The first major update to
RailWorks was
RailWorks 2: Train Simulator, released on
Steam on 18 October 2010 under the name
RailWorks 2. Retail versions were released later that year. The new version contained a range of new features and enhancements, including enhanced menus, the new RS Cab Control driver interface and new RS Career System scenarios. Players could earn Steam Achievements for completing scenarios, as well as compete and compare scores online via Steam Leaderboards. It also featured level crossing animations, among other improvements.
RailWorks 2 featured the same routes and content as the original game, and only one new route: TestTraK, based on the
Wegberg-Wildenrath Test and Validation Centre, a German testing facility owned by
Siemens Mobility used for technical acceptance tests and approvals of locomotives and rolling stock. Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of the original
RailWorks received a free upgrade to the
RailWorks 2 core technology via the Steam platform.
RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 was released on Steam on 23 September 2011 under the name
Train Simulator 2012. Retail versions were released later that year. It contained a number of improvements and new features, including a new user interface, action-oriented loading screens, the new TSX game engine with
multi-core and
FXAA support and many graphical improvements, such as extended draw distance, improved lighting and shadows, enhanced sky and water effects, new
depth of field camera focus effect and particle effects (e.g. rain drops on locomotive windows with working wipers),
superelevation to allow simulation of curved tracks, improved track unevenness and cab camera movement increasing with speed, improved editing tools and others. The base package contained nine routes, and those who purchased from Steam or purchased the retail
Deluxe Edition, also received the
Horseshoe Curve route. Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of
RailWorks 2 received a free upgrade to the
TS2012 core technology via the Steam platform.
Train Simulator 2013 was released on Steam in two editions. The
Standard Edition, available for a limited time, was released on 20 September 2012. The
Deluxe Edition was released on 10 October. Retail versions were available from October that year. New features and improvements included
Xbox 360 Controller support, Relay Play mode allowing for users to combine efforts to complete scenarios (removed since
Train Simulator 2014), new menus and control options (including the new Quick Drive mode), updated
HUDs, improved 2D task map and support for a new community download center using the
Steam Workshop where players can share and download free user-created scenarios. It also featured enhanced graphics and performance improvements. A route included with previous versions, Hagen–Siegen, was heavily updated and renamed the
Ruhr–Sieg Line. Routes included with the
Standard Edition were
Sherman Hill,
London–Brighton,
Northeast Corridor and
Isle of Wight. The
Deluxe Edition included Sherman Hill, London–Brighton and
Munich–Augsburg. Owners of
Train Simulator 2012 received a free upgrade to the
TS2013 core technology via the Steam platform.
Train Simulator 2014 was released on Steam in two editions. The
Steam Edition was released on 26 September 2013, and the
Standard Edition on 7 October. Retail versions were available from 4 October that year. It featured a new menu system, better graphics including increased draw distance and headlight flares, a new camera system with user-adjustable
FOV, improved passenger appearance and behaviour, improved editing tools, expanded Quick Drive mode and an enhanced Career mode, letting players earn points towards medals, rewards and achievements. The new Engine Driver community website was made accessible in-game. The Steam Workshop feature was expanded to support free user-created routes, in addition to scenarios, and the new Marketplace was designed to make it simpler to share and obtain new third-party
payware content. Routes included with the
Standard Edition were
Hamburg–Hanover,
London–Faversham High Speed and
Donner Pass: Southern Pacific. Those who purchased the
Steam Edition, also received an additional seven-mile (11 km)
Sheerness Branch line in
Kent (an extension to the London–Faversham High Speed route) and two extra locomotives (
Class 466 and
SD70M). Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of
Train Simulator 2013 received a free upgrade to the
TS2014 core technology via the Steam platform. A stand-alone expansion,
The Count of Monster Disco, was released for Halloween 2014.
Train Simulator 2015 was released on Steam on 18 September 2014 as a
Standard Edition and a
Steam Edition. Retail versions were available from 19 September that year. It introduced several improvements and a learning mode called TS Academy, a training area designed to introduce new players to the series quickly and easily. Routes included with the
Standard Edition were
East Coast Main Line: London–Peterborough,
Northeast Corridor: New York–New Haven and
Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Those who purchased the
Steam Edition, also received the
Pacific Surfliner: LA–San Diego route and two extra locomotives (
Los Angeles Commuter Rail F59PH and
San Diego Commuter Rail F59PHI). Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. Owners of
Train Simulator 2014 received a free upgrade to the
TS2015 core technology via the Steam platform.
Train Simulator 2016 was released on Steam on 17 September 2015 as
Train Simulator 2016: Steam Edition. This version provides a selection of new 'extreme' challenges set across a variety of different eras with the addition of the long-requested "Railfan" feature, which lets players create and play scenarios in which the only objective is to watch the trains go by from a vantage point (so-called "Railfanning" or "Trainspotting").
Train Simulator 2017 was released on Steam on 16 September 2016. A limited edition of
Train Simulator 2017, called
Pioneers Edition, was available for players until 7 December of the same year. The
Pioneers Edition included two bonuses: a bonus route, Semmeringbahn: Mürzzuschlag to Gloggnitz and the ability to have beta access to
Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul, an
Unreal Engine 4 made game that was released in early 2017. The beta access to
Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul started at 8 December 2016 at around 6pm GMT.
Train Simulator 2018 was released on 16 November 2017.
Train Simulator 2019 was released on 11 October 2018. This version introduced a 64-bit core, making the game able to use more memory and generally have better stability. The game comes with 3 routes and 2 route extensions; Soldier Summit and
Salt Lake City Extension, the Rhine Railway and Frankfurt High Speed Extension, and the re-worked
Portsmouth Direct Line, now including London Waterloo station.
Train Simulator 2020, released on 19 September 2019, comes with three routes:
Nuremberg &
Regensburg,
South Western Main Line: Southampton – Bournemouth and Norfolk Southern N-Line. It also comes with some graphical improvements, and filters for taking photos in-game.
Train Simulator 2021 was released on 17 September 2020. This version introduces Steam Workshop integration, letting players browse and download Workshop scenarios without having to exit the game. This year's edition comes with three routes:
Norddeutsche-bahn: Kiel – Lübeck,
Clinchfield Railroad, the
Fife Circle Line. The
Deluxe Edition also includes a new route, the
West Coast Main Line South: London Euston – Birmingham. In March 2021, the game received an update that improves route loading times. ==Features==