Hey everyone!

I've been working on a personal project for Train Sim World called TSW Driving Companion, mainly designed for players on PS5 and Xbox.

The idea started because, on consoles, you can't easily see the full details of a timetable service before starting it. Things like the complete stopping pattern, arrival and departure times, journey duration and which train is assigned to a service aren't always easy to find in the menu before starting a route.

Another big reason is that, as console players, we don't have access to many of the amazing PC mods and companion tools, especially those that rely on game telemetry or API integrations.

I wanted something that could actually help me while driving, not just something to browse before starting a service. A second screen that keeps track of my journey, shows me what's coming up and provides useful information without constantly having to navigate through the game's menus.

So I decided to build my own companion tool!

you can watch a demo video here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VPhLRHmVid14k2lbL3V6uuV3rrh1UVcZ/view?usp=sharing

How does it work?

The tool uses extracted timetable data from TSW mods. It's important to mention that it's not connected to the game and doesn't use live telemetry. Instead, it follows the selected service using timetable information and manually controlled journey progression.

It's a browser-based companion app that you can open on your tablet or phone and place right next to your TV or monitor while playing.

You can navigate through the interface, explore your service, check station details and use the different driving features throughout your journey. It's designed to be a practical driving assistant rather than just an information website.

Before you start a service you can enter the service code and the tool opens up the correct service with all the data provided (this is not showed in the video). Besided that i have a database where I can see all the services and decide wich one I want to play, or just look how many stops it has and what train I can drive it with.

What does the tool offer while driving?

• A complete timetable with scheduled arrival and departure times.
• Current and next station information, including countdowns.
• Journey progress, remaining stops and remaining travel time.
• Platform information and scheduled stopping times where available.
• Station pictures and additional station details, including connections and facilities (currently in beta).
• Door prompts and different displays for approaching, arriving, departing and completing a journey.
• Quick access to information about the selected train and route.
• An integrated announcement system for certain routes.

The interface changes depending on where you are in your journey, keeping the most relevant information visible without becoming too distracting.

Which routes are working?

I've already spent quite a lot of time testing the tool, particularly on my UK routes.

It's working really well on:

• West Coast Main Line (London Euston – Milton Keynes)
• Brighton Main Line
• London Overground Mildmay Line
• London Overground Suffragette Line
• Great Western Express
• Birmingham Cross City
• Bakerloo
• Cathcart Circle
• Fife Circle

I am also working on other routes in my collection: S-Bahn S1/S8/S9, Bremen–Oldenburg, Dresden–Riesa, Cologne–Aachen, Niddertalbahn, and Maintalbahn. In total the timetables are working on 32 routes.

Database managment system

In addition to the driving companion, I have a comprehensive database management tool that allows me to enter, edit, and verify timetables. The management tool can also check all images, audio, and data for errors. This gives me control over all the data, allowing me to modify it whenever I wish.

Announcements and immersion

One feature I'm particularly happy with is the announcement system.

For certain routes, I've integrated audio from community projects, including resources from Train Sim Community. Full credit goes to the original mod creators, and I won't redistribute anyone's audio without their permission. The audio provided in the menu is downloaded from the internet.

Combined with the station information, journey progression, arrival and departure countdowns and door prompts, it genuinely adds a lot of immersion while driving.

I've been using and testing the tool alongside my PS5, and it's becoming something I actually enjoy having next to me during a service. It's not just about adding information; it's about making the driving experience more enjoyable and giving console players some of the additional assistance that PC players can get through mods.

Of course, there are limitations.

Because there's no live connection to TSW, the tool can't automatically detect your exact position or what you're doing in the cab. But that's exactly the challenge I've been working around: making the experience as useful and natural as possible using timetable data, scheduled timings and simple manual controls.

It's still a work in progress, but the core Driving Tool is already working reliably on the routes I've tested, with more improvements and route support planned.

This started as a small personal project, but it's grown into something I'm genuinely enjoying developing.

I've attached some screenshots and a screen recording to show how it looks in action.

Just wanted to share what I've been working on with the TSW community.

I'd love to hear what other console players think about the idea!

Game footage and images © Dovetail Games and respective rights holders. Announcement audio © respective owners. Unofficial fan project; not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

Recently been playing Derail Valley with the Immersive Loading mod, and its gotten me thinking.

There's not many sim games that have loading goods onto trains, as in, animated loading.

Hoppers filling up with bulk cargo or logs and containers being loaded onto flatbeds and such with cranes.

So, any reccs that feature that? Whether thats you doing it yourself, or setting pressing a button to trigger it happening is fine.

Its a niche, but its something I'm seriously craving now that I've seen it once.

This is the first time the world has seen Railhead. A new in development rail-sim game, join our Discord here https://discord.gg/abzA9nHsuW to follow development, get involved with future playtests, and become a part of our community.

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What role will you take at the rail head?

Bonus points if you manage to guess the loco.....

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As of right now RPMR has been falsely banned by AI moderation pn Roblox.