After the announcement of the new Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 Add-on from Rivet Games that will be coming on July 19th, we’re sharing information on the accompanying free upgrade to the original Isle of Wight route which includes updated water textures used in Rivet’s West Cornwall route, audio tweaks and various graphical fixes.
Note: This update will release later than other platforms for PlayStation
Isle of Wight: Ryde - Shanklin Route Add-On
Class 483:
Just like the hills across Shanklin that go up and down, we’ve upped the flange squeal audio to be louder and turned down the volume of the door warning audio.
Gangway door hitbox reduced to prevent it getting in the way when opened.
Added emergency break toggle on backspace.
Reduced player camera rotation.
Passengers will now move more easiily in and out of trains.
Removed Guard Panel cameras.
IOW Gameplay:
All passengers will now unload at Ryde Pier Head, where this train terminates.
Fixed red lights so player should now be able to proceed.
IOW Route:
Updated water texture to the sea and lakes from West Cornwall Local route.
Improved texture on planter found at Ryde Pier head station
Removed ability for players to walk through telegraph poles, signal poles and adjusted fence on the Lake Station to stop players from being able to climb up. Get down from there!
Fixed various bugs, snow and terrain issues
Other Improvements
Great Western Express
Moved static 1972 stock away from the buffer stops at Ealing Broadway.
Sitting in the driver's seat no longer causes derailment.
Arosa Line
Removed SBB Signage branding from the top of the station, due to licensing feedback.
Pringles Campaign
Adjustments made to Pringles posters and machines, including translated posters in Köln-Aachen route for German players.
The update will download automatically for owners when it becomes available. Players should allow at least 24 hours after restarting Steam, EPIC Game Store, or their console for the update to appear and before contacting Customer Support.
Train Sim World 2 - Update Notes - 27th June 2022
After the announcement of the new Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 Add-on from Rivet Games that will be coming on July 19th, we’re sharing information on the accompanying free upgrade to the original Isle of Wight route which includes updated water textures used in Rivet’s West Cornwall route, audio tweaks and various graphical fixes.
Note: This update will release later than other platforms for PlayStation
Isle of Wight: Ryde - Shanklin Route Add-On
Class 483:
Just like the hills across Shanklin that go up and down, we’ve upped the flange squeal audio to be louder and turned down the volume of the door warning audio.
Gangway door hitbox reduced to prevent it getting in the way when opened.
Added emergency break toggle on backspace.
Reduced player camera rotation.
Passengers will now move more easiily in and out of trains.
Removed Guard Panel cameras.
IOW Gameplay:
All passengers will now unload at Ryde Pier Head, where this train terminates.
Fixed red lights so player should now be able to proceed.
IOW Route:
Updated water texture to the sea and lakes from West Cornwall Local route.
Improved texture on planter found at Ryde Pier head station
Removed ability for players to walk through telegraph poles, signal poles and adjusted fence on the Lake Station to stop players from being able to climb up. Get down from there!
Fixed various bugs, snow and terrain issues
Other Improvements
Great Western Express
Moved static 1972 stock away from the buffer stops at Ealing Broadway.
Sitting in the driver's seat no longer causes derailment.
Arosa Line
Removed SBB Signage branding from the top of the station, due to licensing feedback.
Pringles Campaign
Adjustments made to Pringles posters and machines, including translated posters in Köln-Aachen route for German players.
The update will download automatically for owners when it becomes available. Players should allow at least 24 hours after restarting Steam, EPIC Game Store, or their console for the update to appear and before contacting Customer Support.
Train Sim World 2 - Roadmap Update 5th July 2022
Hello, folks. As we move into summer, we have a similarly British Summer surprise for you coming from Rivet Games – as part of this Roadmap, we’ve asked the team at Rivet to tell you a little more about it.
Also, we have good news on the Xbox ‘Jackhammer’ Audio issue, an update on other things we’re working on, an introduction to a new member of the team, and a special Development Deep Dive talking about how we develop gameplay for our routes. Enjoy!
What’s changed this month?
As we announced earlier, the Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 Add-on from Rivet Games will be coming to Train Sim World 2 on July 19th. Read on below to find out more from the Rivet team about the project – whilst you can find all the important details here
Various items have been removed from the Roadmap as they’ve been released, including the Xbox Jackhammer fix, Great Western Express, West Somerset Railway, and Northern Trans-Pennine Preservation Crew releases, and batch 1 of the Livery Designer logo decals.
NEW: Island Line 2022: BR Class 484
Earlier today, we announced the next Add-on coming to Train Sim World 2, from Rivet Games: Island Line 2022: BR Class 484. We asked the Rivet Team for the details on what you can all expect!
