OMSI 2 out of the city: Why Hohenkirchen is exactly the right map for interurban fans!

Anyone who likes driving interurban in OMSI 2 sooner or later ends up with maps that offer more than just an inner city with short runs. Hohenkirchen belongs exactly in this category. The add-on is not set in a real city, but in a fictional region in southern Thuringia. The focus is clearly on regional bus transport: two larger towns, several villages, railway stations, country roads, gradients, and individual tourist destinations.

At the center of the map are the two main towns of Hohenkirchen and Herrenhof. The most important connection between them is a main line around 50 minutes long. So you are not just driving a few stops in a circle, but connecting two places with different sections: inner city, drives through towns, country road, and rural areas. Parallel to this main line, there is also an express bus line that largely uses the same corridor, but travels faster.

In addition, there is a roughly 25-minute line to a winter sports center. This route overcomes more than 220 meters of elevation. After that, there is also a shuttle bus to Schloss Luisenthal, which is integrated into the map as a tourist destination.

But Hohenkirchen does not stop at these larger lines. Two additional lines connect villages, smaller destinations, and railway stations in the surrounding area. Exactly because of that, the network feels more like regional public transport and not like a single showcase route.

Within the district town of Hohenkirchen, two city bus lines also operate. That is a sensible counterpart to the interurban traffic. If you do not always want to drive a 50-minute route, you also get shorter, more urban runs. The map therefore covers several types of bus operation: long regional drives, express service, short city lines, school buses, short runs, and depot journeys.

In terms of vehicles, the add-on includes an Iveco Urbanway 18 articulated bus and a MAN A20 solo bus. Both vehicles are adapted to the map and have a new ticket printer system as well as IBIS Plus based on the Trapeze IPT. The articulated bus fits stronger runs more, the solo bus fits smaller lines or less heavily demanded trips. Professionally voiced announcements and contemporary AI vehicles are also included.

Bottom line: Hohenkirchen does not recreate a real Thuringian city, but a fictional region with a clearly recognizable southern Thuringian interurban character. The map delivers eight lines, two main towns, city and regional traffic, a long main line, an express connection, a mountain route to the winter sports center, a shuttle to Schloss Luisenthal, school buses, short runs, two depots, and two matching buses.

Exactly because of that, Hohenkirchen is interesting for OMSI players who do not only want to drive inner-city traffic. The map focuses on distance, timetable, and regional connections.

Do you prefer driving such longer interurban lines in OMSI 2 – or do you prefer short city bus runs? Have you already played Hohenkirchen? Which OMSI interurban map do you also recommend?