As part of our latest update to the Chatham Main Line: London Victoria & Blackfriars - Dover & Ramsgate route, we added a little bonus for you to enjoy - the East Kent Railway!

See the latest patch notes here

Situated just to the East of Shepherdswell station lies the preserved East Kent Railway, this short heritage line stretches for a little over 2 miles and is all that remains of Colonel Stephens’ efforts to serve Kent’s Coalfields. Stephens’ specialty was to build cheap but effective rural light railways, and in his career would be involved in the engineering, building and managing of no less than 16 light railways in England & Wales.
Following the discovery of the Kent Coalfields before the First World War, during early efforts to dig a channel tunnel, plans were quickly drawn up to set up collieries and serve them by rail. The theory was flawless, it would bring great industry and business to otherwise lightly populated areas – the village of Aylesham, the station of which is situated on the Chatham Main Line, is just one example of the anticipated change as it was built in 1926 to house the miners expected to be living in the area.
The plan however did not go as expected, the vast network never materialised, and many of the collieries didn’t make it into production. Instead, what was built was a single line which branched off the Chatham Main Line at Shepherdswell and weaved its way to Richborough Port near Ramsgate. Coal traffic would traverse the line through the early 20th Century, alongside local passenger trains serving the nearby villages. Economics eventually got the best of the line, and it eventually closed for commercial operations.
With the valiant efforts of enthusiasts though, the line’s history was able to continue, a short section was restored and re-opened as a heritage railway. From Shepherdswell to the next station along the line, Eythorne, trains shuttle along this little stretch of line that recalls the history of Kentish light rail travel. Today the line is home to a wide variety of rolling stock, from small steam locomotives and diesel shunters right up to multiple units, including two Class 142s and one day, even a Class 365 will call the EKR home.
Alongside the latest update to the Chatham Main Line route, and thanks to Danny, our Senior Artist for Train Simulator, the East Kent Railway has been added as a free bonus onto the route, so hop off the train at Shepherdswell and explore what the East Kent Railway has to offer!



After alighting a Southeastern service at Shepherdswell (above) signs are immediately pointing one in the direction of the East Kent Railway; it’s only a couple of minutes' walk and before you know it, you’re transported back in time, and just in time too! Looks like a service is preparing for departure (below). Please note that all trains and rolling stock are available separately.





Immediately following departure, we crawl past the siding where the EKR stores most of its rolling stock, including the Class 142 Pacer, their most recent arrival (above). Meanwhile, a sign of things to come it seems, as it’s been said that a Class 365 will soon be sent to the EKR for preservation as a static display and will become a restaurant, exhibition area, and a major events venue. (below).





Only the best heritage railways feature a level crossing, always a fantastic place to watch an old steam locomotive roll by. Seeing it haul Mk2 coaches and part of a 4-VEP is unconventional, but very East Kent!



A short while later and the train arrives at Eythorne (above). Because there are no facilities to run locomotives around here, loco-hauled services must be top & tailed, and today a Class 08 is going to be taking us back towards Shepherdswell (below).





It’s a tough start for the 08 as it commences the steep climb back towards Shepherdswell. Despite the short line and inability to support large locomotives, the EKR’s unique topography and construction makes it nonetheless captivating.



At the midpoint of the journey is Golgotha Tunnel. At 436m long it is the 8th longest tunnel on a British heritage railway and follows the design principles of Colonel Stephens; a twin-track bore but with only a single track in the tunnel itself. This measure helped on saving costs in the long run.



And so concludes one of many return trips that can be enjoyed on the East Kent Railway, with a varied roster of steam, diesel and electric stock from Train Simulator’s extensive library, there is no end to what this little line can offer.



We return to the main line with the hopes of visiting the East Kent Railway again soon, it’s time to go back towards Medway and change for a Thameslink service into the capital. With the Chatham Main Line, the Thameslink BR Class 700 and new bonus East Kent Railway, tell your own Kentish rail stories in Train Simulator!

Take to the rails of the complete North Wales Coast Line, from historic Crewe to the picturesque Isle of Anglesey, aboard iconic Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast traction with Train Simulator’s North Wales Coastal.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1804511/Train_Simulator_North_Wales_Coast_Line_Crewe__Holyhead_Route_AddOn/

Explore the seaside today with North Wales Coastal: Crewe – Holyhead, featuring the Avanti West Coast Class 221 “Super Voyager”, and Transport for Wales BR Class 158 “Sprinter” and BR Class 175 “Coradia” DMUs.

Please note: if you own the original version of North Wales Coastal: Crewe - Holyhead, then you do not need to purchase this Avanti & TfW-branded add-on, it will already be in your library.