With the Island Line 2022, we’re revisiting a true classic in Train Sim World 2. Since the original Isle of Wight railway was under construction throughout 2021 to make it ready for the new Class 484 Electric Multiple Unit two-car trains to be brought in, this pack comes not only with a new loco, but a major overhaul of the entire route. This will be a standalone route that doesn’t require the original Isle of Wight line.
We have been working hard over recent months rebuilding the Isle of Wight Island Line, not only to include the changes made to the track in real-life, but also adding in more detail and upgrading quality throughout the route. This includes more features throughout the stations, more scenery along the length of the track, new signaling system, completely rebuilt platforms & raised sections to match the new train height, as well as several new interiors along the route which players can now visit.
New functionality developed for this route includes new arcing effects on the third rail to special effects for scenarios. And the scenarios themselves are more interactive than ever before - more details to follow in a later article though.
Because the route has a very low profile, it continues to use former London Underground Tube stock that has been rebuilt as the newly introduced BR Class 484 to serve the Island Line. Rebuilt in a breath-taking level of detail, the train features true-to-life physics and audio based on recent recordings taking on the 484’s in real life.
Whilst working on the new Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 Add-on, the Rivet team have also been making some small improvements to the original Isle of Wight: Shanklin to Ryde route, with some art and audio tweaks to the original route, general bug fixes, as well as updating the water textures to the ones used in the West Cornwall Local route. These are largely based on your continued feedback.
Want a first-look? Here’s a helpful walkaround video to whet your appetites:
The Add-on will come to Train Sim World on July 19th.
Preservation Crew Update
After the substantial update to GWE, NTP, and WSR, the team will be working on the next batch of improvements. You can see in the list at the bottom of the article what areas they’re still working on.
If you wanted to meet the Preservation Crew team, we did a 4UP challenge with them last week to showcase some of the GWE improvements. You can watch the full stream here.
PS5 Add-ons limit/Add-ons Manager
Last month, we updated you with a potential solution for the PS5 Add-ons limit, which would not only enable you to download all your Add-ons again, but also potentially save on memory whilst playing. This in turn would reduce the rate of ‘Out of Memory’ crashes, particularly those playing on 8th-generation consoles and/or with lots of Add-ons installed.
Work is still ongoing – it is currently being actively tested internally, before we put it out to our beta teams for them to try. Watch this space.
Developer Deep Dive: Making Gameplay
In this month’s Developer Deep Dive, we grabbed our Associate Designer, Michael, to discuss how we bring you gameplay options within Train Sim World. Read on to find out about how we make training modules, scenarios, timetables, journey chapters, and more – particularly how we did it for Spirit of Steam. Take it away, Michael!
Research & Planning
Before we begin work in the Train Sim World 2 Editor, we plan out the content we want to include. Once we’ve had a briefing over what content is going to be included in the project, the team presents ideas for narratives and events for scenarios, what to cover in training modules and specific service types for the Route timetable.
This is usually the part where we come up with names for scenarios, journey chapters and achievements.
Research is done to represent authentic experiences and engaging stories and events.
Information is collected from many different avenues:
TOCs (Train Operating Companies)
Both physical and online WTTs (Working Timetables)
Tourist websites (for local information about the area)
Videos from Railfans
Dovetail Beta Forums and Discord servers
Once we have the initial ideas and research in place, the team branches off working on specific content.
Training Modules & Scenarios
With all of our training modules, we aim to be able to teach the player the basics as well as any other specifics about the locos included.
This proved to be a challenge for Spirit of Steam, as we had to try and explain not only how a Steam loco should be driven, but including how they work internally too.
With scenarios, we aim to give a more narrative driven experience than you will find in the Route Timetable.
We work closely with the Rail Vehicle Setup team, to ensure we have the correct start-up and shutdown procedures and any information on specific features the loco comes with.
All of our Training modules are fully voiced, so we work closely with the Audio team, writing up scripts to be recorded.
Once we have all the information shared across other teams, we are able to block out our Training Modules and Scenarios.
A Data Asset is created, which includes information on the Scenario or Training Module. This information will appear in the in-game menus.
We use something called Blueprints to build out the player objectives.
These, when combined, allow us to implement an early working version of a Scenario or Training Module. We then include Dialogue and Voice Overs into the Objectives Blueprint.
Every week we review the content we’re working on and give each other feedback. We then move on to polishing. This will include cleaning up any issues, adding in scenario specific scenery, scoring, AI trains and thumbnail images.
Route Timetables
With all the service data collected in an Excel document, the route timetable can be implemented.
The Route Timetable is a 24-hour version of the ones implemented into Scenarios and Training Modules, meaning service patterns need to flow correctly and we keep track of every train. Since Route Timetables are 24 hours, we have to simulate running them (which is far quicker than testing them for a whole day), ensuring trains run on time, meet at station platforms or yards correctly, and leave and enter portals, amongst many other factors.
One of the challenges when working on these is that you can’t have any late trains, which can take many hours of simulating and tweaking, ironing out any minor issues.
