ ScotRail Class 158, with a whole host of gameplay on the Edinburgh-Glasgow route, as well as scenarios on Fife Circle.

This week, we have some updated Work in Progress screenshots for you, showcasing the loco in action on Edinburgh-Glasgow.

It’ll also be available as AI traffic as a result of the Cathcart Circle Remaster, when released later this month.

As a note, scenario services for Fife Circle will be added after the Leven Branch is released.

Keep an eye out for an article providing more information, as well as a release date, later this month!

Expert DB BR 101 – Developed by TSG

Take on the ultimate challenge, and step into a new level of simulation with an unparalleled, in-depth recreation of the much-loved DB BR 101, complete with the IC Steuerwagen, developed by the talented folk at TSG.

We’re in the final stages of development now, so we thought we’d check in with the team to find out more – and share some more work-in-progress screenshots inside the cab and engine room!

‘Work is underway for a release at the end of this month. Fault simulation, as seen in the screenshot below, will be configurable on a hidden screen where ebula would be. (default hidden).’

‘William Green, known for Developing the Vectron for DTG, is hard at work finalising setup. The rest of the team is working to correct art bugs and finalise audio and gameplay.’

Upon release, it’ll have (copied) timetable services on Nahverkehr Dresden, and Bahnstrecke Salzburg Rosenheim, but you can – as with all Train Sim World 4 locos – use Free Roam to play it on your favourite routes.

We’ll be sharing more information about the Expert DB BR 101 later on in the month, but we’re really looking forward to seeing how you’ll adjust to the added complexities and immersion an Expert loco will provide you with!


This month, Alex from the Just Trains team gives us an update on the progress of their next route’s development. And they’ve delighted us with an early WIP screenshot!

Alex: “Following on from our highly acclaimed first-ever Train Sim World release; Blackpool Branches: Preston - Blackpool & Ormskirk Route Add-On, the Just Trains team have been and continue to work hard on our second Train Sim World add-on. All the track and signalling has been completed and many tens of miles of immersive scenery has been crafted with still more to do.”

“Set in the BR era of the late 80’s the route is one that has been highly requested and features a good array of iconic stations from minor to major with our 3D artists excelling themselves with authentic looking and accurate assets and objects throughout the route including many period Signal boxes of which quite a few are explorable. The rail vehicles are coming along really well and will provide a unique experience for Train Sim World.”

“A treat of traction! The busy and varied timetable will provide a very immersive experience, with our full timetable featuring passenger, parcels, freight, and shunting operations along with a variety of special extra services, plus of course our use of layers will interact with other Add-ons that you own, which will mean that you are on this route for the long-haul.”

Thank you Alex, we can’t wait to show you all more! Where do you think this teaser is hinting at? You can expect more details about this release in our upcoming Dovetail Direct: Summer 2024 event on August 20th!


This section was known in our previous roadmap as the “Background Projects” – how terribly corporate! We’ve decided to brand it “In The Depot”, which is simply to refer to any projects that are currently undergoing lots of hard work and development time, but are ones we’re not yet ready to share further updates on.

We know you’ll likely ask us about these during our livestreams and within community spaces, so this is to help ease your mind rather than leave them out completely. As a note, this will generally not include everything that’s happening, but aim to provide a single sentence on a few key projects that are highly anticipated.

Tadami Line

Union Workshop are continuing to develop the route, but nothing further to share this month.

Unannounced Alan Thomson Simulations Route

The team continue to work on bringing their route to life. This content is still some way from releasing.

Fife Circle Leven Branch

Adding the newly-opened Leven Branch is one of Rivet Games’ next projects, and they have started to gather reference material for it over the past month.

High Iron Simulations

High Iron Simulations have announced a new member of their development team joining to support their TSW projects and continue working on their previously revealed Santa Fe gameplay Pack for Cajon Pass. They are also progressing away on their first full TSW route, with details to be announced at a future point.


Summer Core Updates – US Improvements coming soon

We’ve seen good feedback since we decided to start focussing on larger bundles of patch notes, rather than smaller and frequent updates. In the last month, we have now released the three large sets of improvements, focussing on core changes, as well as focusing on both UK, DE and US fixes.

Recent Patch Notes

• June 3rd Patch Notes – UK Add-ons and Core Improvements[forums.dovetailgames.com]
  
• June 24th Patch Notes – DE Add-ons and Core Improvements[forums.dovetailgames.com]
  
• July 9th Patch Notes - US Add-ons and Core Improvements[forums.dovetailgames.com]

As a note, some improvements to the Antelope Line, MP36, and Peninsula Corridor didn’t make today’s update, but they will be added to a future patch when they pass testing.

