Rail Simulators

Why rail simulators are needed?

Like flight simulators, rail simulators have been introduced mainly for training purposes of new staff members. The usually computer based software is build in a real driver cab of a locomotive with all buttons and switches to be as close to true driving situations as possible. The nearness to reality however has its price. In other words, industry rail simulators are really expensive and not a playground for everyone.

Which rail simulators are for you?

In this section we want to take a look at rail simulators for everyone, for the normal consumer. In line with the development of faster PCs with more powerful graphic cards and processors rail simulators for private use have become very authentic too. These rail simulators can do more than just a simulation. They are programmed as a game withe a goal to achieve. In this respect we can distinguish two sorts of rail simulators:

• Simulation of driving a train
• Strategy simulation

While the first one is about driving a train with picking up passengers, sticking to speed limits and being on time at predefined stations, the second one is more about the rail industry and creating economic value with railways. For both simulations you can buy additional train stock and locomotives. Furthermore, in strategic simulations you can buy land, stations, pitch for contracts, franchises and more. If you think about sharing your success and selfmade rolling stock with other players, make sure that the software is capable of connecting to an internet backend. This way you make sure that you can buy add ons very easily online later. Depending on your preferences you should pick the game that suits your interest the most.

Here are the most popular Rail Simulators:

• Microsoft Train Simulator
• Rail Simulator
• Trainz
• World of Subways
• openrails

Rail simulators browser games

Nowadays it is also possible to play with rail simulators online as a browser based game. However, there are not that many routes and rolling stock available and the choice in game providers is very limited.

www.realrailway.com/en/enoshima/simulator.html

Communities about rail simulators

Rail simulators communities are the perfect hub to find all the latest software updates, to chat with other enthusiasts, trade files, learn about trains and much more. The communities are usually free of charge and some of them are created by the rail simulators producers themself while others are more independent. You can start participating in the communities after creating a user profile. Let us know if you found great communities about rail simulators.

The most popular rail simulators communities include:

• www.trainsim.com/
• www.uktrainsim.com/
• www.tsinsider.com/

More about Rail online games here.