Train Simulator: Norddeutsche-Bahn: Kiel - Lübeck Route (DLC)

Let me be straight with you: this is a DLC route for Train Simulator, not a standalone game. If you don't already own Train Simulator and a compatible locomotive pack, this 100km stretch of the Norddeutsche-Bahn between Kiel and Lübeck does exactly nothing for you. That said, once the prerequisites are in place, what you get is a faithfully recreated regional corridor through the Schleswig-Holstein countryside, complete with the kind of flat northern German landscape and mid-size station stops that define everyday European rail operations. From a simulation standpoint, the route covers the real-world Kiel to Lübeck line, giving you a mix of passing loops, level crossings, and regional timetable pressure that rewards methodical driving over spectacle. This is not a mountain switchback or a high-speed intercity showcase. It is a workhorse regional run where your satisfaction comes from hitting station dwell times, managing speed restrictions correctly, and learning the rhythm of a line that real-world drivers do on autopilot. If that sounds boring, this route is not for you. If that sounds like exactly the kind of operational discipline you enjoy, there is genuine replay value in the timetable scenarios and free-roam options. The problems are real and worth flagging. The Steam review score sits at 46% positive, which in the Train Simulator ecosystem - where enthusiasts tend to rate generously - is a meaningful warning. Common complaints point to scenery inconsistencies, some abrupt asset pop-in, and a general sense that the environmental detail does not quite match the asking price for a Dovetail route of this era. The AI traffic and signalling logic are functional but not exceptional, and there is no in-depth tutorial layered into the route itself; it assumes you already know Train Simulator's core loop. Steam Workshop support is present, which gives the community a path to patch up some rough edges over time, but as shipped the route feels like a mid-tier release rather than a flagship corridor. Who actually benefits from picking this up? Collectors building out a European route library, Germany-focused sim fans who specifically want northern regional operations, and players who have already exhausted other German DLC content. If you are newer to Train Simulator and hoping this route will be a good entry point, I would redirect you to a higher-rated corridor first, get comfortable with the sim's controls and scenario structure, and come back to Kiel - Lübeck once you know what you are buying into. The Steam Workshop integration is a genuine asset for longevity, and community-made additions can meaningfully improve the experience, but that requires patience and some research effort on your part. Bottom line: the route does what it says on the label, but a 46% approval rating from a fanbase that wants to love every Dovetail release is hard to argue away. Worth considering at a discount if this specific corridor matters to you.

Diego · Scout Team

Strategy & simulation

Be the first to comment on Train Simulator: Norddeutsche-Bahn: Kiel - Lübeck Route (DLC).