The Festival of Rail is now live on the Steam Store. Throughout the weekend (20-24 January) you can look forward to huge discounts on Train Simulator and Train Sim World 2 as well as streams from our very own Railfan TV team, reward giveaways for those watching the broadcast and some exclusive videos.

Join us from 20th-23rd January as we celebrate with our yearly Festival of Rail on Steam; featuring daily streams, community features and more!

The annual Festival of Rail begins Thursday 20th January on Steam, and as part of this our Railfan TV team will be broadcasting each evening from 7 PM UTC.

You can look forward to a developer update for Spirit of Steam (including the announcement of Train Sim World 2's first Steam route!) and a first look at the upcoming Creators Club for Train Sim World 2. Join us as we explore the scenic Welsh coastline in North Wales Coast Line: Crewe - Holyhead coming soon for Train Simulator 2022 and see exclusive videos from The British Ace, LauraKBuzz, Rob Jansen and more! See the full schedule below...











Festival of Rail will be live Thursday 20th January 7 PM UTC. Be Sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get regular updates on what's going on throughout the festival!

The scenic North Wales Coast Line: Crewe - Holyhead is returning to Train Simulator on January 20th, with Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales!



Let’s recap the history of this famed line…

Ever since the Act of Union in 1801, which saw Ireland become part of the United Kingdom, people have strived to improve the connection between the two isles. The 19th Century was still young, and all communication was bound by horse-drawn transport and sailing ships of the day. Ships for Dublin would arrive at Dun Laoghaire (formerly known as Kingstown), and frequently departed Holyhead, Wales – this was the shortest trip for boats to take.

As years went by, many improvements were made to existing roads in order to make the journey to Holyhead that much easier; however, nothing would revolutionise Welsh/Irish connections like the arrival of railways in the 1840s.



Two railway companies would form the basis of what is today the North Wales Coast Line. The first was the Chester and Crewe Railway, which linked the two communities in 1840, and only a few years later, the Chester and Holyhead Railway was incorporated. The latter’s route was proposed by the Father of Railways himself, George Stephenson, knowing full well that the coastal route along the Irish Sea would be best for hauling mail traffic to and from Ireland.

The full line was completed not long after and was ready to transform communications across seas by August 1848. Irish Mail would regularly work from London to Crewe, along the path of the West Coast Main Line, before continuing onwards to Holyhead and finally Ireland. By this point, the original Chester and Crewe Railway had already been absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway, and the Chester and Holyhead Railway followed suit in 1859 when it became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR).



The LNWR, being in control of the West Coast Main Line and now the line to Holyhead, saw an opportunity for a spike in tourist traffic. Trains were put on to serve seaside resorts like Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and along the Llandudno branch, setting in stone the line’s popularity. Without a doubt, the most iconic and historic point along the line is its proximity to Conwy Castle; in fact, the railway itself uniquely passes right alongside the ancient structure, and even passes through the still-standing city walls.

With the grouping of railway companies in 1928 to form the “Big Four”, the LNWR network became part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway - a further popular era ensued. As British Railways arrived however, certain specials were cut from the timetable, and the North Wales Coast Line would relegated back to a freight-heavy powerhouse. Today, freight is less common among the line, although it has remained a local and long-distance passenger haven with Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast combining to serve the line dozens of times a day.




North Wales Coast Line: Crewe - Holyhead will be arriving January 20th. Players who own both of the already existing Arriva and Virgin Trains branded routes, North Wales Coastal: Crewe – Llandudno and North Wales Coastal Route Extension: Crewe – Holyhead, will receive this new version in their library containing Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales. Do not worry the original routes and branding will still stay a part of your collection.

Spectacular scenery and large sweeping curves through the Rocky Mountains are just some of the features of Marias Pass, available now for Train Simulator worldwide.

Marias Pass was voted for by the community and is our first BNSF add-on available globally, with more to follow in 2022.

The 152-mile Montana route was first charted by the then principal engineer of the Great Northern Railway, John Frank Stevens, in December 1889. It proved to be an ideal route for a railroad with its wide valley and gentle gradient, meaning it would not require extensive excavation and multiple locomotives would not be required to haul freight up its incline.

The Pass reaches more than 5,200 feet (1,580 metres) at its summit and forms the southern edge of the Continental Ranges, a major grouping of the Rocky Mountains. Starting out at Shelby, the route winds up and through the flat farmland and open plains before heading into the mountain range through narrow canyons and vast pine forests alongside the Flathead River. Passing through Cut Bank and Browning, the route reaches the summit just after Marias, before descending through Essex and Columbia Falls to Whitefish.

The route is famous for its spectacular bridges, and these are accurately depicted alongside other features including mountain snow sheds, the silo ‘Dalek’ at Browning, Belton Lake, the concrete Penguin at Cut Bank, a large marshalling yard at Whitefish, industrial facilities throughout the route and the 13 mile branch line to Kalispell.

