Train Sim World 7: Cardiff City Network: Radur & Coryton - Penarth & Bae Caerdydd Route Add-On is a train simulation experience that places players in the role of operating diesel multiple units on an urban network around Cardiff in Wales. The add-on recreates passenger services on branches radiating from Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street, using authentic Transport for Wales liveries on the BR Class 150/2 and Class 153 units.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on driving the Class 150/2 and Class 153 DMUs through a dense commuter network spanning roughly 20 miles and more than 20 stations. Players handle frequent stops, platform changes, and end-of-line reversals on branches that include the Coryton Line, the lines to Radyr via both Merthyr and City routes, the Penarth branch, and the short Butetown line to Cardiff Bay. Realistic suspension, performance characteristics, and cab details define the handling of these diesel units, with authentic AWS and TPWS safety systems in place.
Bilingual Welsh and English signage appears throughout stations and along the route, reflecting the real-world setting. Services range from short shuttles of five minutes to longer runs up to 45 minutes, creating a rhythm of repeated station work and signal interactions amid mixed passenger and AI traffic layers around Cardiff Central. Route tasks provide additional objectives that encourage exploration of the network and its operational quirks.
Game Modes
Training Center modules introduce the controls and procedures for the included trains before players progress to more demanding activities. Scenarios deliver structured experiences with specific objectives and events, such as handling adverse weather or operational disruptions. The timetable mode offers access to more than 500 authentic services, allowing selection of individual runs that integrate with AI traffic to simulate a full operating day.
Journey Mode connects training, scenarios, and timetabled services into a progressive experience across the route. Free Roam provides unrestricted access to spawn trains and explore any section of the network at will. Additional AI timetable layers from other routes add freight and passenger movements around the central area, while playable Rail Head Treatment Train services appear in the schedule.
The Cardiff Network and Its Trains
The route captures the interconnected branches that serve Cardiff's city limits, with principal hubs at Cardiff Central and Queen Street feeding services outward to terminals at Coryton, Radyr, Penarth, and Cardiff Bay. The Class 153 appears in both full PRM-compliant and lighter variants, while the Class 150/2 provides the two-car option for busier runs. Both units feature detailed cabs and liveries specific to Transport for Wales operations.
Collectibles scattered along the route reference Welsh culture alongside standard items, adding a layer of discovery during free exploration. The network supports conductor duties on appropriate services, where players manage doors and passenger flow between stops.
Is It Worth Playing?
This add-on suits players who enjoy commuter-style operations with repeated short services, frequent station stops, and the challenge of navigating a busy urban network under realistic signaling. The timetable delivers high replayability through its volume of playable runs and integrated AI movements, while the two diesel units offer distinct driving characteristics suited to the route's profile.
Feedback from players highlights the strong timetable and service variety as strengths for those who prefer network-style gameplay, though some note variations in scenery detail and occasional performance considerations on lower-spec systems. The add-on remains compatible with core Train Sim World features such as livery and formation design tools, allowing customization that carries into Free Roam and scenario creation.
Those drawn to detailed diesel multiple unit handling on a compact, high-frequency Welsh urban network will find consistent engagement here, particularly when progressing through the structured modes before tackling the full timetable independently.