Journeys
Journey chapters house all the scenarios, training modules and the services in the Route Timetable, each chapter allowing for varied experiences.
Spirit of Steam allowed us to explore this slightly differently than before. Allowing us to focus the player on knowing how to control a steam locomotive before offering them more challenging experiences as they continue to familiarise themselves with both locomotives.
Scenario Designer
Scenario Designer is a task that can be either fairly simple, or very tedious to implement. It all depends on the route. We aim to open up as many paths on the route for the player to take, keeping in mind, we want to avoid causing obstructions or queuing at signals.
Sherman Hill and Harlem Line are great examples of fairly straightforward routes to design and implement. 2-3 up and down lines, lots of yard roads for variety.
Spirit of Steam again was another challenge. There’s a lot of the route to cover, allowing for all manner of paths you can potentially take. In this situation, we review what paths are covered in the Route Timetable and use those as reference to implement as many paths as we can.
Michael will be joining us on Railfan TV this month to talk specifically about making scenarios, so keep an eye out on the weekly schedule!
Team spotlight: Alex
Each month, we’ll bring a new member of the Roadmap and ask them a little bit about themselves. This month, it’s Alex, our new Community Manager for Train Sim World.
1) Tell us a little bit about yourself. Well to start from the beginning, I've grown up in North-West England but also partly in Spain and Wales for a few years. I love science fiction and movies, as well as creating artwork and being creative - I previously had a YouTube channel where I loved creating gaming content. From there I studied Astrophysics at university for a year before switching into a Video Game Art degree and graduating last year! I also love cats and very much plan to get many of my own someday.
2) What is your history with trains? My history with trains is very brief, but I do travel on the rails very often as I commute from my home in Chester to my partner in London a few times a month so I've found that train time is where I can get creative with sketching and watching TV shows, it's become a comfort to me now. I'm looking forward to getting onboard with the world of train and rail, learning more, and channelling the passion you all share!
3) What are you enjoying most so far about life in the Train Sim World community? Everyone in the community is extremely passionate about the game and they all want to help us get Train Sim World to the best place it can, which is why I'm so excited to get more projects and fun events planned to give players new experiences. The community has also been incredibly welcoming!
4) What will your role entail within Dovetail? My role in the Dovetail team is to join in with the community and help the team create exciting new ways for players to play and enjoy the game, giving players that fantastic feeling of having a greater connection to their favourite games. I will also be jumping on live streams and creating more fun patch notes, like these here.
5) Describe yourself in 3 words. Enthusiastic, Compassionate and Dependable. Alex joined us last week for an introduction stream. To find out more about him, give it a watch here (and please excuse JD’s driving…)!
Community improvements
A short update on other areas of improvement we’re currently investigating.
Xbox ‘Jackhammer’ Audio - fixed
We are pleased to say that, as of the update on June 27th 2022, this issue is resolved. Thanks to everyone who helped us reporting the issue and providing us with details – as well as our Xbox beta community, who have helped us with testing this complex fix. As part of this update, Xbox players should be able to upload Railfan Shots to Creators Club liveries again, too.
Crashes on Rush Hour routes (and others)
The current solution for out of memory crashes we’re working on relates to the DLC Manager we mention above. We hope to significantly reduce memory use within Train Sim World 2 (as you will have fewer Add-ons loaded each time you play), meaning a reduction of Out of Memory crashes. In terms of progress since June’s Roadmap, we believe we have a solution – it needs to be comprehensively tested with both our internal teams and beta testers. There is no ETA yet, but work is ongoing.
Save Game/Red Light Issues
Whilst not the same issue, we’re bundling these together at this stage as they’re in similar places in terms of investigation. We are currently working on what a longer-term improvement for the Dispatcher and Save Game functionality would look like, as it is looking like a case-by-case approach isn’t feasible, and, as with the Add-ons Manager, we’d rather work on a solution that will solve the majority of issues at the source.
Roadmap
These are forthcoming add-ons that are being developed by Dovetail Games. Where details are still being finalised for a release we are including the ID code for it when possible. This will give you a good idea of what to expect. To see what these ID codes mean you can refer to this post
German Route
US Route
These are forthcoming add-ons that are being developed by teams outside Dovetail Games. Where details are still being finalised for a release, we are including the ID code for it when possible. This will give you a good idea of what to expect. To see what these ID codes mean you can refer to this post
NEW: [GCC-R7 05] Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 – developed by Rivet Games
[DBB-L5 01] DB BR 420 Electric Multiple Unit (Hauptstrecke München-Augsburg) - Developed by TSG
Core features are larger projects. These may be significant new pieces of functionality or changes that will affect players on one or several different platforms. Often requiring more time in development this list may move more slowly than others.
