Train Sim World 4 – Virtual Vectron, German Content & Creative Tools!
Train Sim World® 3: Thameslink BR Class 700/0 EMU Add-On · published
Train Sim World 4 is coming September 26th and with it some major improvements to popular creative tools as well a whole new way to express your artistic skills... Photo Mode!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2362300/Train_Sim_World_4/
In Deluxe Edition, German railfans will also get to try out the high-tech Vectron locomotive and see our previous Dresden – Riesa route in a whole new light (literally!).
New Locomotive: Railpool BR 193 Vectron
(Deluxe / Special Edition only)
We start with a look at a brand-new locomotive in Train Sim World 4: the Railpool BR 193 Vectron. Coming to the Deluxe/Special edition of TSW4, this latest addition to the fleet is one of the most high-tech, modern locomotives ever to feature in our games.
The first Vectron series locomotive was presented at the Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre in Germany back in 2010. Those familiar with our Training Center from Train Sim World 3 (also a key feature of Train Sim World 4) will know that the layout is inspired by the same test track.
Following testing, running and certification over Europe took place for Romania, Poland, Germany, Hungary, The Netherlands, Austria, Turkey and even a trip through the Channel Tunnel in 2013. In total, variants of the Vectron series are certified to run in 20 different European nations.
Railpool’s variant of the Vectron utilises 15 kV 16.7 Hz AC power for cross-border services in Germany and Austria. In Train Sim World 4, this is represented by freight services on Vorarlberg Line where trains cross the border just short of Lindau. Further services have been implemented into the new Dresden – Riesa timetable and both routes will utilise the new EANOS Wagons.
Operating the Vectron requires using the myriad of screens and digital switches inside the complex, modern cab. Headlights, AFB, power limiting and much more can be changed or viewed across the four screens and for flexibility the speed dials can be moved from one screen to another using the many interactable buttons and options.
Updated: Nahverkehr Dresden – Riesa
Available for free to players who already own the route when purchasing any version of Train Sim World 4. Otherwise, available in both Deluxe & Special Editions.
Hosting Railpool’s Vectron and receiving the TSW4 treatment is the popular Nahverkehr Dresden – Riesa route Add-on. This comes complete with Vectron’s new timetabled services, volumetric skies, TOD4 lighting and the full set of Train Sim World 4 features. The Meißen branch, which was originally added in the TSW2 Rush Hour update, is also included.
This route, dating back to the 1830s, was one of Germany’s first long-distance railways. Today the line’s importance keeps it busy with both passenger and freight traffic. Fast services beat the regional traffic through the use of separate lines that each take a different path through the Saxony countryside, and the outskirts of Dresden are served by frequent commuter services.
A healthy selection of rolling stock comes with the route serving a mix of S-Bahn, regional, inter-city and freight traffic:
- DB BR 442
- DB BR 143
- DB BR 146.2
- DB BR 363 ‘V 60’ Shunter
- MRCE BR 185.5
Numerous service layers from other Train Sim World Compatible routes are also available for players that own them, including the BR 406 ICE 3M and DB BR 101. A full list of services and layers can be found in our Nahverkehr Dresden – Riesa Gameplay Guide
You can view a preview of the upgraded Dresden – Riesa route tonight with the Railfan TV team from 1800 UTC on Twitch and YouTube.
Niddertalbahn Bonus Content
In case you missed our mammoth Roadmap on announce, there’s a little bonus for players of our Train Sim World Compatible route Niddertalbahn. The team at TSG have added a variant of the DB BR 628.2 DMU in a contemporary red DB livery, so that this fun and popular unit can be utilised more prototypically in Scenario Planner and Free Roam on modern German routes and Austria’s Vorarlberg Line.
Service layers featuring this version of the 628.2 will also undoubtedly appear over time and some AI traffic is already implemented into Vorarlberg at Lindau Hbf.
Players with the Niddertalbahn route Add-on will receive this update for free with the purchase of any edition of Train Sim World 4.
New and Improved Creative Tools!
Photo Mode
Photo taken in-game by tester Maik Goltz
Along with Free Roam and the Steam / Epic exclusive PC Editor (beta) feature, Photo Mode is one of the biggest new tools to arrive in Train Sim World 4. This feature has the ability to take screenshot competitions to a whole new level, with many more options and room for creativity as players manoeuvre the camera and tweak the various settings available. Those with a keen eye can afford to be more serendipitous too, taking shots as the moment takes them, without necessarily having to pre-plan and arrange locomotives in certain places to get the ideal positioning and lighting.
Regular readers will have seen us using Photo Mode shots to depict both new and existing Train Sim World routes, including the forthcoming Blackpool-Preston-Ormskirk Add-on from Just Trains.
The host of settings available include:
- Camera Settings (Depth of Field, Focal Point, Rotation, Field of View)
- And Colour Settings (Exposure, Saturation, Vignette, Brightness)
From the main menu, photographers will be able to admire their own captures from the Photo Gallery and see key information such as when and where they were captured or upload them to Dovetail Live.
Livery Designer & Scenario Planner 2.0
Improvements and additions to the options available in Livery Designer and Scenario Planner also come with Train Sim World 4, furthering the creativity that new and experienced players can express and share with the thriving Train Sim World community.
Livery Designer’s updates include ways to make creating fabulous liveries easier. Text placement (rather than individual letter placement), Undo / Redo and an increase to up to 1000 layers per livery allow for much more flexibility in your creative muscles. All of this is packaged into an easier-to-use UI.
Once your masterpiece is complete, using and sharing it is also easier, with the ability to toggle custom liveries for AI trains and further improvements made to Dovetail Live.
You can see Livery Designer 2.0 in action during this week’s live stream with Cat and Alex as they add a touch of purple power to Metrolink’s F125 locomotive.
Due to last minute adjustments to the stream plan, we were not able to showcase Scenario Planner 2.0 and that has been moved to the Free Roam preview next week, Monday 18th September. The stream does still preview the changes to Livery Designer, a more in-depth look at Photo Mode, the Online Sharing Hub and also a sneak peak at the Azuma with a quick clip of the horn!
Scenario Planner 2.0 also brings with it features to allow for more flexibility when creating your own sequence of playable and AI services. Custom Start Times enable trains to move off independently of one another, Weather Selection is now an option from within the Scenario Planner menu and when sharing a Scenario with the community, custom Introductory Text can be displayed to put your creations into context for others.
You can see these improvements in action during our Free Roam / Scenario Planner dedicated live stream next Monday 18th September from 1800 UTC on Twitch and YouTube.
If you have any questions about any of the new content and features in Train Sim World 4, head over to the Train Sim World 4 FAQs, where we can provide the answers you seek.
Pre-Order now for Early Access and Discount!
It can be pre-ordered digitally from today on Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation® Store, and Microsoft Store:
Standard Edition (£39.99/€44.99/$49.99)
Comes with Training Center, S-Bahn Vorarlberg, Antelope Valley Line and East Coast Main Line.
Deluxe Edition (£52.99/€64.99/$69.99)
Special Edition (£89.99/€104.99/$109.99)