Your feedback has been vital for our teams to target the most reported community issues, and we’ll continue to take this into account as we look to build new patches and improvements. If there’s any outstanding issues you’re experiencing, please let us know on our Forums, or via a Support Ticket. We value the time you take to share your experiences with us.

We’re now looking towards our next set of improvements, so please continue to use our Troubleshooting Forums[forums.dovetailgames.com] to let our teams know, and you will also find additional Guides, general Support and FAQs.



We’re finally ready to announce that the long-awaited Suspension feature will be coming to you all within our next major patch, aimed at the end of the month/start of August, and will include Suspension improvements for a selected list of locomotives.

Our Development teams have been working hard to deliver and test these new systems, and to stay true to tradition, we have two final videos to share for the upcoming feature on the BR Class 801 LNER Azuma, and Bahnstrecke Salzburg-Rosenheim’s BR 185.2, to give you a taste of the difference the experience will be like after the update.

The full list of locomotives that will receive this new feature with this release is:

• ECML – Class 801 Azuma
  
• ECML – Class 66
  
• ECML – FKA Wagons
  
• Vorarlberg – ÖBB 4024
  
• Vorarlberg – Habbins, Kjils, Laeers
  
• Maintalbahn – BR 624
  
• Maintalbahn – Eanos, Habbiins, Roos-t
  
• Rosenheim – BR 185.2
  
• Rosenheim – ÖBB 4024
  
• Rosenheim – Habbiins, Doppelstock
  
• Semmeringbahn – ÖBB 4024
  
• Semmeringbahn – Habbiins, U708
  
• Flying Scotsman Mk1 and Mk2 coaches
  
• Blackpool Branches – Class 08
  
• Blackpool Branches – Class 47
  
• Blackpool Branches – Class 142
  
• Class 380
  
• Class 323 (Training Center variant only)

As an addition to this, the Class 218 has an initial version of the suspension improvements, but this will be improved after we’ve released the Core update. The Class 380 and DB BR 101 Expert will also have Suspension improvements added to them at some point after release. We are currently discussing implementation of Suspension on the ScotRail Class 158 with Skyhook as a post-release update.

For US players, we haven't forgotten about you – we’ll have news in the future on trains from Antelope Line and LIRR Commuter.

The new suspension system will be implemented as standard into future add-ons moving forward, and we’ll continue to review opportunities to bring this system to more locomotives in our back catalogue of content where possible.


We have finished an initial piece of work on the PC Editor, it's currently in test and we'll get it out to you as soon as possible.

This update will cover a lot of initial player feedback from the Editor, including enabling cooking, fixing the asset loading issue where some assets fail to be detected, and improving the handling of mods in general.  We'll have more info on this when the update goes out.

This isn't the end at all, we're currently planning the next piece of work and will update more on that as it happens.



In this month’s Inside Development, we wanted to take another chance to talk about how we use community suggestions within our development process, and how we go about choosing the routes that we develop, as it’s a question we often see players wanting more insight on.

Back in our April 2023 Roadmap, we gave a detailed explanation about the “LAMP” process from our Senior Producer Steve, which incorporated Licensing, Anticipation, Mix and Prominence into the selection process. Since that time, we’ve actually grown our acronym to “LAMPOIL”, which adds three new categories for us to consider: Opportunity, Intelligence, Limitation, which we’ll talk about in more detail.

Generally, when choosing a new route to develop, this begins with a proposal from either a staff member, or from community suggestions we’ve seen. We then take this idea through our LAMPOIL process to understand how viable and feasible the route will be for our teams to create, and to help determine if we should move forward with this idea.

So, here’s a breakdown for the full LAMPOIL process:

L - Licensing

Licensing covers our legal obligations and is a good starting point to answer questions such as whether we have licenses or agreements in place to ensure we can represent the route appropriately with the trains that are seen on the route in the real world, for the time period proposed? Do we need to consider additional licenses to bring in to develop the route? This then informs our Licensing and Contracts Team on where they need to focus their resources.

A - Anticipation

Anticipation is about how we expect the players to perceive the route, and the included content. This probably is the most subjective area of the evaluation as we’re essentially evaluating how well players will receive the route in its proposed form. We look closely at reviews and comments from similar routes we released previously, as well as any community thoughts and concerns raised on proposals from suggestions. We need to answer if players will find the content boring, or just a duplication of a previously released route? If there is strong support for a route, where is it in the hierarchy?

M - Mix

Mix looks at the gameplay element in greater detail. Is there enough gameplay provided in the route to keep players occupied and engaged? Does the value of the included content and gameplay align with the intended pricing? Does the gameplay volume align with previously released content? Are there any unique elements in the gameplay that we can leverage to improve the gameplay offering (new industry elements or interactive components that can enhance the experience)?

