Train Sim World
Cover of Train Sim World depicting some of the operable trains (from left to right: Siemens ACS-64; British Rail Class 43; Bombardier Talent 2)
Genre(s)Vehicle simulation
Developer(s)Dovetail Games
Publisher(s)Dovetail Games
Platform(s)
First releaseTrain Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul
16 March 2017
Latest releaseTrain Sim World 4
26 September 2023

Train Sim World (abbreviated to TSW) is a train simulation game series developed by Dovetail Games. There have been seven iterations since the initial Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul in 2017. The most recent, in 2023, was Train Sim World 4.

The second release was the Xbox One-only Train Sim World: Founders Edition in 2018. Train Sim World, featuring three routes plus the Sand Patch Grade from CSX Heavy Haul, was released the same year. Train Sim World 2020 followed in 2019. Train Sim World 2, featuring Livery Editor and Scenario Designer, was released in 2020, followed just under a year later by Train Sim World 3. Train Sim World 4 was released in 2023, featuring three routes: the Antelope Valley Line, the East Coast Main Line from Peterborough to Doncaster and S-Bahn Vorarlberg: Lindau - Bludenz. The Deluxe Edition also includes the Flying Scotsman in a preserved state as part of its centenary.

Releases

For the first time, Train Sim World allows players to walk around the game world in a first-person mode. This mode is utilised in tutorials, scenarios and services where the first-person mode is required to complete tasks such as refuelling, navigating, doing different types of train driving services or changing switches.[2]

Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul

Released on 16 March 2017,[3] Heavy Haul consisted of one playable route, Sand Patch Grade, based in the United States.[4]

Train Sim World: Founders Edition

The second version was Founders Edition, which was available on Xbox One, containing Great Western Express.[5]

Train Sim World

The third version, simply Train Sim World, was available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, featuring three routes: Great Western Express: London Paddington–Reading, Rapid Transit: Dessau Hbf–Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz and Northeast Corridor: New Rochelle–Newark Liberty International Airport, as well as Sand Patch Grade for the Windows version only.

Train Sim World 2020

A German DB BR 185 freight train passes Partenstein station on the Main-Spessart Bahn.

The fourth version, Train Sim World 2020, is available for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, featuring four routes: Great Western Express, Long Island Rail Road (Penn Station to Hicksville, Hempstead Branch, Atlantic Terminal, Belmont), Main-Spessart Bahn (Aschaffenburg Hbf to Gemünden (Main)) and Northern Trans-Pennine (Manchester Victoria to Leeds route add-on), as well as Sand Patch Grade for Windows only. The 2020 edition featured a Digital Deluxe edition containing, as a bonus route, Caltrain's Peninsula Corridor (San Francisco 4th and King Street to San Jose Diridon route add-on).

On 12 December 2019, Dovetail Games released the East Coastway add-on. In addition to the Brighton to Eastbourne route, there is a branch route between Lewes and Seaford. The release includes the Class 377/4 and the Class 66.[6] Further add-on routes included Rhein-Ruhr Osten (Wuppertal Hbf to Hagen Hbf), Ruhr-Sieg Nord (Hagen Hbf to Finnentrop), Haupstrecke Rhein-Ruhr (Bochum Hbf to Duisburg Hbf), Tees Valley Line (Darlington to Saltburn), West Somerset Railway (Minehead to Bishops Lydeard), and Canadian National Oakville Subdivision. Several individual locomotives were also released as downloadable content (DLC), including the Class 20 Chopper and the former East German DB BR 143 and DB BR 155.

