Find Shinkansen train add-ons for MSTS and Train Simulator Classic, with compatibility checks, search tips and installation advice.
The best places to look are our Microsoft Train Simulator download library and the wider Fly Away Simulation archive. Search for “Shinkansen”, “bullet train”, the series name and its Japanese route. Match every file to its simulator first: MSTS, Train Simulator Classic and Train Sim World packages are not interchangeable.
Which Shinkansen download should I choose?
Choose a package that explicitly names your simulator and supplies the type of content you need. A locomotive, repaint, route and scenario are separate add-ons even when their descriptions feature the same Shinkansen service.
| Simulator | Suitable package | Typical compatibility clue |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Train Simulator | MSTS rolling stock, consists, activities or routes | Files or instructions mention .eng, .wag, .con, TRAINS or ROUTES |
| Train Simulator Classic | Packages labelled Train Simulator Classic or RailWorks | A .rwp file or an archive containing Assets and Content folders |
| Train Sim World | Content made for the exact Train Sim World release and platform | MSTS and RailWorks packages will not load; desktop archives also cannot simply be copied onto a console |
| Open Rails | Open Rails content or compatible MSTS content sets | The instructions identify the required content profile, route and dependencies |
| OpenBVE | Packages explicitly prepared for OpenBVE | The train and route may be separate downloads with their own folder instructions |
RailWorks is the earlier name commonly found on Train Simulator Classic packages. That label is relevant, but an old package may still depend on discontinued or separately installed assets, so read its requirements rather than relying on the name alone.
What should I search for?
Search by Shinkansen series and route as well as the generic term “bullet train”. Useful combinations include “N700 MSTS”, “500 Series RailWorks”, “E5 Shinkansen”, “Tokaido route” and “Tohoku high-speed route”.
Check what the result actually contains:
- Train or rolling stock: the driveable model, although it may still need a separate consist or scenario.
- Repaint or reskin: textures only; the original base model is required.
- Cab or sound pack: a component for an existing train, not a complete Shinkansen.
- Activity or scenario: a service using stock and a route that must already be installed.
- Route: the railway environment; rolling stock may not be included.
A common mistake we see is downloading a scenario because its screenshot shows the desired train. The scenario usually references that train rather than supplying it.
How do I check compatibility before downloading?
The simulator name, required base content and package type must all match your installation. Use our checklist for assessing free train add-ons before opening unfamiliar archives.
- Confirm the simulator. MSTS, Open Rails, Train Simulator Classic, Train Sim World and OpenBVE use different content systems.
- Read the dependency list. A repaint may need a base train, while an activity or scenario can require several trains, a particular route and extra scenery assets.
- Inspect the archive structure. Its folders should correspond with the structure named in the instructions. Do not rename extensions or copy files between simulators.
- Check whether it is complete. Look for the model, cab, sounds and any consist or scenario needed to select it in the simulator.
- Back up changed files. This is especially important when a package overwrites an existing model, texture or route asset.
How are Shinkansen add-ons installed?
Installation depends on the simulator and the way the author packaged the files. Always extract an archive to a temporary folder first rather than unpacking it directly over the simulator.
Microsoft Train Simulator
A conventional MSTS train folder belongs under TRAINS\TRAINSET, while supplied .con files normally belong under TRAINS\CONSISTS. Preserve the package's folder hierarchy and follow its readme because activities, routes and self-installing legacy packages need different handling.
Train Simulator Classic
A .rwp package is normally imported with the simulator's package-management utility. Manually packaged add-ons must retain their Assets and Content hierarchy; our Train Simulator Classic installation instructions cover both methods and the usual dependency checks.
Other train simulators
Use only the method specified for that simulator. Renaming a file or moving an MSTS train into a Train Simulator Classic, Train Sim World or OpenBVE folder does not convert it.
Why does the downloaded Shinkansen not appear?
A missing train is usually caused by an absent consist, an unmet dependency or an incorrectly nested folder. Check these points before reinstalling the whole simulator:
- In MSTS, confirm that the train's folder directly contains its
.engand.wagfiles rather than another unnecessary copy of the same folder. - Make sure a valid consist references the installed stock; without one, an MSTS train may not appear in the selection list.
- If the download is a repaint, install the exact base model specified by its author.
- In Train Simulator Classic, install all listed asset providers and route dependencies. A scenario may appear only under its associated route rather than as a general driveable train.
- Confirm that the package targets the same simulator generation. Similar names and screenshots do not indicate file compatibility.