The next major update for Diesel Railcar Simulator will be the gameplay update, to be released in the second half of 2024.

Gameplay features are not the sole theme of the update: quality-of-life improvements and a smoother onboarding process for newcomers are also planned.

Single runs with a personal scoreboard are currently the only form of gameplay, but many people find this classic sandbox style of simulation unsatisfactory. The next update addresses the problem by adding more goal-oriented gameplay:

• Career mode for progression and coherent gameplay experience
• More detailed and transparent scoring, including an option to display the score during the run
• Player profiles with detailed statistics
• Steam achievements and leaderboard

Other gameplay features to add more depth and variety:

• Derailments
• Accurate collisions between trains and track ends
• Free roam or one-off services
• Continuing with another service when the run has ended (in the opposite direction for example)
• Guard mode for goods trains: play as the guard in the brake van
• Tandem drivers: an AI (or playable) driver in every drivable unit or locomotive in the train that cannot be controlled from the leading unit. This can be used for mixing different locomotives or having a banking locomotive at the rear

New players often find it difficult to learn how railway traffic works by using the HUD helpers alone. For seasoned players, another stumbling block is the setup of Workshop train mods. Therefore, one of the key priorities is making it easier to...

• Learn signals and traffic rules for those who are not already familiar with how railways work
• Download and manage Workshop mods
• Change trains and liveries without having to create a new timetable

Many people find the current user interface difficult and unintuitive. Menus look crowded and can't be navigated with a gamepad. The default control scheme is also unlike in any other train sim. This is why the next update will include a new, improved user interface:

• New, simplified menus that can be used with a gamepad
• New HUD that looks better and is easier to read
• Revised control schemes
• Map view during the run

Due to time concerns, some of the planned features may have to be postponed and released in patches after the update proper.

What about shunting, weather effects and train breakdowns, aren't these also gameplay features? Yes, but these require major changes to the AI and physics, so it's best to leave them for a separate update. The next update focuses on gameplay features that can be implemented with minimal changes to the AI and physics.

Current status of development

At the time of publishing this post, the following features are half done or waiting for testing and polishing: derailments, accurate collisions, new scoring system, new control scheme and tandem drivers.

Post-gameplay roadmap

There will be at least three major updates afterwards (not necessarily in this order):

Train update

• Improved train physics: wheel slip and slide, shutting down engines, draining oil from torque converters
• New physics components: support for diesel-electric power train, automatic gearboxes, air brakes and driver/guard operated doors
• Head and tail lights, interior lights, animated headcode boxes
• Handbrakes on all vehicles
• Improved train graphics: more details and better texturing
• Improved train sounds: more authentic sounds, better mixing, new sounds like flange hiss and rail whisper
• New locomotives or railcars

Traffic update

• Shunting
• New goods wagons
• Custom signal system logic like speed signalling
• Request stops (passengers requesting to board and alight)
• Improved pathfinding and signalling AI: making pathfinding more reliable and transparent for timetable creators
• More detailed simulation of the British railway operating procedures, including improvements to the absolute block signalling and interaction between drivers and signallers

Environment update

• Weather effects and working windscreen wipers
• Seasonal effects
• Moving road traffic
• Moving passengers
• Animated train staff
• Improving and completing the scenery system

Further updates like new routes, trains and other countries to be announced later.

Questions, suggestions, feedback? Leave a comment below!