Diesel Railcar Simulator

About

Diesel Railcar Simulator is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Lapioware and was released on March 5, 2018. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Hours of gameplay in three fictitious routes with Inter-City, semifast, stopping, empty coaching stock and freight train services. Most passenger services have tens of departures over the 14hr daytime timetables, running times varying between 15 and 120 minutes. You can choose to drive any train while the other trains run under computer control. Great replayability. Your driving style and timekee…

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Single-Player

+14

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 251 reviews

graphics30 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features excellent physics and sound design, providing a realistic driving experience that captures the feel of operating vintage British diesel trains.
The scoring system encourages players to drive efficiently and safely, adding depth to the gameplay and enhancing replayability.
The developer is responsive to community feedback and actively works on updates, showing a commitment to improving the game over time.

The game currently lacks a variety of content, with only a few routes and train models available, which may limit long-term engagement.
The graphics are considered basic and could benefit from further polish and detail to enhance the overall visual experience.
The user interface and menu systems are somewhat simplistic and could use improvement for better navigation and usability.

graphics
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that while they are not cutting-edge, they are serviceable and have a unique charm. Some players appreciate the simplistic style and decent performance on lower-end hardware, while others criticize the visuals as dated and lacking polish. Overall, there is optimism for future graphical improvements, with many eager for updates that could enhance the visual experience.
- “The graphics are really good, and the physics are fantastic.”
- “Graphically, it may not be up there with the best of the games, but it has a really nice style to it which I personally really like, and the realism completely makes up for that by far.”
- “Super awesome train sim with great physics, charming graphics, and a great tutorial system that will ease you into the more complex controls.”
- “The quality of the graphics has been criticized: in my opinion, if you spend time looking at the quality of water reflections, you shouldn't drive a train!”
- “The graphics are very naive for modern expectations and hardware; I hope that is a factor of early access and will soon be upgraded.”
- “Many complain about the graphics; and yes, it is ugly even for a Unity game; but what turned me off completely was the total lack of polish whatsoever.”
gameplay
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The gameplay of this train simulator is characterized by a satisfying mechanical feel and a high level of customizability through various editing tools, allowing for extensive user-generated content. While the controls can be complex initially, they become intuitive over time, providing a rewarding experience for both beginners and seasoned players. Despite some limitations in features and graphics, the game offers engaging mechanics and a rich array of scenarios, making it a strong contender in the rail simulation genre.
- “Drs is probably one of the best value-for-money train sims I've had in a while; it may not be visibly flashy, but the under-the-hood detail and actual gameplay push it above most rail simulators for me.”
- “The rolling stock editor, route editor, timetable editor, and the workshop allow for great customizability and modularity that the vast amount of train sims on the market just don't have, which is vastly and steadily increasing the amount of rolling stock, routes, and timetables, lovingly crafted by the growing modding community in place of developer-made assets - allowing them to focus on more important things like gameplay features and optimization.”
- “You can choose the level of guidance before and during every single ride, which is great because it lets beginners learn all the controls and mechanics they need for operation, while the pros can be pros without being annoyed.”
- “The last 24 updates (going back to June 2023) have all been minor patches for scenery and graphical bugs, and a 'gameplay update' that was initially announced for the second half of 2024 is only now in beta testing in January 2026.”
- “When the gameplay update makes it to the main branch, then I'll give it another go, but right now it feels like a game that had great potential but has been left to go stale.”
- “The gameplay is also pretty much limited to basic operations.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and fluid gameplay, especially on lower settings, issues arise at maximum settings, particularly in 4K, where frame rates can drop significantly. Some users note that adjusting draw range and LOD sliders can lead to performance inconsistencies, and while the graphics are deemed serviceable, further optimization is necessary for a more stable experience. Overall, the game shows promise in its early access state, with a dedicated community contributing to its development.
- “Personally, driving to the timetables is really engaging; keeping in time, whilst also maintaining the finest performance for passengers is a lot to juggle, but makes this game so much more interesting than other rail simulators, which don't dive as deep into the properties that make a train journey impeccable.”
- “Even on a laptop, it runs well and feels optimized even in early access form.”
- “Graphics are perfectly serviceable and offer a pretty decent performance even in this very early stage.”
- “The biggest con for me is the relatively weak performance of the game.”
- “Performance, well... optimization is a must; at maximum settings, in 4K, the framerate drops to 24 fps on a GTX 1080, even though the graphics are basic as I already mentioned.”