Add-ons Manager (previously PS5 DLC Limit fix)
Spirit of Steam manual fireman functionality
PlayStation 4 - PlayStation 5 profile transfer
Projects that players will notice but don’t fall into one of the other categories.
Dovetail Live rewards
Rush Hour passenger system for London Commuter
Red Light / Dispatcher improvements across multiple routes (starting with Rush Hour routes and Harlem Line)
Projects that are being tackled by the Preservation Crew. Many of these upgrades will simply be adding the latest game functionality to an older route. The additions or changes in the “upgrade” will include some or all of the following: station departure boards, animated crossings, platform climb-up functionality, improved track rendering, Rush Hour passenger density and appearance, support for RailDriver, contact signaller functionality, minor fixes to scenery, minor fixes to audio, minor fixes to gameplay, minor fixes to menu items, Livery Designer compatibility and Scenario Planner expansion.
This month, we have included a ‘scale’ of the size of the work/features put into the update, but we’ll go into more detail about what will be included in each of these releases in tonight’s stream.
[Tiny] Scottish Commuter
[Small] Hauptstrecke Hamburg-Lübeck, including timetable update
[Medium] Rhein-Ruhr Osten
[Small] 2022 Bakerloo timetable (600+services)
[Small] Long Island Rail Road
[Huge] Peninsula Corridor
[Huge] Oakville Subdivision
[Tiny] LGV Mediterrannée
Items that have been removed from the Roadmap. This is either because they have been completed, their status having changed or the project having been suspended.
Approved licenced brand decals for the Livery Designer [batch 1 released]
Preservation Crew update - [Large] Great Western Express - released
Preservation Crew update - [Medium] Northern Trans-Pennine - released
Preservation Crew update - [Tiny] West Somerset Railway - released
Xbox ‘Jackhammer’ Audio issue - released
Please join us tonight on Twitch or YouTube (Tuesday 5th July), where we’ll discuss the above (and more!) with Matt and JD at 19:00 UTC. If you have any questions, please add them to this thread, where we’ll answer as many as we can in an extended Q&A at the end of the stream.
Rivet Games’ Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 is coming to Train Sim World 2 on July 19 and also includes a modern-day version of the Isle of Wight: Ryde – Shanklin route.
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Due to the unreliability of the ageing Class 483s, an order was placed for five Vivarail D-Trains, rebuilt and modernised vehicles from the District Line D78 Stock Class. Following months of upgrades and testing, the new BR Class 484 entered service in November 2021. These 2-car EMUs retain their Underground soul, but are also kitted out with modern cabs, revised interiors, digital destination displays, and new headlights.
Compared to the previous Class 483s, the new Class 484 trains sit higher above rail level, so throughout most of 2021, work was done to alter the platform heights by using an additional raised platform construction that sits on top of the older platforms. Additional work was also done to reinstate a passing loop at Brading.
The Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 doesn’t require Rivet Games’ Isle of Wight: Ryde – Shanklin as the BR Class 484 comes with its own modern version of the route. This modern-day line for Train Sim World 2 features improved and expanded environmental details along the line like Disabled Access Ramps, Platform end gates, Ryde Pier Clock plus much more. New signalling has been implemented together with a rework of station platforms further enhancing the realism on the route.
If you own the original Isle of Wight route you will also be getting a free update which has various updates and improvements including updated water textures used in Rivet’s West Cornwall route. Both the original Isle of Wight and the new Island Line 2022 are separate routes, one does not overwrite the other.
Join the Railfan TV tonight with their monthly Roadmap stream to discuss the upcoming Island Line 2022: BR Class 484. Watch them tonight at 19:00 UTC on Twitch or YouTube.
Rivet Games’ Island Line 2022: BR Class 484 is coming to Train Sim World 2 on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Epic Games Store, July 19 for £14.99 / €17.99 / $22.99. Pre-order will be going live later on Steam.
Stay up to date with Island Line 2022, Train Sim World 2 and more by following @trainsimworld on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.
Train Sim World 2 - Update Notes - 27th June 2022
Today we’re sharing a long-awaited fix for the Xbox “Jackhammer” audio issue and some additional fixes. For users on Xbox who have been affected we thank you for being extremely patient while we worked to a solution, and we are happy to announce it now functions as originally intended!
In addition to this, we’ve fixed an issue for Railfan shots uploading on Xbox, stutter when using controllers, as well as refuelling on multiple routes and scenarios. We also have further improvements from previous preservation crew updates on West Somerset Railway and Ruhr-Sieg Nord.
Core Improvements
[Xbox] Fixed Xbox ‘Jackhammer’ issue, so audio across all routes should function as originally intended. Xbox players will not need to redownload their Add-ons for this to take effect.
Fixed an issue meaning players couldn't refuel across multiple routes and scenarios.