Train Sim World 2

The fifth version, Train Sim World 2, was announced on 9 June 2020, with an original planned release date of 6 August 2020. The announcement promoted new features, including the Livery Editor and Scenario Designer. There were two new routes and multiple trains planned for its release: the ICE 3M and Talent 2 running from Köln Hbf to Aachen Hbf, branded as Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen, and the London Underground 1972 Stock, with the Bakerloo line.[7] The game also comes with Sand Patch Grade route (Cumberland–Rockwood), featuring the following locomotives: AC4400CW, GP38-2 and SD40-2. While the route is not new, it has been updated for Windows and now also available on consoles PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with major optimisation to the consoles. The Deluxe Edition also includes East Coastway as a Preserved Collection route.

The Preserved Collection allows players to import their previously owned Train Sim World and Train Sim World 2020 bundled routes and DLC into the new game. This means players can continue using them without the need to pay for them again. Dovetail Games announced the game would be delayed on 16 July, with a rescheduled release date of 20 August, back from the original 6 August.[8] This was to allow them to make Preserved Collection add-ons compatible with their new Scenario Designer. They confirmed that content from this category will not be compatible with their new Livery Designer, due to a change in the way they develop trains, although such compatibility might be provided in a future upgrade (this has since been confirmed; Livery Designer compatibility for East Coastway was included in a February 2021 patch, with more routes to follow).[9] They also announced within one of their Community questions-and-answers livestreams that their Northeast Corridor route add-on, as well as their Amtrak SW1000R and CSX GP40-2 loco add-ons were not going to be part of the Preserved Collection due to technical issues.

Dovetail Games unveiled their first roadmap on 18 August, which presented their plans for future additions to the game, as well as the timeline for the additional Preserved Collection add-ons.

Train Sim World 2 was released to the public on 20 August. More DLC followed: Haupstrecke München-Augsburg: LGV Méditerranée: Marseille–Avignon, Southeastern High Speed: St Pancras–Faversham, Clinchfield Railroad: Elkhorn–Dante, Hauptstrecke Hamburg–Lübeck and Scottish City Commuter together with Isle of Wight: Ryde Pier Head–Shanklin and Arosalinie: Chur–Arosa (from third-party developer Rivet Games) and Union Pacific Cane Creek: Thompson–Potash (from third-party developer Skyhook Games).

The game also includes locomotive DLC from all versions including: DB BR 182, MP36PH-3C, C40-8W, Class 465, DB BR 101, MP15DC, M3, and Diesel Legends of the Great Western (Class 52, Class 101, and Class 08).

On 4 May 2021, Dovetail Games announced a Season Ticket called Rush Hour, which included three new routes: the Boston Sprinter (Boston–Providence), London Commuter (Brighton–Victoria) and Nahverkehr Dresden (Dresden–Riesa). The routes were released between August and October 2021.

On 19 July 2022, Rivet Games and Dovetail Games released BR Class 484: Isle of Wight 2022. A train and route DLC featuring the Isle of Wight and the BR Class 484, going from Ryde Pier Head to Shanklin.

Train Sim World 2: Rush Hour

Train Sim World 2: Rush Hour is a season pass containing three routes and comes with a free update to the passenger system within Train Sim World 2.

Boston Sprinter released on 19 August 2021. It covers 47 miles (76 km) between Boston and Providence; includes the Amtrak ACS-64 and the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority) F40PH-3C. The CTC-3 Coaches and Cab Car are also included. The CSX GP38-2 from Sand Patch Grade is also layered onto Boston Sprinter; however, there are no extra services.

Nahverkehr Dresden released on 9 September 2021. It spans the 34 miles (55 km) line between Riesa and Dresden, and also included the 14-mile (23 km) fast line which runs parallel to the main route. The 3.1-mile (5.0 km) branch to Großenhain and 5.6 miles (9.0 km) to Meißen Triebischtal are also included. The route includes the DB BR 442 'Talent 2', DB BR 143, DB BR 146.2, MRCE BR 185 and DB BR 363 as the primary trains, along with the fourth-generation Doppelstockwagen coaches and cab car. The DB BR 101 DLC and DB BR 406 ICE 3M are layered on and includes intercity and ICE services that use the fast line.

