Update 26.2.0 for CTS 2026 arrives today: Express lines, skipping stops and finally staying seated!

Today, over the course of the day, Update 26.2.0 for City Transport Simulator 2026 will be released. The new version is launching simultaneously for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S and implements several features that have already been on the roadmap for months.

One of the most important changes directly affects daily line operations. Bus lines can now be created as express lines. You decide which stops are served and which are skipped. This makes it possible, for example, to establish faster connections between important hubs without having to stop at every single station along the way.

A second change is likely to be even more immediately noticeable: Buses and trams no longer have to stop automatically at every stop. If nobody is waiting there and no passenger wants to get off, the vehicle can simply continue driving. Particularly on less heavily used sections, unnecessary braking and stopping are eliminated.

The already existing passenger mode is also being expanded today. We have been able to board and ride along in AI-controlled buses and trams during free exploration for some time. Until now, however, one fairly obvious step was missing: Sitting down was not possible. With Update 26.2.0, we can now take a seat and actually follow the journey from a passenger’s perspective.

This particular feature is one of those that had already been announced for the third quarter. Together with express lines and skipping unnecessary stops, several major points from the previous roadmap are now being implemented at once. Ring lines and weather selection via the pause menu had already been added previously.

On PC, the announcement system is also being significantly expanded. Custom audio files can replace existing announcements. To do this, they must be stored in the corresponding CTS directory under

%localappdata%\Documents\ViewApp\CityTransportSim\Announcements\Tramau\Sandbox

.

Even more interesting for drivers who want to operate as much as possible directly from the cockpit: Special announcements can now be triggered manually via supported IBIS devices. On the Vienna IBIS, this works via button 3; on the Munich device, via “Special announcement”; and on the Frankfurt IBIS or bus ticket printer, via the speaker icon. The Mannheim IBIS does not currently support this function. Custom special announcements can also be stored on PC.

The audio of several vehicles is also being revised in 26.2.0. The sounds of E1, Tatra, ULF A1/B1, Flexity Wien, GT6/GT8, R2.2b and Tramlink have been reworked. This includes, among other things, engines, doors, pantographs, brakes and curve sounds, as well as the spatial reproduction of the sounds.

Driving behavior is also being adjusted. Revised static friction is intended to ensure that wheels lock less quickly during heavy braking.

It is not only the vehicles that are changing. Passengers and pedestrians are also receiving a major overhaul. Their distribution and grouping should appear more natural, spawn and movement behavior have been adjusted, and differences in elevation and obstacles should be recognized more effectively. At the same time, bugs were fixed that caused people to be positioned incorrectly, float, or have problems sitting down. Pedestrian density will in future be based more strongly on the respective surroundings.

This is joined by new male and female passenger voices, which should reduce the previous audio repetition in the passenger compartment.

On PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, ViewApp is continuing to work in parallel on performance and stability. Among other things, the area around Toriyama Allee was optimized in Update 26.2.0. Further improvements for the console versions are still in progress.

Anyone who does not yet own City Transport Simulator 2026 on PC can purchase the game directly from the official CTS Shop. With our exclusive discount code SIMULATORENNEWS, you will receive an additional 5 percent discount there. Anyone also planning to get the upcoming expansions can find the CTS 2026 Season Pass directly in the official shop.

You can also find the complete changelog for Update 26.2.0 on the official City Transport Simulator Discord.

Now it is your turn: What works well, where might there still be problems—and which of the new features did you try first? Feel free to write your experiences directly in the comments!