Train Sim World 7 suddenly makes old DLCs more important again: Three German routes merge into one network!

Nürnberg–Würzburg brings more than just over 100 new route kilometers to Train Sim World 7. For players who already own other German DLCs, something else could prove even more important in the long term: Dovetail is connecting the new route at both ends with existing routes. This turns three previously separate purchases into a significantly larger German route network.

At Nürnberg Central Station, Route Hopping allows players to switch from the new Nürnberg–Würzburg railway route to the existing Nürnberg–Ingolstadt high-speed route. At the other end, the connection to the Kassel–Würzburg high-speed route awaits in Würzburg. Dovetail therefore explicitly describes Nürnberg–Würzburg not merely as another German route, but as a connection within a larger Train Sim World network.

For long-time players in particular, this changes the significance of older DLCs. Nürnberg–Ingolstadt or Kassel–Würzburg will no longer stand quite so isolated in the collection as they did before. Those who already own both routes and add Nürnberg–Würzburg will soon be able to mentally travel through an ever-growing German TSW area from Kassel via Würzburg and Nürnberg to Ingolstadt.[

It is important to note: The three DLCs do not become a single, several-hundred-kilometer-long continuous route with one continuous timetable. Route Hopping connects the individual contents and allows players to switch to the respective adjacent route at suitable stations. Nevertheless, this is a significant difference from the previous structure, in which many Train Sim World routes largely stood on their own.

And it is not only the map that is becoming connected. The existing vehicle collection also gains importance on Nürnberg–Würzburg. The new route regularly includes, among others, the BR 440, BR 442, ICE 1 and BR 193 Vectron. Owners of compatible DLCs can also bring in additional vehicles: Dovetail confirms services with the ICE 3 from Nürnberg–Ingolstadt, the ICE-T from Frankfurt–Fulda and the new ICE 4.

With the ICE 4 in particular, the link goes even one step further. Those who own the Nürnberg–Ingolstadt high-speed route will receive an additional timetable for the new train there with Train Sim World 7. The ICE 4 is therefore not limited to its new Nürnberg–Würzburg route, but also enhances an existing German route DLC at the same time.

This could result in an interesting long-term development for Train Sim World. New routes would no longer have to be judged solely by how many kilometers, stations or new vehicles they bring on their own. A route can also become valuable because it closes a gap between existing DLCs.

Nürnberg–Würzburg is a fairly good example of this. The route itself covers more than 100 kilometers and 19 stations and connects regional, S-Bahn, long-distance and freight traffic. At the same time, it links up with two existing German routes.

This suddenly raises a completely different question for future German TSW DLCs: Not only “Which route do we want next?”, but also “Which route would connect two existing areas?”

And for owners of a larger collection, that could be more exciting than the next completely isolated corridor.

How important is a connected German network in Train Sim World to you? Should Dovetail choose new routes in the future specifically based on which gaps they close between existing DLCs? And which connection would you add next?