BVE and openBVE are free train driving simulators with high quality graphics and realistic train operations. This page is a directory of websites offering free BVE routes, trains, and other train simulator downloads.
| RailDriver - Drive your train simulator with realistic throttle, brake, reverser and switches. Works with Train Simulator 2020 (RailWorks), Trainz, Microsoft Train Simulator and computer driven DCC systems. |
Rolling stock for Brazil (main network) Rolling stock for Brazil (Metro) Rolling stock for Canada. Rolling Stock for Mexico. Rolling Stock for Mexico (tram). OpenBVE is a license-free, open source, free of charge train driving simulator. Runs most BVE content from third party providers. We are the fan subreddit for it. Here, you can discuss the development of routes and trains, discovering various new assets, and the overall concept of OpenBVE. Don't be afraid to post pics from the simulator too! Open Rails - Free open source train simulator that can read Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS) routes, activities, consists, and train sets openBVE - Open source train simulator intended to be compatible with routes and trains developed for Boso View Express (BVE).
| Boso View Express (BVE) - Official site of this freeware Japanese train driving simulator with high realism and accurate train physics, now with hundreds of free worldwide routes available. |
| openBVE - Official site of a free, open source train simulator with a focus on realism; compatible with most routes and trains developed for Boso View Express (BVE2 and BVE4). |
Belgian BVE Website - Belgian trains and add-ons for the freeware BVE train simulator
Brno BVE Website - Czech downloads for BVE and openBVE
BVE Argentina - Argentina trains and routes for BVE train simulator
BVE Argentina 2 - Free routes and objects for BVE train simulator
BVE Barcelona - Barcelona Metro routes and trains for OpenBVE
BVE Binley Heath - Fictional British route for BVE
BVE Budapest Metro - Budapest metro routes for download in BVE train simulator
BVE Catalunya - Spanish routes and trains for BVE train simulator
BVE Cornwall - British routes and trains including Plymouth - St Austell route and GWR King Class locomotive
BVE Engineering Lab - Japanese routes for BVE2 and BVE4
BVE Hull - Fictional British routes for BVE2 train simulator
BVE in Kent - British BVE route from Ashford to London Victoria via Maidstone East
BVE in Poland - Polish routes and trains for BVE2, BVE5, and openBVE train simulator
BVE in Virginia - Fictional BVE train simulator route set in Virginia
BVE Italia Fans - Italian route and train downloads for BVE train simulator
BVE Klub - Hungarian routes, locomotives, and tutorials for BVE train simulator
BVE Lincolnshire - East Lincolnshire Railway route for BVE
BVE London - Free London Underground routes and tube stock for openBVE
BVE Mania - Italian routes and trains for BVE train simulator
BVE Ono Kenshaku - Japanese trains and Odakyu Electric Railway route for BVE, in Japanese only
BVE Pályák - Two fictional Hungarian routes for BVE2 and BVE4 train simulators
BVE Station - Many New York City Transit Authority routes and trainsets for BVE and openBVE, plus tutorials, forums, and more
BVE Total - Brazilian downloads for BVE and openBVE
BVE Trainsim Suigo Train Bureau - Japanese routes for BVE including Togane, Narita & Sobu
BVE4Trains - British locomotive, DMU, and EMU downloads for openBVE and BVE4
BVEremiz - Hungarian routes and trains for BVE train simulator
CelticTrainsim.com - Free Irish themed routes and rolling stock downloads for OpenBVE
Deutsches OpenBVE Archiv - Worldwide routes and trains for OpenBVE
Ferrovipathe BVE - 53km fictional Scottish loop route for BVE train simulator
FEVF: Ferrovia Elettrica della Val di Fiemme - Italian routes and trains for BVE train simulator
HarbourvaleBVE - Fictional routes for openBVE including Harbourvale Line and Airport Express Line
High Speed Trains OpenBVE - Free high speed passenger train downloads for openBVE
Hmmsim 2 - Train simulator for iOS supports the use of BVE Trainsim routes
Holland Routes - Intercity route downloads for BVE train simulator
Honzaki Kotsu - Fictional Japanese routes for BVE2, BVE4, openBVE train simulators
Konkyu Group - Hong Kong routes for BVE2 and BVE4
Lignes BVE - French routes for BVE and openBVE including Chars-Gisors and LGV
Lille Rail Soft - French steam, diesel, and electric trains for BVE train simulator
London Underground BVE - Free routes and rolling stock downloads for openBVE and BVE4
MegaRailBrasil - Brazil metro route and rolling stock downloads for BVE
openBVE Locomotives - American and Brazilian diesel locomotive downloads for openBVE
openBVE Rio - Free Brazilian downloads for openBVE simulator