London Commuter released on 7 October 2021. It represents the 50-mile (80 km) Brighton Main Line between London Victoria and Brighton, along with the 7-mile (11 km) Quarry Branch and 1 mile (1.6 km) of the North Downs Line (with Reigate being the end). The route includes the Class 377 and Class 387. The Class 375 and Class 465 layer on from the Southeastern High Speed DLC, providing Southeastern AI services out of London Victoria and diverted services between East Croydon and Redhill (Class 375). The Class 166 and Class 43 are also layered on from Great Western Express, including Great Western Railway services to Redhill and Gatwick Airport from Reigate (Class 166). The Class 43 runs diverted AI-only services past Clapham Junction.

On 11 November 2021, the Rush Hour Season Ticket was taken off sale on all stores; however, the three routes can still be bought separately, or as a bundle, in the Rush Hour Deluxe Edition of Train Sim World 2. The Deluxe Edition includes the base routes, Sand Patch Grade, Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen, the Bakerloo line, as well as the three Rush Hour routes.

Train Sim World 3

The sixth instalment, Train Sim World 3, was announced on 9 August 2022, with its official release date on 6 September 2022, although it released to pre-orders on 2 September 2022. It features three routes: Schnellfahrstrecke: Kassel - Würzburg, an extended version of Southeastern High Speed which now includes Ashford International and Dartford, and Cajon Pass. New weather features such as Dynamic Weather and volumetric clouds were also added in; passengers are also now change clothes based on the weather and season including the use of umbrellas.[10] Like TSW 2, preserved collection was brought back and all routes currently playable in TSW 2 are playable in TSW 3, renamed "Train Sim World Compatible" add-ons.

More DLC followed in 2022, such as Birmingham Cross-City, Bahnstrecke Bremen - Oldenburg, and a fictional Christmas themed route called "The Holiday Express Runaway Elf".

DLC available as of July 2023 currently for Train Sim World 3 includes Amtrak's Acela as a loco DLC for Boston Sprinter with Northeast Corridor from New York to Trenton including the NJ Transit ALP-46 and Amtrak ACS-64 including the return of the Metroliner Cab Car, with both released on 21 February 2023.

Linke Rheinstrecke from Koblenz to Mainz featuring the DB Class 103 and DB Class 110 was released on 16 March 2023.

The Peak Forest Railway: Ambergate - Chinley & Buxton add-on, released on 9 May 2023, includes the LMS Fowler 4F, LMS Stanier Jubilee and LMS Stanier 8F, portraying the route from Ambergate To Chinley and branch line to Buxton as it was in 1963.

The Glossop line from Manchester Piccadilly to Hadfield and Glossop featuring the Class 323 in Northern livery was released on 27 June 2023.

The Thameslink Class 700/0 was released on Southeastern High Speed as a separate loco add-on on 11 July 2023.

Third-party content such as a steam railtour for West Cornwall Local: Penzance - St Austell - St Ives and ScotRail Express: Edinburgh - Glasgow (developed by Rivet Games), Niddertalbahn: Bad Vilbel - Stockheim (developed by TrainSimGermany) and the Midland Main Line section from Leicester to Derby & Nottingham (developed by Skyhook Games) are available.[11]

Train Sim World 4

Train Sim World 4 is the seventh installment in the Train Sim World series, announced on 22 August 2023,[12] and officially released on 26 September 2023. This version of the game includes three routes: the Antelope Valley Line, the East Coast Main Line from Peterborough to Doncaster and S-Bahn Vorarlberg: Lindau - Bludenz.

The Deluxe Edition also includes the Flying Scotsman in a preserved state as part of the 100th anniversary. It also includes the Railpool BR 193 Vectron for an upgraded version of the Nahverkehr Dresden route add-on.

Just Trains' first route was the Blackpool Branches: Preston - Blackpool & Ormskirk, set in 1986, from Preston to both Blackpool North and Blackpool South, included along with the freight-only Fleetwood branch line. Also included is the branch to Ormskirk. Motive power includes the Class 142 and Class 47/4.

