The Story So Far:
We added this next German route Add-on to our February 2025 Roadmap. We later confirmed the route and the extent of the lines covered.
This included:
- Reveal in the March 2025 Roadmap
- A tongue-in-cheek reveal of Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof for April Fools Day
- Further information about the route in the April 2025 Roadmap
Frankfurt S-Bahn: S1, S8 & S9
Frankfurt S-Bahn cover three distinct lines as part of Frankfurt’s S-Bahn network and introduces the DB BR 430 for the first time. Additional rolling stock and plentiful layers from previous Train Sim World Add-ons also feature, making for a sprawling route with many stations and lots of traffic.
The Route
The S-Bahn Rhein-Main came about in the late 1970s, when various routes out of Frankfurt were brought together as a single network. Also built and added onto the network was a connection to Frankfurt Airport, both the S-Bahn itself in 1980, and long-distance trains in 1999. Both feature in the in-game route.
Over time, many additions and modifications have been made to the network to match increasing demand. In 2018, multiple lines introduced nightly operations, offering 24/7 service in and out of bustling Frankfurt.
As the title of the Add-on suggests, there are three lines that form part of this route.
These are:
- S1: Frankfurt to Wiesbaden via Frankfurt Höscht
- S8: Frankfurt to Wiesbaden via Flughafen & Mainz Hbf
- S9: Frankfurt to Wiesbaden Flughafen & Mainz-Kastel
The route is set prior to the opening of Frankfurt Gateway Gardens, offering the chance to traverse over the original airport approach which no longer exists.
ICE services running across the route from Frankfurt to Wiesbaden via Flughafen Fernbahnhof will be available for players with Train Sim World 5’s core Frankfurt – Fulda route. Flughafen Fernbahnhof mostly serves long-distance trains, which is uncommon in Germany. It has an average of one ICE every 9 minutes during peak times - equating to around 160 ICE stops every day.
The addition of the long-distance airport station to the route was done so following player feedback.
Additionally, to support this, the freight loop in Mainz will now also be in the route, enabling trains to enter Mainz from the north after coming from Frankfurt.
The Trains
DB BR 430 [NEW]
New to Frankfurt S-Bahn is the hard-working DB BR 430 EMU, which operates the bulk of traffic on the S1, S8 and S9 lines. This 4-car, high-capacity EMU has been in full operation on the S-Bahn Rhein-Main since their introduction a little over a decade ago.
The design is reminiscent of the DB BR 422, although with more modern fittings and tweaks befitting of a busy network such as Frankfurt. The 430s replaced the much-lamented DB BR 420 and expanded the size of the fleet to offer a total of 9 trains an hour in each direction, spread across all 3 lines, with up to 12-car formations.
DB BR 423
Supplementing the BR 430 is the DB BR 423, a staple EMU for S-Bahn networks across Germany.
The version included with Frankfurt S-Bahn will feature a new interior to represent the S-Bahn Rhein-Main variant, as well as some physics upgrades. The BR 423 fleet is certainly no stranger to the Wiesbaden lines, although spends a majority of its time serving other destinations, making it a key part of the scene around Frankfurt Hbf.
DB BR 143 + Dostos
Providing a regional touch is the DB BR 143 and Dosto combination, which runs RB services out of Wiesbaden.
Timetable, Scenarios and Gameplay
Timetable and Additional Service layers
Many of the S-Bahn services will depart westbound from Frankfurt Hbf, including from its subterranean platforms, and embark on a multitude of journeys. Be it day or night, drive S1 services along the north face of the Main river or take the S8 and S9 via the airport on criss-crossing paths along the Rhine, and converge under the historic roof of Wiesbaden Hbf.
S1 services take a more direct westerly route out of Frankfurt, calling at suburban locations in the outskirts of the city and running north of the Main river, the longest tributary of the Rhine, all the way to Wiesbaden.
S8 and S9 services share an alternative path which initially heads south to serve Frankfurt Airport’s Regional station, before stopping at all stations on the Mainbahn, south of the Main.
