TL;DR (too long; didn’t read) Summary
- Semmeringbahn and LIRR Commuter – Released last month!
- Cargo Line Vol.2 – Aggregates – Out Today!
- Scotrail BR Class 380 – New Screenshots and TOD4 updates to Cathcart Circle
- DB BR 218 – New details from the TSG team
- Fife Circle Line – Rivet Games' update coming soon
- Scotrail BR Class 158 – Information from Skyhook Games
- Introducing High Iron Simulations – New TSW Partner!
- Tadami Line – New screenshots from Union Workshop
- Summer Core Update – Upcoming core update details.
- Suspension Improvements – New video on the Class 323
- Formation Designer – Creators Club functionality coming with the Summer Core
- A Note about Roadmap Timelines
And just to cover the changes from the previous graphic:
- Added ‘Formation Designer Creator Club compatibility’ to 0-3 months
- Added ‘German route’ to ‘Release Date TBC’ section
- Added ‘Santa Fe Gameplay Pack’, developed by High Iron Simulations, to Release Date TBC
- Added ‘TOD4 lighting upgrade’ for Cathcart Circle to 0-3 months
- Moved Scotrail Class 380 Loco into 0-3 months
- Moved Scotrail Class 158 Loco into 0-3 months
- Moved Expert BR 101 to 0-3 months
- Moved Suspension Improvements to 0-3 months
- Removed our longest-serving item, DB BR 420, from Roadmap, at the request of the developer – as it is not in active development
- Removed Semmeringbahn, LIRR Commuter, and Cargo Line, as they have released
The Train Sim World Roadmap
Welcome to May everyone, with a new month comes our latest developer roadmap update for you all on Train Sim World!
In this Roadmap update, outside of talking about our recently released add-ons, you can expect this roadmap to primarily focus on 3rd-party developments from our TSW partners, who all have various development updates to share. After a quick tour of our progress to the Class 380, the TSG team will present new information on the DB BR 218, followed by Rivet Games with an update on Fife Circle improvements, Skyhook Games will also tag in with details on the Class 158, we’ll be introducing High Iron Simulations as a new TSW partner and providing more screenshots for the upcoming Tadami Line from Union Workshop!
For development insights, we’re including a new video to showcase upcoming Suspension Improvements, this time on the Class 323, Formation Designer Creator Club functionality coming to all platforms, a mention of Cathcart Circle TOD4 improvements and highlighting the best of the community’s Editor creations this month! We also make a short note regarding roadmap timeline changes, and the nature of working with external developers.
As usual, we’ll also be live tonight (Thursday, May 9th at 18:00 UTC / 19:00 BST) to talk you through this full article, find a stream event link at the end.
Releases last month!
Last month we saw the release of two TSW route add-ons, the first being our Austrian adventure through the Semmering Pass with Semmeringbahn: Wiener Neustadt – Mürzzuschlag, bringing glorious alpine mountain backgrounds to new ÖBB stock.
This was followed by our long-awaited return trip to New York with the release of LIRR Commuter: New York - Long Beach, Hempstead & Hicksville, offering a new way to experience America’s busiest commuter railroad, extending the route with the new Long Beach Branch and bringing the M9 EMU to Train Sim World.
For those who are interested in diving into the new Long Island experience, we’ve created an extensive guide on how you can operate the M7/M9 ACS and SCSES safety systems, which you can find below
We’ve also got an extensive LIRR Commuter Manual and a dedicated LIRR Commuter Gameplay Guide page for more information on the route, player support, gameplay tips, video guides and more!
Cargo Line Vol.2 – Aggregates – Out Now
Releasing just today, Cargo Line Vol.2 - Aggregates brings further freight haulage to three busy, British Train Sim World routes – Midland Main Line, Great Western Express and Southeastern High Speed – courtesy of the ubiquitous Class 66. Operate services in and out of yards featuring loading / unloading facilities before moving out onto the main lines through the Midlands and the West. Or work diverted trains through Kent in three separate Scenarios.
The pack includes:
- NEW HOA Bogie Hopper Wagon (VTG branded, unbranded and graffitied forms)
- NEW Midland Main Line gameplay (Updated Route, New scenarios + timetable services)
- NEW Great Western Express gameplay (New scenarios + timetable services)
- NEW Southeastern Highspeed gameplay (New scenarios + timetable services using SEHS stock)
Steam players can also make the most our of a 10% launch discount until 16th May, with further savings in the Cargo Line Collection Bundle. Read all the details in our Cargo Line Vol.2 – Aggregates Out Now article
ScotRail Class 380
Since teasing the Class 380 last month with a few details and a WIP image, we’re back today with all-new screenshots with it in-game and on its home route of Cathcart Circle, which may be looking a little fuller in the skies…Let’s head over to DTG's Product Marketing Coordinator, James with the details:
Work continues on the ScotRail Class 380, it’s now in-game and externally complete with all its numbering and scrolling destination board. The interior and cab are also in place, note the TMS (below) which does have explorable screens to see different parameters of the train.
Much like the Class 377 and 385, the cab corridor connection means the space is quite cramped, but the view is at least a tad more forgiving with the 380! Although perhaps the most iconic and distinctive feature of the Class 380 is its angled gangway.