Fixed an issue preventing upload of Creators Club screenshots for Xbox Series X/S players
Reduced instances of stutter and reduced controller response reported across the Steam build since Spirit of Steam Core update
Ruhr-Sieg Nord
NPCs should now correctly disembark from the train at Letmathe.
Adjusted position of collectible at Finnentrop Station so it can now by collected by player.
West Somerset Railway
[BR Class 52] [Xbox Series X] During Gala Gathering scenario should now be completable after a change to the turntable functionality.
Great Western Express
We’ve sprayed on an extra layer of adhesive to the driver's seat, so the player should no longer be able to stand up once they have sat down during the tutorial.
DB BR 143
Fixed an issue causing the decals to light up incorrectly.
The update will download automatically for owners when it becomes available. Players should allow at least 24 hours after restarting Steam, EPIC Game Store, or their console for the update to appear and before contacting Customer Support.
Train Sim World 2 - Update Notes - 20th June 2022
Today we’re bringing you the next Preservation Crew update to Train Sim World 2, as well as some other goodies.
As well as the ‘Large’ Great Western Express, ‘Medium’ Northern Trans-Pennine, and ‘Small’ West Somerset Railway Preservation Crew releases, we’ve also added our first batch of Livery Designer logo decals, an improvement to derailing (specifically for Spirit of Steam, but also effective across other routes too), and some new vending machines on some stations’ platforms (of which there will be more information soon!)
As this is a large update, we’ve bolded the headline changes for navigational purposes.
Core improvements
Added first batch of Licensed logos to Livery Designer, including...
GWR
Rhätische Bahn
MDV
Great Northern
Avanti West Coast
Thameslink
Gatwick Express
Southern
Union Pacific
West Midlands Railway
VTG
VVO
Improvements to loco physics when coupling
This is primarily to reduce Spirit of Steam derailment issues, which should, with this change, be less punishing - Note: due to this change, a couple of formations on Spirit of Steam are now extending over buffers
Edge Hill Sheds to Edge Hill Yards - 00:45
Edge Hill Sheds to Edge Hill Yards - 01:35
Edge Hill Sheds to Edge Hill Yards - 02:40
Edge Hill Sheds to Edge Hill Yards - 04:55
This is a known issue the team are investigating.
- Removed Classic Controller layout lock on Ruhr-Sieg Nord, Great Western Express, Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr, Northern Trans-Pennine, and East Coastway, allowing greater compatibility with immersion controls
- Added Pringles dynamic advertising and vending machines to stations on Bakerloo Line, Sand Patch Grade, and Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen - in preparation for new competition in association with Pringles and Game Pass (more details to come).
Please note: this will only be visible on PC and Xbox platforms, and not PlayStation
Great Western Express
Art
PIS added to stations
Improvements to sky
Removed floating car stop sign at Slough Station
Improved lighting at Reading and Paddington stations
Moved a speed sign and speed warning sign from behind Overhead gantries on the approach to Southall station, in order to be more visible
Gameplay
Added two PCA cement train services (6M90 and 6M91) to timetable mode, using PCA tanks from Class 31 Add-on
[XBX/PC/PS5] Added additional freight service 6M49 departing Reading at 20:05 for Acton Yard
Amended scoring thresholds for Class 43/66/166 introductions so they are based purely off timetable tasks
For all scenarios, increased acceptable stopping distance from 1m to 5m for all tasks
For all scenarios, set all load tasks to automatically choose the door side at all stations
For ‘Drag Line’ Scenario:
Grounded all floating ‘walk to...’ markers at Reading station
Increased stopping zones to be less punishing
Removed requirement to wait until 10:15 to complete the arrival at Old Oak Common before entering the yard
Removed requirement to hold brakes for 5 seconds to complete the Brake Release objective before departing Kennet Bridge Loop outside Reading Station
For ‘West World’ Scenario:
Fixed AI trains appearing to run backwards
Adjusted arrival time at Reading to allow more realistic completion
Moved player start from facing a roof support on a bridge to a better position
Down the Line’ scenario should now be completable after fixing a red light bug for the 09:46 service to Slough
Medals should now be more achievable for the route
Increased stopping accuracy requirement of player tasks in timetable mode and introductions to Class 43/66/166 from 5m either side to 10m either side
Fixed inability to complete ‘Christmas Closure’, if a player exits the locomotive cab at the end before closing the doors
Changed Hayes and Harlington Platform 5 marker and stopping point, so trains pull up at the end of the platform
Added stop marker to the buffers at Slough’s Platform 6, to encourage trains to stop there, rather than halfway along the platform
Dropped marker height for ‘Station Stopping’ tutorial to prevent it from floating
Added platform climb-up implementation for all platforms
Fixed issue whereby AI trains appeared to run backwards
Amended end-markers for Reading platforms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, to allow AI trains stopping at these platforms to pull right up to the bumpers
Removed ability for players to not be able to complete the Station Stopping tutorial after not following instructions