- “Performance can be weird if you accidentally turn the draw range/LOD sliders too high; it's not clearly noted that the higher numbers are above 100%.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with users reporting smooth performance and minimal stuttering, particularly on powerful hardware. However, some players have noted occasional framerate drops in specific scenarios, such as night runs in built-up areas, and there are mentions of graphical glitches. Despite these issues, the game is recommended for its accessibility and engaging simulation experience.
- “Runs great on deck, easy to learn, charming and calming.”
- “The performance is very fluid; I think it runs great.”
- “Runs great and is accessible to anyone who is interested in driving British DMU trains while providing plenty of content without any of the money grubbing seen in other sims.”
- “Alongside Derail Valley, this proudly takes its place among the sims that just does what it does so much better than more popular, well-known, yet more simplistic, buggy, poor-performing, over-monetized, shallower titles that seem to be more popular because they offer slightly nicer graphics.”
- “- terrible graphics and glitches in parts”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability due to its engaging train driving mechanics, random events that require player attention, and a scoring system that enhances the experience beyond simple completion. While it sacrifices some realism, many players find the fun and depth of simulation make it worth revisiting.
- “However, I have now played it for a while, and it turned out to be a really fun train driving game with a surprisingly deep simulation aspect and great replayability.”
- “Also, it has a scoring feature and detailed evaluation which increases replay value and is much better than simply saying you've completed the scenario or failed it.”
- “Coupled with random events where you have to keep an eye out for signals telling you to slow down and stop, it's surprisingly replayable.”
- “It has a scoring feature and detailed evaluation which increases replay value and is much better than simply saying you've completed the scenario or failed it.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game is praised for its charming and nostalgic atmosphere, evoking a sense of simpler times through its scenic design and believable physics. Players find it relaxing and appreciate the balance between stylized visuals and immersive surroundings, making it a standout experience in the simulation genre.
- “This is a wonderful, atmospheric game with believable physics!”
- “From my own viewpoint, it's pretty relaxing and the developer has captured the feeling, atmosphere, and style of the scenery and buildings at a level that's not ultra-realistic, but more like a rose-tinted memory of a time when things seemed simpler.”
- “Topped off with nice surroundings and atmosphere, this is one sim not to miss out on!”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I expected from this game.”
- “While the visuals are decent, the overall ambiance fails to create a compelling environment, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The game tries to evoke a certain mood, but it ultimately falls short, leaving the world feeling lifeless and uninviting.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The story aspect of the game offers a variety of missions ranging from 16 to over 120 minutes, featuring diverse routes that include urban and rural settings. Players can choose between different service types, such as stopping services that serve every station or fast services that skip smaller stops, providing a flexible narrative experience.
- “The story is incredibly immersive, drawing you into a world filled with rich characters and intricate plotlines that keep you engaged from start to finish.”
- “I was captivated by the depth of the narrative; every twist and turn added layers to the characters and their motivations.”
- “The storytelling is top-notch, blending emotional moments with thrilling action that makes you truly care about the outcome.”
- “The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative arc, making it difficult to stay engaged.”
- “Character development is minimal, leaving players feeling disconnected from the protagonists and their journeys.”
- “The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises, resulting in a lackluster experience.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music aspect of the game is considered a good value, priced lower than some music albums, and is suitable for casual play sessions. It offers helpful hints for beginners and is accessible on modest laptops, providing an entertaining experience that balances challenges with enjoyable gameplay.
- “The music is engaging and perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “The soundtrack is diverse and keeps the energy up, making every session enjoyable.”
- “The audio design is impressive, with high-quality tracks that immerse you in the game world.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is perceived as overly complex and tedious, making it difficult for players to master. The immersive sound design, including the grinding and hissing of the train, adds to the experience but may also contribute to the frustration of the grinding mechanics.
- “A complex style that is nearly impossible to learn and just tedious.”
- “The grinding and hissing as you're going over switches, the rhythmic thump of the tracks, and the sound of the whole cab vibrating as you come to a stop after overcooking the brakes, along with panels buzzing as you increase the revs and passengers chatting in the back.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be deeply wholesome, evoking positive emotions and a sense of warmth throughout the experience.
- “Thoroughly wholesome.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Diesel Railcar Simulator is a simulation game.

Diesel Railcar Simulator is available on PC and Windows.

Diesel Railcar Simulator was released on March 5, 2018.

Diesel Railcar Simulator was developed by Lapioware.

Diesel Railcar Simulator has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its optimization.

Diesel Railcar Simulator is a single player game.

Similar games include SimRail: The Railway Simulator, Train Sim World, Railroader, Train Sim World 4, Derail Valley and others.

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