Train Sim World
Köln - Aachen Timetable Update: Out Now!
New services and new layers for an old favourite! Köln - Aachen timetable updates are out now!
We’ve been talking about the upcoming Köln-Aachen timetable update for a little while now, coming to bolster the total service count with a huge new selection of playable and AI services.
As a reminder, this is a free update to owners of the route and Train Sim World 5. Today we wanted to confirm all the Add-ons that will add layers on to the route following the update and the roll out plan for different platforms.
The timetable update has now been rolled out to all players as of 23rd June 2025.
If you'd like to share your thoughts and feedback for the new timetable, please let us know on our latest Köln-Aachen Timetable Feedback Thread.
The Timetable
Additional service layers
With all relevant content installed, the service count will go up considerably from the original 552 services to over 4000 (of which around 600 will be playable)!
Below is the full list of Add-ons that will add playable and AI services to the new timetable:
- Bremen-Oldenburg
- DB BR 110 with n-wagen services on certain AI RB48 (Köln) and RE4 (Aachen) services.
- Dresden-Riesa
- facilitating Zacns freight services and static stock throughout the route
- Frankfurt-Fulda
- for AI ICE-T services
- Hauptstrecke Hamburg–Lübeck
- static Roos-t wagons throughout the route
- Hauptstrecke Rhein-Ruhr
- for the BR 422 operating S6 services and BR 425 operating RE8, RB26, RB27 (all at Köln) and RB33 (at Aachen)
- Linke Rheinstrecke
- for a BR 103 railtour service
- LGV Méditerranée
- TGV AI services subsituting for Thalys services between Aachen and Köln
- Maintalbahn
- for the DB BR 642 DMU serving all major stations. More details can be found below.
- Main-Spessart Bahn
- for the DB BR 146 and additional RE1 services
- Ruhr-Sieg Nord's DB BR 363
- Shunting and local services throughout the route and in yards such as Stolberg and Köln Hansaring
- Salzburg-Rosenheim
- BR 111 on RE4 services at Aachen Hbf
- Schnellfahrstrecke Kassel-Würzburg
- ICE 1 AI services at Köln as well as a few playable services running the full length of the route, plus ICE 3 AI services at Köln. Most freight services also come from this Add-on.
- Railpool BR 193 Vectron
- Playable and AI NightJet services
- FlixTrain BR 193 Vectron
- FlixTrain AI services at Köln Hbf with a few playable depot moves and two full length runs (one each way).
- DB BR 101 (original Add-on)
- IC services as AI at Köln as well as a few playable services running the full length of the route
- DB BR 218
- One short freight service that is bound for a diesel-only branch line
- S-Bahn Köln BR 423
- The BR 423 from the New Journeys pack runs all S11, S12 and S19 services. These are all in their own layers for this timetable and do not affect the New Journeys timetable.
Further timetable details
On the New Journeys timetable, RE8 and RB27 had problems joining the mainline in the southbound direction and always ran late, causing only northbound services to be playable. This timetable has them running on time in both directions.
In this timetable, the original RE1, RE9, S-bahn and ICE services will of course still feature. New AI services will also be seen at various stations such as Aachen Hbf, Düren and of course Köln Hbf which has non-stop activity through the day including RE7 trains.
For players with the Main-Spessart Bahn route Add-on there are additional peak-only RE1 services that run non-stop between Aachen Hbf and Düren only stopping at Stolberg Hbf. RE1 also has two services a day that stop additionally at Eilendorf.
DB BR 642 Services (from Maintalbahn)
The addition of RB20 services will allow players to serve a new station, Eilendorf Bahnhof, which is only serviced by RB20 and some peak RE services. RB20 trains also run between Langerwehe and Düren and as AI at Langerwehe.
Maintalbahn also adds:
- RB21 & RB28: AI traffic at Düren
- RB12, RE22, RB24. RB25: AI only traffic in the Köln area.
- RB38: Playable services between Köln Hbf and Horrem as well as AI only services at Horrem.
Freight services
For the freight fans, the timetable now features a huge new range of services to experience mostly via the Kassel - Würzburg route Add-on. Freight trains will need to stop at passing points for highspeed trains or even other freight trains, and whilst most are A-B runs, there are a few shunting services for Stolberg too.
TSW5: Compatible Schnellfahrstrecke Köln - Aachen
If you're new to Train Sim World 5, you can still pick up Schnellfahrstrecke Köln-Aachen as Compatible content.
This high-speed route between two historic cities in Köln and Aachen features the DB BR 406 ICE 3M and DB BR 442 EMU, with both LZB and PZB operations. Stopping services arrive at intermediate stations such as Düren and Free Roam allows players to operate in and around the complex yard north of Köln, including the turntable.
In reality, freight is a regular feature along the route, as are S-Bahn services and depot movements between yards and stations, making it the ideal route to be updated with these additional timetabled services from the wider Train Sim World collection.
Find out more about Train Sim World 5 by following @trainsimworld on Twitter/X, Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and TikTok.
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