P - Prominence

Prominence looks at the global commercial appeal of the route – are the locations represented known globally or is the route known only to locals? Are there prominent landmarks which are required to properly represent the route? Do the included locos have appropriate appeal to the players? Is there any prominence to the locos (are they famous)? Routes that have greater global appeal and have strong landmark features, with trains that are likely to engage the players are more likely to move forward to approval.

O – Opportunity

Opportunity is the first of our new categories we’ve added to this definition, and it looks at the potential to alter the design of a proposed add-on to increase the appeal for players. This could be including a famous location, landmark, train, service or coach name. It could also look at the chances to create additional related add-ons, seasonal spin-offs or layers that may link to the route and the content included.

I – Intelligence

Intelligence refers to aligning a release with real world events that may elevate the add-on if completed by a specific milestone, such as birthdays and festivals, or released at a certain time of year. These can help support the add-on success by giving our Community, Marketing and PR teams areas to highlight, such as historic events or locations.

L – Limitation

The final area, Limitation, is our last check to understand if we need to consider anything that would work against us for creating a specific add-on. Outside of licensing issues with operators, we also need to consider legal constraints such as a copyright landmark where there may be a fee. We would also use this step as a chance to ensure there is sufficient relevant content to make the add-on feel alive, and if the scope of the project is something we’re able to support to give the best version of the add-on to players.

So that’s the full process as we have it now, I hope this insight helps you understand where your suggestions come into the picture and explain the challenges our teams face before picking the perfect route. Keep giving us your community suggestions for new add-ons, and make sure to submit these ideas to our Suggestion Forums.

Steam Summer Sales – Don’t Miss Out!

It’s never been a better chance to get involved with Train Sim World, with a massive 80% discount on Train Sim World 4 Deluxe and Special editions on the Steam store.

There is also a huge range of discounts across our entire collection of compatible content, with some of our latest add-ons making an appearance, such as London Overground Suffragette Line and Semmeringbahn, both 30% off!

Here’s a preview for some of our highlighted discounts across our UK, DE and US add-ons.

The Steam Summer Sales are ending very soon, so make sure to get the most out of these deals while they last!


Exec Producer Matt, and Director of Community JD, will be talking about all the things we’ve featured above, and answering your submitted questions in our July Roadmap livestream. The stream will begin from 18:00 UTC / 19:00 BST on our YouTube and Twitch[www.twitch.tv] channels.

Have a question for us? Put it in our July Roadmap Q&A thread[forums.dovetailgames.com], and we’ll answer as many as we can live tonight!

Steam social links for articles:
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https://www.youtube.com/user/RailSimulatorDotCom]YouTube[/url], [url=
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https://www.tiktok.com/@trainsimworldofficial]TikTok[/url].

Hello everyone,

today we have a large core update to Train Sim World 4 that focuses on key improvements for US content that have been flagged by our teams and raised by community feedback.

Additionally this patch will Remaster the Cathcart Circle line, ahead of the Class 380's release this Thursday.

This update should be available now on, please allow up to 24 hours for updates to come through.



General Core

• Fixed base timetable route map markers for scenario triggers added in external timetables.
  
• Fixed crashes caused by missing formation entries.
  
• Corrected various data asset names.
  
• Added previously missing trains to the Formation Designer

Long Island Rail Road Commuter

Core

• Fixed missing sounds for the electrical cabinets.
  
• Fixed glowing signals at NY Penn tunnels.
  
• Fixed glowing pillar at East New York tunnel.
  
• Fixed signage at Woodside not reflecting PIS display.
  
• Fixed player being able to get out of bounds at NY Penn.
  
• Fixed aspect display issues for several stations.
  
• Added two PIS boards to the Nostrand Avenue canopy.
  
• Added missing collision to canopy meshes.
  
• Grounded several floating assets and one collectible.
  
• Repositioned several assets clipping into the geometry.
  
• Resolved improper signal progression for several stations.
  
• Changed track letters to numbers at Forest Hills.
  
• Removed redundant “Charge Brakes” instruction popup during the Hydro City scenario as well as the ATCS and ACSES Training.
  
• Optimised the states and sounds of bagel stand collectibles.

LIRR M7

• Fixed camera collision issues when leaning out of windows.
  
• Fixed blurry textures on both A and B cars in the Livery Editor.
  
• Added logic to start and end of service for AI trains to set wipers according to current weather.
  
• Added missing assets related to third rail sparks.
  
• Improved RailDriver dead zones, emergency position, and switch from coast to minimum brake position and made further, smaller improvements.

LIRR M9

• Fixed camera collision issues when leaning out of windows.
  