Editing tools

Train Sim World 2 features a livery editor and a scenario editor, with further plans on adding features to the current toolset.[13] Train Sim World 4 adds an editor for routes, locomotives and gameplay.[14]

Unreal Engine 4 editing tools

Originally, there were plans to bring Unreal Engine 4-based editing tools to Train Sim World. In a September 2018 studio update, it was revealed that the tools would be the same as that used by Dovetail Games to create content, allowing users to create routes, locomotives, wagons, coaches, scenarios and services.[15] However, it would not have been possible to edit existing routes released by Dovetail Games at launch.[16] It was planned for an open beta of the editing tools to be released. Dovetail Games also planned on creating a series of video tutorials for the editing tools.[15]

However, during a Train Sim World 2 Q&A livestream held on 11 June 2020, the developers announced that tools related to Unreal Engine 4 would not be released to the general public. Community managers further confirmed this on Dovetail Games' forums, arguing that "additional considerations make a public release impossible". The tools are available to third-party developers, though.[17]

As part of the announcement for Train Sim World 4, it has been revealed that the Unreal Engine 4 editing tools will now be available to the general public after launch. It allows anyone to create their own routes, locomotives and gameplay.[14]

Reception

Train Sim World

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of Train Sim World were released to "mixed or average" reviews, according to the review aggregator Metacritic.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ "TSW: The Journey to Xbox". Dovetail Games. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "All Aboard for Train Sim World!". Dovetail Games. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  4. ↑ "Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul review". Tech Advisor. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Lowry, Brendan (16 March 2018). "Train Sim World Founders Edition for Xbox packs real railway authenticity". Windows Central. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  6. ↑ Gateway to the Coastway - Gamasutra, 12 December 2019
  7. ↑ Holden, Michael (9 June 2020). "Dovetail Games announce Train Sim World 2!". RailAdvent. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  8. ↑ Dovetail Games Staff (16 July 2020). "TRAIN SIM WORLD 2 UPDATE!". live.dovetailgames.com. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. ↑ "Dovetail Live".
  10. ↑ "Train Sim World 3 FAQ". Dovetail Support. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Dovetail Live". live.dovetailgames.com. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Dovetail Direct - Train Sim World on 22nd August!, retrieved 22 August 2023
  13. ↑ "Train Sim World 2 November 10 Roadmap". Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  14. 1 2 "TSW4 Roadmap Part 1", live.dovetailgames.com, retrieved 25 August 2023
  15. 1 2 "Train Sim World: Studio Update". Dovetail Games. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "Train Sim World Studio Update – Your Questions Answered". Dovetail Games. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "Dovetail Games Fourms: "The Editor's Mess"". Dovetail Games. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  18. ↑ "Train Sim World: Founder's Edition for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Train Sim World for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  20. 1 2 "Train Sim World for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  21. ↑ S, Matt (2 August 2018). "Review: Train Sim World (Sony PlayStation 4)". Digitally Downloaded. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  22. ↑ Sherwood, Mark (24 July 2018). "Train Sim World Review". Xbox Tavern. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  23. ↑ Mc, Chris (24 July 2018). "Train Sim World Review: All Aboard!". GameSpew. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  24. ↑ Freeman, Will. "Train Sim World (Console) Review". Trusted Reviews. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  25. ↑ Dileva, Adam (11 September 2018). "Train Sim World Review (Xbox One)". XboxAddict.com. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  26. ↑ Mike (1 August 2018). "Train Sim World - PS4 Review". PlayStation Country. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  27. ↑ Anderson, Patrick (2 August 2018). "Train Sim World Review - All A-Bored". COGconnected. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  28. ↑ Barnes, Ken (24 July 2018). "Train Sim World PS4 Review - Stuck at the Station". PlayStation LifeStyle. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
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