Also included with the route is a GE ES44 DC locomotive in BNSF heritage livery and a Burlington Northern EMD SW1500 switcher, along with new BNSF 50ft box cars and lumber cars, and several reworked freight cars in BNSF and BN livery.

Get 75% off for launch in the Steam Winter Sale.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/222561

The Steam Winter Sale is now on. Start or expand your Train Simulator 22 collection today with hundreds of Add-Ons available now at big discounts. Highlights from the sale include...


Master complex operations across three detailed real-world routes. Operate Amtrak’s Acela, the fastest US commuter locomotive, between Washington DC – Baltimore. Master Regional and Intercity traffic in the DB BR 429.1 with Frankfurt – Koblenz and take on the famous Lickey Incline with the BR Class 323 in Birmingham Cross City. Deliver passengers and freight to their destinations with a packed timetable of real-world services and scenarios. Whatever you love about trains, Train Simulator 2022 lets you take your hobby to the next level.


BNSF add-ons are now available globally, grab the first released route in the Steam Sale at a huge discount. Marias Pass is a stunning Montana route through some of the most picturesque mountainous settings with its unique challenges of driving long, heavy freight trains up and down the wide valleys and gentle gradients. Included with the route is a GE ES44 DC locomotive in BNSF heritage livery and a Burlington Northern EMD SW1500 switcher, along with new BNSF 50ft box cars and lumber cars, and several reworked freight cars in BNSF and BN livery.


The South Wales Coastal route is host for a variety of traction, from Bristol right the way through to Swansea, and this 80+ mile route is available now for Train Simulator! South Wales Coastal: Bristol - Swansea features 18 scenarios where you'll be able to experience a range of locomotives including the BR Class 175 in unbranded livery, BR Class 67 in DB Schenker Livery, BR Class 70 in Freightliner Livery, BR Class 43 HST in Great Western Railway Livery! Why not expand your coastal experience with the Trainload BR Class 60 also available in the Steam Winter sale at 50% off.


Scenic regional operations come to life with the picturesque Kiel - Lübeck railway for Train Simulator! The 80 km Kiel-Lübeck railway will allow you to experience Schleswig-Holstein at its scenic best, aboard hard-working traction such as the DB BR 648 DMU in DB Regio Livery and DB BR 218 diesel locomotive dressed in the DB Traffic Livery. Master these locomotives and more across 7 scenarios which will have you taking passengers across stunning vistas and through the heart of forested plains.

To see everything in the Steam Winter Sale head over to our store page:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/24010

Journey to the rugged Alleghany Mountains and experience classic railroading of the 1960s on America’s historic Baltimore & Ohio Railroad – with High Iron Simulations’ new Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01!

Created as a perfect addition to the highly acclaimed Train Simulator B&O Mountain Subdivision route, Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01 delivers all the captivating experiences and challenges of traditional B&O railroading in the 1960s, as first-generation diesels battle the railroad’s historic and demanding crossing of the towering and ancient Alleghany Mountains.

Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01 includes four types of first-generation diesel locomotives, in multiple variations and wearing a variety of authentic liveries:

• B&O’s legendary Electro-Motive F7 (cab and booster) is featured in four liveries: The F7’s “as delivered” magnificent B&O blue, gray, and black scheme; Simplified blue and black of circa 1961; the B&O’s distinctive “Sunburst” livery of circa 1963; and B&O’s “Capitol” blue scheme of circa 1966.
  
• B&O’s stylish and hard-hauling Baldwin RF16 “Sharknose” diesel (cab and booster) wears the blue-and-black livery the exotic freight units wore throughout the 1960s.
  
• B&O’s landmark GP7 road-switcher is included in passenger and freight variations (with and without steam generators) and in multiple liveries.
  
• B&O’s GP9 diesel workhorse is included in passenger and freight versions (with and without steam generators and dynamic brakes) and multiple liveries, including “as built” freight and passenger liveries.

Each of the locomotives in Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01 feature the advanced and authentic air braking systems created by Mike Rennie of Smokebox as debuted on the B&O Mountain Subdivision route. And the B&O RF16 “Sharknose” also features a realistic version of Baldwin’s unique air throttle with integrated dynamic brake controls.

Joining the diverse motive power roster in Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01 is a selection of freight rolling stock, including B&O’s long-lived Class I-5 wooden cupola in no less than seven livery and detail variations, plus boxcars, tank cars, refrigerator cars, and coal hoppers.

And Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01 puts you right to work on the tough and unrelenting grades of the B&O Mountain Subdivision, with ten realistic career scenarios that include priority manifest, coal, local freight, and switching assignments. In the pack’s ten challenging scenarios, you’ll travel over the length of the magnificent 101-mile B&O Mountain Subdivision and take the throttle of each type of the four included diesel locomotives!