• Fixed the “Drive 100 Miles!” Mastery challenge not completing.
  
• Added missing assets related to third rail sparks.
  
• Added logic to start and end of service for AI trains to set wipers according to current weather.
  
• The wiper switch will now start in the off position as intended.
  
• Improved RailDriver dead zones, emergency position, and switch from coast to minimum brake position and made further, smaller improvements.

LIRR M3

• Added missing assets related to third rail sparks.
  
• Added logic to start and end of service for AI trains to set wipers according to current weather.
  
• Improved RailDriver dead zones, emergency position, and switch from coast to minimum brake position and made further, smaller improvements.

Sherman Hill

Core

• Fixed localization errors.

Cajon Pass

BNSF SD40-2

• Adjusted driver camera height.
  
• Fixed several unlocalized RailDriver controls and made further, smaller improvements.

BNSF ES44C4

• Fixed several unlocalized RailDriver controls and made further, smaller improvements.

New York Trenton

Core

• Fixed service 3849 Sunnyside Yard – NY Penn Station immediately derailing upon spawning.
  
• Fixed several minor issues with AI pantograph and MCB setup.
  
• Fixed players being able to interact with certain passenger seats through walls.
  
• Fixed ambient cricket sounds.
  
• Corrected spelling error for Rahway.

ALP-46

• AI will now shut down cab correctly at end of service.
  
• Increased animation speed for several controls.
  
• Adjusted behaviour of marker lights and headlights for AI trains.
  
• Fixed ADU not turning on when setting up from the rear cab.

ACS-64

• AI will now shut down cab correctly at end of service.
  
• Fixed passing AI trains playing alerter sounds.

Amfleet Cab Car

• AI will now shut down cab correctly at end of service.
  
• Fixed passing AI trains playing alerter sounds.

Multi-Level Commuter Cab Car

• Liveries are now available for the Multi-Level Commuter Trailer Cars.
  
• AI will now shut down cab correctly at end of service.
  
• Leaving an upper-level seat will no longer put you on the lower level of Multi-Level Commuter Trailer Cars.
  
• Fixed localization errors.

General Core

• Added Summer Community Challenge Mastery decals.
  
• Fixed crashes for certain timetable services.
  
• Fixed player spawning into old timetable versions.

Cathcart Circle Line

Core

• Updated the route to ToD 4.
  
• Improved ambient sounds when inside the Class 380 cab.
  
• Improved ambient sounds along the entire route.
  
• Improved performance.
  
• Fixed passengers falling off bridges and platforms and walking into railings.
  
• Fixed passengers getting stuck and not walking or boarding trains at certain stations.
  
• Fixed route introduction not loading.
  
• Fixed train external cameras not working inside Glasgow Central.
  
• Fixed missing night lighting for several stations along the route.
  
• Fixed snow appearing inside tunnels.
  
• Fixed invalid signals coming into and out of Glasgow Central.
  
• Adjusted passengers to TSW 4 standard.
  
• Adjusted brightness of PIS screens to match other TSW routes.
  
• Adjusted visuals for wet track components and ballast.
  
• Adjusted landscape materials.
  
• Adjusted spawn rate of passengers, preventing overcrowding.
  
• Adjusted lighting of orange signal and signal flare colours for better visibility.
  
• Added correct stopping boards for the Class 380 at stations.
  
• Added service tags to the Class 380 timetable for respective services.
  
• Added service tags to all Class 380 stopping boards.
  
• Corrected positions of light sources at several points along the route.

BR Class 314

• Improved train audio and added missing sounds.
  
• Added GSM-R functionality.
  
• Fixed doors not retaining their states after loading a save game.
  
• Fixed missing exterior lights.
  
• Fixed incorrect safety system inputs for AWS, TPWS, and DSD.
  
• Fixed AWS and TPWS indicator states during self-test.
  
• Fixed wipers not matching the wiper switch.
  
• Fixed missing wheel slip notification.
  
• Fixed player being able to leave the train through the cab end gangway door while the train was moving.
  
• Fixed missing cab end gangways climbing transitions.
  
• Removed shared key binding for alerter and train brake.

Midland Main Line: Leicester - Derby & Nottingham

Core

• Fixed trains clipping into the roof of a certain depot shed.
  
• Fixed wrong texture being used for a warehouse near Loughborough.
  
• Grounded floating collectibles and assets.

BR Class 158

• Added ‘A’ and ‘B’ decals to the end of the train, for both the 52xxx and 57xxx versions.
  
• Improved train textures in rainy weather.
  
• Fixed a number of RailDriver issues.

ScotRail Express: Edinburgh – Glasgow

Core

• Expanded the station directory so PIS displays reflect the Class 158 timetable