Rolling Stock
Replaced generic shipping container train with randomly mixable container brainds and officially licensed brands
[Coaches] – changed interior lighting to improve window reflection visibility
[Class 52] – Fixed an issue whereby the loco overheated and shut down
[Class 66] – Added RailDriver functionality
[HST] – Added RailDriver compatibility
[HST] – Added Contact Signaller functionality
[HST] - changed lighting on windows to improve window reflection visibility
[Class 166] – Improved physics of loco based on player feedback
[Class 166] - Doors should now make correct noises when opening and closing
[Class 166] - External train noises should now be audible when opening passenger doors
[Class 166] – Made cab PIS screen readable, and added Camera View for PIS in the cab
[Class 166] - changed lighting on windows to improve window reflection visibility
[Class 166] – replaced seats, and made it so passengers can’t clip through the back of seats
[Class 166] – Improved light reflection on cab windows
[Class 166] - Added animation for Dead Man’s Pedal
[Class 166] - Changed rain animation on windscreen to ensure that water trails are moving in the correct direction in relation to wipers
[Class 166] - inverted horn controls
[Class 166] - changed footsteps audio inside cab to be more realistic
[Class 166] - fixed cab doors operating the wrong side doors
[Class 166] – Fixed issue whereby train was stuck in traction lock
[Class 166] – Fixed issue whereby passenger doors could be open when train was in motion
Passengers
Added Rush Hour Passengers
Miscellaneous
[Diesel Legends] Added Chinese translationsNorthern Trans-Pennine
Northern Trans-Pennine
Art
PIS added to stations
Improvements to sky
Improved track rendering
Improved lighting at Ashton, Stalybridge, Standedge, Mossley and Batley-Morley Tunnels
Improved lighting and shadows at Leeds, Huddersfield (and tunnel), and Manchester stations
Gameplay
Reduced medal threshold for Gold on ‘Rescue Run’ scenario to 4,500
Added in working level crossings
Changed ‘lightly raining’ to ‘full raining’ weather in ‘Down and Out’, and ‘Driving Rain’ scenarios
During the Class 45 and Class 47 introduction, moved stopping point at Manchester back from the signal to reduce the chance of SPADing if player overshoots
Added platform climbing functionality at all stations
Fixed return to First Person View not triggering
Rolling Stock
[Coaches] – changed interior lighting to improve window reflection visibility
[Class 47] Added Livery Designer functionality (please search 'NTP Class 47' in Livery Designer)
Added a longer starting marker at Leeds station to cater for freight trains
Added Livery Designer compatibility back to NTP Mk1 and Mk2 coaches
West Somerset Railway
Added Rush Hour passenger behaviours
Added Mastery decals
Level crossings flipped to open the correct direction
Fix issue for Class 47 where it was possible to be operated from the platform through closed window of the loco
Moved static Class 52 from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard as it was too large on Minehead Turntable – replaced with Class 33 (currently at Bishop Lydeard)
Changed static 12t vans to allow them to be shunted on the route
Fixed objective to ‘set brakes to running’ getting stuck in the Class 09 and Class 47 tutorials
DB BR 182
Passenger doors can be opened
AI lights now are now functioning as intended
The update will download automatically for owners when it becomes available. Players should allow at least 24 hours after restarting Steam, EPIC Game Store, or their console for the update to appear and before contacting Customer Support.
Train Sim World 2 - Spirit Of Steam Out Now!
Giant plumes of smoke, the clanking of moving pistons, and the blast of a whistle can mean only one thing. Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street- Crewe has arrived for Train Sim World 2!
Arriving at your nearest platform is Spirit of Steam, transporting you back in time into the hustle and bustle of 1950’s Northeast England. So, climb aboard the footplate of a steam locomotive for the first time in Train Sim World 2, raise some steam, and feel the power of these incredible machines in your hands.
The majesty of a steam locomotive has captured the imagination of people of all ages for hundreds of years, many dream of getting to grips with the controls and becoming a train driver, Spirit of Steam allows you to realise that dream from the comfort of your own living room. Lovingly recreated to immerse you in the amazing experience of driving some of the most well-known locomotives to be used across the British Railways network.
Depending on your preference of freight or passenger services there are two icon locomotives for you to master that excel at these tasks. The famous LMS Jubilee Class locomotive, resplendent in nostalgic BR Brunswick Green livery, adorned with BR’s late crest it will be at the head of both express and local services, giving you the chance to really open it up across the Cheshire countryside and explore each of the 15 stations along the route.
Players with a preference for freight will not be disappointed. Though they appear similar to the jubilee when you are standing in the cab, the LMS Stanier 8F Class locomotive couldn’t be more different to drive, featured in its rugged BR Late Black guise this hard-working 2-8-0 loco is better suited to hauling lower speed, heavy freight trains. You will be able to enjoy everything from shunting duties to long mixed freight.