Note: The locomotives and equipment of Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01 can be used on a variety of Train Simulator routes. The included scenarios require the B&O Mountain Subdivision route (route available separately).

Climb aboard Baltimore & Ohio’s memorable diesel motive power and enjoy classic 1960s railroading amid the rugged and scenic Alleghany Mountains – with High Iron Simulations’ Baltimore & Ohio Retro Pack 01, now available on Steam with 15% off for launch!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1804510/

Dating back to the competitive 1860s, the Chatham Main Line is long cemented in the fabric of Kentish life; from making commuting into London possible, to bringing people from across England to the Kent Coast for summer getaways. Today the line is as important and as busy as ever, supporting commuter, mainline and high-speed services throughout.

Experience the full Chatham Main Line in its entirety from London Victoria to Ramsgate and Dover via Faversham! The Sheerness Branch is also included, as is London Blackfriars, totalling over 130 miles of South East metals to explore across 7 career scenarios. Also featuring are a plethora of Southeastern EMUs, including an all-new BR Class 465/9 in the Southeastern Blue Stripe & Grey Stripe livery for long-distance Networker action!

The Chatham Main Line route spans over 130 miles in South East London and Kent, from the bustling hubs of London Victoria & Blackfriars to the popular Kent Coast destinations of Dover and Ramsgate. More than 60 detailed stations feature across the route, as well as numerous landmarks, take to the rails and explore this monumental route aboard varied and modern Southeastern traction.

Available now for Train Simulator 2022, get a 10% discount for launch.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1717657/

We are excited to announce that previously released and any future BNSF branded add-ons will be coming to Train Simulator 2022 globally. Better yet, you will be deciding which one of three routes will be coming to Steam first, before Christmas! Will you choose the legendary Tehachapi Pass, the stunning Marias Pass or the challenging Stevens Pass? Head over to our forums to cast your vote.

If Marias Pass or Stevens Pass win, it will be available worldwide before Christmas. If Tehachapi Pass wins, owners of it worldwide will receive a free update before Christmas to add the BNSF-branding. This is only the start, look out for more BNSF branded add-ons as we start to roll them out on Steam in the New Year.

Head to https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/ts22-bnsf-routes-releasing-worldwide.49658/ to vote on one of the following BNSF routes...




Spectacular scenery and large sweeping curves through the Rocky Mountains are just some of the features of Marias Pass. The route is famous for its spectacular bridges, and these are accurately depicted alongside other features including mountain snow sheds, the silo ‘Dalek’ at Browning, Belton Lake, the concrete Penguin at Cut Bank, a large marshalling yard at Whitefish, industrial facilities throughout the route and the 13-mile branch line to Kalispell. Also included with the route is a GE ES44 DC locomotive in BNSF heritage livery and a Burlington Northern EMD SW1500 switcher, along with BNSF 50ft box cars and lumber cars, and several freight cars in BNSF and BN livery.




The mountainous Stevens Pass through the Cascade Mountains features the longest railroad tunnel in the United States, and is now recreated in this spectacular route for Train Simulator. Featuring stations at Cashmere, Leavenmouth, Winton, Berne, Skykomish, Baring, Gold Bar and Everett, as well as the Boeing construction facility and major industrial yards at Wenatchee and Mukilteo. Also included are locomotives and rolling stock often seen on the route, including the EMD GP38-2, in ex-BN and BNSF Heritage liveries, and a GE ES44DC diesel locomotive in BNSF livery, plus a selection of freight cars and unique loads.




The Tehachapi Pass route for Train Simulator re-creates this historic line in contemporary form from Mojave to Bakersfield, California, a distance of 68 route miles. Anchored by busy yard facilities at both Mojave and Bakersfield, the route takes you to all of Tehachapi’s numerous renowned locations – Sand Cut, the Caliente horseshoe, Bealville, Walong siding, Cable, Summit, and, of course, legendary Tehachapi Loop, where the line uses a full loop and tunnel to cross over itself in truly dramatic fashion. Tehachapi is home to big motive power and the Train Simulator route features Union Pacific’s General Electric AC4400CW and ES44AC diesels along with Electro-Motive SD70ACe and GP40-2 diesels as well as BNSF GE ES44DC power.

Voting closes December 15th and the winner will be released on Steam globally before Christmas. This will be the first release with more BNSF content coming in the New Year.

Stay up to date with upcoming releases and more for Train Simulator 2022 by following @railsimulator on https://twitter.com/railsimulator and https://www.facebook.com/railsimulator


The BNSF mark is a licensed mark owned by BNSF Railway Company. All rights reserved.