See which Welsh routes and trains are in Train Sim World, including Cardiff City Network, TfW Class 153 and 150/2, route limits and DLC needs.
Train Sim World has one dedicated Welsh route: Cardiff City Network: Radur & Coryton to Penarth & Bae Caerdydd. It models Cardiff’s local branches and includes the Transport for Wales Class 153 DMU. Official Cardiff-compatible Class 150/2 content is additional rather than part of the standard route bundle. It is not a Wales-wide network.
What does Cardiff City Network include?
Cardiff City Network recreates the capital’s suburban railway, linking Radyr and Coryton with central Cardiff, Penarth and Cardiff Bay. Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street sit at the heart of the route, with the surrounding branches providing short, intensive stopping services.
- Radyr: local services running into central Cardiff.
- Coryton: the branch through Cardiff’s northern suburbs.
- Penarth: the coastal branch south-west of Cardiff Central.
- Cardiff Bay: the short shuttle from Cardiff Queen Street to Bae Caerdydd.
The driving is suburban rather than inter-city: stations are close together, junctions arrive quickly, and keeping to time depends on prompt braking and station work. For its place among the wider catalogue, see our guide to the routes available across Train Sim World.
Which Transport for Wales trains can you drive?
The route-bundled train is the Transport for Wales Class 153, a single-car Sprinter DMU suited to Cardiff’s short branch services.
| Train | How it is provided | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| TfW Class 153 | Included with Cardiff City Network | The route’s principal drivable train and the safest choice if buying one package |
| TfW Class 150/2 | Additional Cardiff-compatible content | A two-car Sprinter requiring the relevant separate entitlement; check the dependency shown for your platform and bundle |
| Other owned British trains | Free Roam or user-created scenarios | They can be placed on the route when compatible, but they do not automatically gain authentic TfW timetable services |
A mistake we see constantly is treating a Creators Club livery as a complete train add-on. A TfW repaint changes the appearance of stock you already own; it does not supply the underlying vehicle, add timetable services or unlock Cardiff City Network.
Does Train Sim World include the South Wales or North Wales main lines?
No. Cardiff City Network does not extend east to Newport, west to Swansea, along the North Wales Coast, or onto the Cambrian, Heart of Wales or Welsh narrow-gauge railways.
Some trains represented on English Train Sim World routes operate into Wales in real life, but the simulated railway ends at the DLC boundary. A Welsh destination shown on a train or departure board does not mean the line across the border has been modelled.
Many longer Welsh routes seen in screenshots and videos belong to a different simulator. Our summary of UK routes and rolling stock in Train Simulator Classic explains that separate catalogue; Train Simulator Classic DLC cannot be installed into Train Sim World.
Why can’t I find Cardiff City Network in my game?
Cardiff City Network is paid route content, so owning a Train Sim World base edition does not necessarily include it.
- Verify the entitlement: confirm that Cardiff City Network is attached to the account you use to launch Train Sim World.
- Check the platform: purchases do not automatically transfer between unrelated PC storefronts or console families.
- Install the route package: use the platform’s installed-content manager and confirm that the DLC is enabled, not merely owned.
- Allow for older branding: the Cardiff product may retain the Train Sim World generation named when it was released even when recognised by a compatible later core game.
- Check train dependencies separately: the Class 153 comes with the route, while additional Class 150/2 gameplay needs its own qualifying entitlement.
Is Cardiff City Network the right Welsh route for you?
Choose Cardiff City Network for Transport for Wales DMUs, frequent station stops and compact urban branch driving. It is a poor fit if you want sustained high-speed running, heavy freight, mountain railways, steam traction or a long cross-country trip through Wales.
If Welsh geography matters less than the style of driving, our comparison of standout Train Sim World routes covers stronger alternatives for main-line, freight and longer-distance operation.