Explore the 36-mile (58 km) route between Liverpool Lime Street and Crewe stations as they were in 1958, the twilight years of steam traction in the UK. Experience a snapshot of history as each station, signal box, yard, engine shed, and more have been carefully recreated to simulate that era. You will notice key details such as new era-appropriate passenger clothing, road vehicles from the 1950s, and historic signage.
With 135 services, a 24-hour timetable, and 5 premade scenarios there are plenty of ways to explore this amazing route. Each loco drives differently, offering you unique experiences each time you play, and several sections of the route present an interesting challenge to master, so we recommend you get as much practice as you can to stay on time. Additionally, we have included an accessible training module to get you started in learning to drive steam locomotives, and if you would like a recap, or you would like some additional tips, check out our driver training video here.
Adding the Jubilee and 8f to your collection also gives you the opportunity to simulate one of the many Railtours that travel the UK throughout the year. Using the “Off the rails” features you have the freedom to add a historic train to the route of your choice, as you can see from the image below we have added it to Southeastern Highspeed and enjoyed the route in a totally new way.
Spirit of Steam also features full compatibility of the scenario planner and Livery Designer, so you can craft and personalise scenarios and liveries freely. With the plethora of Wagons at your disposal, we are sure you’ll come up with so fantastic designs, if you want a bit more help on using the designer or some ideas on how to create privately owned wagon liveries check out Cats RTFV broadcast here.
To celebrate the launch of Spirit of Steam coinciding with The Queens Jubilee celebrations we thought it only fitting to include a unique Jubilee design in Creators Club, its striking colour will be familiar to many Railfans. You can also enjoy the jubilee logo as an individual decal in Livery Designer, meaning you can create your own jubilee-themed liveries.
Join us, Tuesday, May 31st at 19:00 UTC, on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook. RFTV’s Matt, and JD as they celebrate the arrival of Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street to Crewe in Train Sim World 2.
Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street to Crewe is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam!
Images displayed in this article may depict content that is still in development. The licensed brands may not have been approved by their respective owner and some artwork may still be pending approval.
Midweek Madness - now live!
Steam Midweek Madness sale is now live on Steam from May 23rd – May 26th and features lots of Train Sim World add-ons available with great discounts!
As well as the great add-ons featured in the Midweek Madness trailer, we also have plenty of other routes and locos for you to add to your collection. Take a look at some of the highlights below:
East Coastway: Brighton - Eastbourne & Seaford – 60%
Clinchfield Railroad: Elkhorn – Dante – 60%
West Cornwall Local: Penzance - St Austell & St Ives – 50%
The Railfan TV team will be live each day of the Midweek Madness Sale starting at 18:00 BST every day on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and Steam! Joins us with a preview of the upcoming Spirit of Steam and exclusive videos from The British Ace, MEGASIM, Drawyah, and more. See the full 3-day schedule below:
Set in the bustling and industrious Northwest of England during the 1950s, Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street - Crewe is home to plenty of interesting and varied rolling stock. We take a look at the what you will encounter as you explore this historic route.
Transporting you into a different era of railway history, Setting the scene, and creating a true-to-life experience often relies on the route's key locations, stations, and landmarks to immerse you in that snapshot of history. With Spirit of Steam an additional dimension was required to achieve this level of immersion.
Due to the route's proximity to the busy docks and heavy industry of the Northwest, and connecting to West Coast Mainline, freight services are a regular sight throughout the day, so an eclectic mix of era-appropriate freight stock was required. Of course, Liverpool being one of England’s most populous and thriving cities, both express and local passenger services terminate here. Let's take a closer look at the passenger and freight rolling stock that you will spot as you explore.
Freight Stock
Working hard and heading out across the open countryside, Stanier BR 8f number 48139 hauls a mixed freight service comprising of weathered Standard Vans, and laden 5 plank wagons. Stacked full of heavy cut timber it is no wonder the 8f is having to work hard to get across this embankment.
The multipurpose 5 plank wagon will be a common sight and a regular part of your timetabled freight services. This jack-of-all-trades wagon was used up and down the length and breadth of the United Kingdom so it was integral that we included it with the route. By including the empty, laden (with wood), and tarp-covered variants we have highlighted some of the unique loads you would have seen during that era and added some interesting variety to your freight trains.
Steaming into the station and passing a departing Stanier Jubilee class Locomotive, Stanier BR 8F number 48159 introduces us to the other featured freight stock on Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe. The Leading wagons of this freight train are a line of laden Conflats, synonymous with this era of railway history this iconic wagon features in BR Brown livery. Trailing behind these are several empty 16-ton Mineral wagons. The many coal-burning industries of this area require constant fuel, you will see innumerable chimneys belching smoke into the sky as you traverse the route. A Combination of this, and the endless stream of locomotives stored or travelling through the area, Mineral wagons are a vital part of keeping this industrial machine going.