As can be seen, there is a most unique animation for the Class 380 gangway, where after the connection has been made, the driver uses a switch in the cab to pivot the gangways into place and allow the coupling to complete. Once this is done, the cabs are then setup as per other corridor connection trains in TSW to allow for passenger walkthrough. We will show this in more detail in the coming months.
The eagle-eyed of you may have already spotted the volumetric elephant in the room – alongside the Class 380 release we will be bringing Cathcart Circle into the growing number of routes which support “TOD4” skies and lighting! This free update will breathe new life into the route, as will the other changes happening courtesy of Game Designer, Liam (who you may remember from his work on West Somerset Railway):
- Updated signal visuals
- New track and ground ballast
- Latest water visuals for the River Clyde and other locations
- And more!
We will share more details and imagery of the official Cathcart Circle remaster next time, along with a deep-dive into the gameplay. But to close on the 380 today, here is but a hint of what to expect with the brand-new Cathcart Circle timetable that will be coming with the Scottish Desiro:
Left: Glasgow Central at 07:50 in the original Cathcart timetable. Right: Glasgow central at 07:50 in the new Class 380 timetable
DB BR 218 – Update from TSG
As an update to last month’s announcement of the DB BR 218 loco from the TSG team, they wanted to share more details of the locomotive, as well as key features you can expect to find for the upcoming add-on.
TSG: “This mighty diesel-hydraulic loco from the late 60s is surprisingly still in service today, with an impressive reliability record, it can be seen throughout Germany's railways despite the introduction of newer EMUs. This mainstay of German motive power can be seen going where electric trains can't go and is much loved by fans from all over the world.”
Key features you can expect:
- DB BR 218 series 400 with TB11 engine in traffic red
- n-Wagens in traffic red with the diesel desk version of the Karlsruher cab car.
- Timetable mode for Hamburg-Lubeck
- 4 Scenarios, including route-length runs, a rescue mission of a stranded RE with a double formation of 218s, and a freight run with a mixed and heavy train from Lubeck to near Hamburg.
- 2 Tutorials on Training Center for the 218 loco and an adopted n-Wagen cab car tutorial for the new diesel desk.
- Journey mode services
Stay tuned in upcoming roadmaps and announcement articles for more detailed information as we get closer to the release of the DB BR 218.
Fife Circle – Update from Rivet Games
Rivet have been continuing work on improvements to Fife Circle, and currently they are focussing on the following changes in an upcoming patch:
- 33 New services added to the base layer. These are the Cowdenbeath services
- 6 New railtour services - Flying Scotsman services
- 2 Jubilee railtour services - Using the WCL Steam Railtour
- 2 Class 40 services going to and from Dunfermline City.
- Prevent 'pop in' of the Forth bridge on Xbox One
- Performance optimisations across the route
- Adding a procedural foliage system (as seen in the Overground Line)
We’ll share more very soon, as you can expect these above updates to release later in May. Below are a couple of WIP screenshots of the scenery and foliage improvements:
Work also continues with the Leven branch, and Rivet haven’t updated that part of the route with scenery changes just yet as those changes will be implemented alongside the update which includes the branch, which the Rivet team will begin working on once they can access the site for references.
Additionally, Rivet have also been working on some important updates on Bernina Line, which are going through our QA teams at the moment, to include alongside the update to Fife Circle.
- Fixed an issue with a runaround service not completing and causing a gridlock at Tirano.
- Unlocked Journey chapters so players can play through them all without having to complete the previous chapter
- Fixed engine cooling and fan audio being heard from a far distance.
Scotrail Class 158 – Update from Skyhook Games
We can’t talk about one Scotrail locomotive add-on without talking about the other! Skyhook Games have been working hard, with the release of Cargo Line Vol.2 – Aggregates just today, and they are still progressing well on the Scotrail Class 158 loco add-on. They have provided an overview of what you can expect:
- Class 158 2-car Diesel Multiple Unit to Scotrail specification.
- 1 Introduction to the Class 158 DMU at the Training Center.
- 3 Scenarios for Edinburgh to Glasgow.
- 3 Scenarios for Fife Circle Line.
- Timetable services for both routes.
- Compatibility with the Class 170 for combined running.
We’ll keep you updated on more information on when you can expect the Class 158 in following announcements.
New TSW Partner - Introducing High Iron Simulation
Our Train Sim World Partner family grows once again with the announcement that High Iron Simulation, who have previously developed multiple add-ons for Train Simulator Classic, are now working on their first couple of projects with Train Sim World! We reached out to their team for a quick mention in this roadmap, and a sneak peak at their upcoming releases.
High Iron Simulation: “[We have] been a third-party developer for Train Simulator Classic since 2016, producing a variety of TSC products ranging from scenario and locomotive packs to routes. Two of High Iron Simulations’ most recent releases have been the Saluda Grade: Asheville – Spartanburg and the Feather River Canyon Enhanced routes.
We’re excited to begin development for Train Sim World 4, and our initial team represents an experienced group of developers including Michael Stephan, Rick Grout, Cesar “Mannu” Pach, and Gary Dolzall.