The action takes place over a full 24-hour timetable, with services running throughout and providing gameplay at all times of day. The new DB BR 430 will operate on the many hundreds of services that keep the commuters of Hesse on the move.
The addition of the Frankfurt Airport long-distance station opens up new types of gameplay for players with additional content in their collection.
On that line, players can operate:
- ICE3 services with Kassel-Würzburg
- ICE1 services between Frankfurt and Mainz with Kassel-Würzburg
- ICE-T services from Frankfurt Hbf to Wiesbaden via the Airport and Mainz with Frankfurt-Fulda
- IC services with the DB BR 101 loco Add-on
AI-only traffic such as ICE and freight will also suitably layer in across the route, with freight operating both locally and end-to-end. RE and RB traffic also features as AI, utilising the timetable from Frankfurt – Fulda and trains from other route Add-ons such as Maintalbahn for the DB BR 642.
The full list of Add-ons that layer services into Frankfurt S-Bahn is as follows:
Playable and AI services:
- Kassel-Würzburg
- Frankfurt-Fulda
- DB BR 101 loco Add-on
- Bremen-Oldenburg
- Maintalbahn
- Ruhr Sieg Nord and DB BR 363 loco Add-on
The BR 628 from Niddertalbahn will also feature as AI traffic.
Freight services utilising Frankfurt-Fulda's DB BR 193 Vectron will haul stock layered from S-Bahn Vorarlberg (Laaers), Dresden-Riesa (Zacns), Kassel-Würzburg (VTG Eanos) as well as Sggmrss and Habbiins wagons.
For players that own all the relevant content, the full timetable provides the busiest experience ever seen in a German route Add-on, with approximately 1,000 services included.
Timetable variants across platforms
In order to provide a suitable experience across all platforms, two variants of the Frankfurt S-Bahn timetable have been developed, a Full and a Reduced version.
The following platforms will see different options available to choose from:
Steam and Epic Games - Full timetable and Reduced timetable
PS5 and Xbox Series S/X - Reduced timetable only
The reduced timetable features just over 600 playable services in total. These are formed from the three included trains (430, 423 and 143 + Dostos) and playable service layers for the DB BR 411 ICE-T for those with Frankfurt-Fulda.
The reduced timetable will also be available to Steam and Epic players in addition to the full timetable.
Further down the Tracks: DB BR 420
In the March 2025 Roadmap, we re-announced the upcoming DB BR 420 Loco from the TSG team, helping support gameplay on the upcoming Frankfurt S-Bahn route.
You can read some more details in the April 2025 Roadmap. We’ll be sure to check back with the TSG team in a later Roadmap to provide an update on progress.
Note: when complete, the DB BR 420 loco Add-on will also release on PC and Gen 9 console platforms only (Xbox Series S|X & PS5).
Additional Gameplay
With Free Roam, players can explore the multiple paths along each line in their favourite traction.
There’ll also be Route Hopping with Frankfurt – Fulda (at Frankfurt am Main Hbf) and with Linke Rheinstrecke at (Mainz Hbf). For players with these routes and Schnellfahrstrecke Kassel-Würzburg, a monumental 320km journey awaits between Koblenz and Kassel with three hopping points across four route Add-ons!
Mastery Challenges:
Mastery on Frankfurt S-Bahn unlocks the new in-game Posters for the route that we introduced to selected Train Sim World 5 route Add-ons (Tier 1) and a Scenery Tile at Wiesbaden.
The Scenery Tile represents the popular Festivals that take place, with music included during both day and nighttime for those who choose the toggle the Scenery Tile on.
Complete timetable services and Scenarios or drive a pre-set number of kilometers to unlock them!
Preview Livestream in English and German
Catch the preview stream with Railfan TV over on YouTube and Twitch on Tuesday 13th May, with a German preview hosted by TrainSimPlay the following day on 14th May.
Train Sim World 5: Frankfurt S-Bahn: S1, S8 & S9 will release on 20th May for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam for €35.99/£29.99/$39.99