The BR Conflats provided the country with easy access to goods and furniture. We have included several versions of this simple but effective wagon. In addition to empty Conflats, Container Type A and Type B both feature, and as you can see from the two images above we have modelled the Type A in its single and double load configuration. In much the same way as they were in real life these wagons also feature train brakes in order to protect their more delicate loads.
20-Ton Brake Van
Huddled in their van away from the grim Winter weather, this Guard capitalises on the warmth of the inbuilt furnace that this 20-ton Brake Van offers. Going that extra mile to add to the immersion of this route, we have Included the ability to light the furnace and various other subtle Brake van features, so make yourself comfortable and enjoy the ride from a different vantage point, or jump out and see the smoke gently drifting out of the Brake vans chimney.
British Railway constructed over 5000 Brake vans of different guises and inherited a plethora of uniquely designed Vans from the Big four and even the pre-grouping eras, so these were a very common sight across the country. A vital part of railway safety and logistics of that time, Brake vans sat on the back of nearly every freight train that travelled across the network, providing essential security for the driver and other line users.
Passenger Stock
Giving their passengers one of the most cinematic views of the entire route, the crew of BR Jubilee class Stanier locomotive “Swaziland” pass Stanier BR 8F number 48123 on their way to their next destination, Runcorn Station. Pulling a short rake of BR MK1 coaches this crew has most likely been assigned local service duties for that day.
The workhorses of British Railways passenger stock, the MK1 was made in coach works across the country and seen in a variety of liveries depending on the region. In the Northwest of England, both the Maroon, and Blood and Custard variants were commonplace. Although many rakes would comprise of the same-coloured coaches offering an impressive photo opportunity for trainspotters, a mix of each was quite common.
First introduced with the West Somerset Railway Add-On, the Spirit of Steam Mk1s have had some tweaks, The most apparent external differences are the replacement of the commonwealth bogies with the earlier BR1 bogie design, featuring large leaf springs rather than the coil suspension. The coaches lack the extruded window frames of more modern examples, and have no air brake equipment as this came later. Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe features FK, TSO, BSO, and BG MK1’s in Maroon livery, and FK, TSO, and BG in Blood and Custard livery.
Train Sim World 2 gives you the freedom to leave the cab and ride as a passenger, Spirit of Steam is no different. These highly detailed coaches have been meticulously recreated, down to the correct fabric pattern on the upholstery and revised signage to match the era. Many railway enthusiasts of Britain are familiar with this view, as numerous coaches have survived into preservation. Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe gives you the opportunity to take a seat and enjoy a view you are sadly unable to experience in real life anymore. Alternatively, you may be familiar with this view from your childhood, so step back into the 1950s, gaze out the window, and reminisce about the age of steam gone by!
Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe arrives on Train Sim World 2 on May 31st
Join us, Thursday, May 19th at 19:00 UTC, on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook. RFTV’s Matt, Jamie, and JD will be taking the Jubilee for a spin as we show you the Liverpool Lime Street - Crewe route for the first time.
Spirit Of Steam Arriving Soon!
The raw power of some of British Railway's most iconic locomotives is in your hands, you will experience the soot, sounds, and joy of the romantic steam era. Stepping back into the 1950s, you are transported into the industrial Northwest of England with Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe, coming to Train Sim World 2 on May 31st!
Working hard on busy passenger and freight services through historic Merseyside and Cheshire you can look forward to an entirely new simulation experience. With the introduction of Steam locomotives to Train Sim World 2, this will be like nothing you have driven before. Master the art of steam simulation, the firebox, and the boiler, creating the ultimate balancing act to keep these machines alive and powerful. Learn the finesse and rhythm of each locomotive to determine your speed and keep to the timetable, with no modern comforts to rely on, the only safety system is your wit!
Immersed in the middle of the British Railways steam era, you will take control of the famous LMS Jubilee Class locomotive, resplendent in nostalgic BR Brunswick Green livery, and adorned with BR’s late crest. Carrying passengers on a journey of a lifetime along the West Coast Main Line, over the Runcorn Railway Bridge, and right into the heart of Merseyside with this beautiful express 4-6-0.
If reliving the hustle and bustle of the Northwest's busy industry is more to your taste, the hard-working LMS Stanier 8F Class locomotive is at your disposal. Its rugged and weathered BR Late Black guise and 2-8-0 wheel configuration are better suited to hauling the lower speed, heavy freight trains you will be hauling. Get out your spotters book, there are plenty of locomotive names and numbers for you to spot.
Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe arrives on Train Sim World 2 on May 31st for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Epic Games Store, and Steam!
Over the coming weeks, we will continue to reveal more of the exciting upcoming content for Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street – Crewe. Follow @trainsimworld on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.