High Iron presently has two projects in development, the first of which is a Santa Fe Gameplay Pack for the Cajon Pass route that will bring AT&SF 1990s-era railroading to the famous California Pass. Our second project will be a route, but we’re not quite ready to share information at this stage.
For our team, it’s an exciting prospect to utilize the advanced TSW4 tools and apply our collective railroad knowledge and years of sim experience to creating products for Train Sim World 4.”
We look forward to sharing more in the future for developments from High Iron Simulations, if you’d like to keep up with their socials, be sure to follow the High Iron Simulations Facebook Group!
Tadami Line – Update from Union Workshop
Development for Union Workshop’s previously announced Tadami Line is progressing, and they’ve provided a new range of WIP screenshots of the scenery that we wanted to compile for you today!
As we’ve mentioned, this route is quite far out from release, but we’re getting regular updates from the Union Workshop team to keep you informed on the development of the route. We also have a short segment further on in this article talking about how we think about TSW Roadmap timelines.
Patches & Updates
Summer Core Patch
Following the release of our previous Spring core update, we’re now preparing our next large batch of improvements for a range of TSW add-ons, focussing on feedback raised by you all across our community, as well as key issues we’re able to address in this update. We will keep you informed on when you can expect to see these changes in the near future.
As a brief summary of the key planned changes:
- UK Routes & Locos, such as:
- ECML – Class 801 improvements (flange squeal, opaque glass, GSMR audio, connected gangways, DVD/DSD going off with reverser in neutral) and Class 66 feature set improvements and fixes.
- Southeastern High Speed – Class 700 (AWS & DVD audio levels) and Hoo Dares Wins scenario completion
- Birmingham Cross City – scoring and achievements
- Cargo Line Vol.1 – Petroleum improvements
- West Somerset Railway – fixes for services and scenery improvements
- London Commuter – rear doors on Class 377 remaining open
- DE Add-ons – Various Improvements and fixes for multiple DE routes
- Vorarlberg improvements + 1116 substituting into freight services
- US Routes (Peninsula Corridor, New York - Trenton, Antelope Valley) - Rolling stock functionality and fixes
- Core Improvements (Formation Designer, Scenario Planner, Passenger fixes)
- And much more, including initial reports following the release of Semmeringbahn and LIRR Commuter.
Suspension Improvements
Today we are continuing to share further progress for suspension improvements, this time relating to the Class 323, with a showcase video utilising the new suspension system, from both an external and in-cab perspective. You can watch the showcase embedded below:
We have been extremely thankful for your feedback on our previous two updates for the Class 66 and the ÖBB 4024, and we’d like to continue to invite your feedback on our latest Class 323 Suspension Feedback Thread.
Next month we will be back for a larger update on Suspension, providing more details on which locos will be included in this update, and when you can expect it to release.
Formation Designer
It has been fantastic seeing everyone in the Train Sim World communities get involved with the Formation Designer tools since our previous update gave access to console platforms! Why don’t you read through this community thread of “Unusual Formations that did exist in real life!”
We’re now eyeing up the next step on our plan, coming with our Summer core update, which will introduce the ability to share custom created consists of and combinations via Creators Club, similar to how you would for Livery Designer and Scenario Planner.
Here is our updated Formation Designer timeline:
- Phase 1 – Initial beta on PC platforms Done
- Phase 2 – Welcoming Console platforms + Additional Improvements Done
- Phase 3 – Creators Club Functionality + Additional Improvements Coming Soon
- Phase 4 – Full Release! (Removing the Beta tag)
With the feature still in its beta period, we remain aware of various issues raised from the community, and we continue to ask if you do encounter any difficulties to please raise these on our dedicated Formation Designer Discussion forums, where we can share this with our internal development teams. We have a range of improvements coming alongside the next phase, and we will share more details of those closer to the release of the Summer core patch.
We continue to support and gather community feedback for Formation Designer as we look towards the last phase before the full release, it’s almost time to get sharing those amazing creations with the whole community!
Community Corner
A Note about Roadmap Timelines
The Train Sim World monthly roadmap is designed to provide information on our game which is accurate at the time of publication.
In the world of Game Development though, things can move around pretty quickly – seemingly small issues can cause much larger problems, and sometimes there can be a quick resolution for a seemingly-insurmountable task. We find this regularly when we develop content for TSW.
When we’re working with an increased amount of developers as part of our Partner Programme, especially those new to the world of developing within our game, that can mean that things move around a lot as we support them to tackle unforeseen challenges.
We believe that providing this picture is a better option, as it allows us to announce content earlier for you all to be excited about, but please bear in mind that things might change as development progresses, and this is often reflected in our monthly updated roadmap graphic. We explain the changes each month to help you understand what is happening.
Roadmap Livestream
Exec Producer Matt, and Senior Community Manager Alex, will be talking about all the things we’ve featured above, and answering your submitted questions in our May Roadmap livestream. The stream will begin from 18:00 UTC / 19:00 BST on our YouTube and Twitch channels.
Have a question for us? Put it in our May Roadmap Q&A thread and we’ll answer as many as we can live tonight!