openBVE Trains and Routes - Free routes, trains, and tools for openBVE including both real and fictional railroads worldwide
Paul's Australian BVE Fan Site - Kurrajong and Camden routes plus a 30 Class steam engine for BVE
Openbve Download
PM's BVE Web - Japanese trains for BVE train simulator, in Japanese only
Rail Sim Routes - Highly detailed and accurate UK routes for BVE and openBVE, including the Birmingham Cross-City and Watford Junction to Rugby routes, plus detailed English tutorials and reference guides
RailUK Forums - Discussion board for BVE Trainsim with an emphasis on UK routes and trains
RouteBuilder for BVE - Visual railway editor with the ability to export created routes for the simulator BVE
Sacha's BVE Home Page - Bay Park and LUL Victoria Line routes for BVE train simulator
Saijo Line - Fictional Japanese route for openBVE only, one of the first to use animated objects
Seibu Toshima & Ikebukuro Line - Japanese route for BVE train simulator, in Japanese only
SRPS BVE Downloads - Routes for BVE2, BVE4 & openBVE including Edinburgh-Aberdeen and Bo'ness Branch
SydneyBVE - Australian routes, trains, and objects for BVE and openBVE
Tokyo Metro - Several Tokyo metro routes for BVE2 train simulator
Train-Sim Discussion Forum for BVE - Message board for discussing BVE simulator operation and routes
TranDiaTec BVE - Japanese Chuo Line rapid transit route download for BVE train simulator
TrenoMania Network - Hundreds of Italian add-ons for Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS)
TrenSim.com - Discussion forum and free add-on downloads for Microsoft Train Simulator (MSTS), RailWorks, Trainz, and BVE, with an emphasis on Spain and Latin America
Openbve Free Play
WMATA Routes for BVE - Washington DC Metro's Red Line for BVE2 train simulator
Yosansen - Japanese passenger trains and Yosansen Line route for BVE, in Japanese only
YouTube Train Videos - Channels featuring video of BVE skills and other train simulators, plus real in-cab (cab ride) videos from passenger and freight trains worldwide| Related RailServe.com Categories Search 19,000+ sites in all 180 categories! |
| BVE TrainSim | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Takashi Kojima (Mackoy) |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | BVE TS 1: 1996 BVE TS 2: 2001 BVE TS 4: 2005 BVE TS 5: 2011 BVE TS 6: 2020 |
| Genre(s) | Train simulator |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, Multi-player |
BVE Trainsim (originally Boso View Express[1][2][3]) is a Japanese three-dimensional computer-based train simulator.[3] It is notable for focusing on providing an accurate driving experience[3][4][5] as viewed from inside the cab, rather than creating a network of other trains[6][7]—other trains passed along the route are only displayed as stationary objects.[3] BVE Trainsim was designed and developed by Takashi 'Mackoy' Kojima[8] starting in 1996[3] with the original program name coming from the Japanese 255 series multiple unit trains found in routes in Japan.
Although the internal working of the BVE Trainsim program itself cannot be modified, additional routes and train cab views can be added[4][5] via a number of text-based configuration files.[6] Route builders have produced over 300 additional routes for the program, along with matching cab environments. Routes built by independent developers simulate rail activity in Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Europe.[9]
BVE Trainsim 1[edit]
BVE Trainsim 1 was released in 1996 as an Alpha version under the name Boso View Express[10] and 1999 as a Beta Version. This version, the first version of BVE to be produced, had an interface that was similar to BVE Trainsim 2, but did not have a logo. Instead, the official symbol of BVE up until the release of BVE 2 in 2001 featured the words: 暴走 VIEW EXPRESS.[11]
BVE Trainsim 2[edit]
The first stable version released in 2001. BVE Trainsim 2 featured ATS and ATC. The latest version of BVE 2 is ver. 2.6.3 which was released on 27 March 2004.
BVE Trainsim 3[edit]
Unreleased and later cancelled, BVE Trainsim 3 was originally started in 2003 as an improvement over BVE Trainsim 2, but was eventually stopped due to problems encountered with development of the aforementioned program.[11]
BVE Trainsim 4[edit]
BVE Trainsim 4, released in 2005, added support for plugins to simulate train safety systems other than ATS and ATC. Because of the cancellation of version three, this was the first follow-on stable version since version two. It also has better graphics than BVE 2 with the latter being a major update. The latest version of BVE 4 is ver. 4.2.1947.25355 which was released on 1 May 2005.
The London Transport Museum used BVE Trainsim 4 to provide a simulation platform, within a mock underground rolling stock of the London Underground 1996 Stock,[12] before later porting to openBVE in 2010.
BVE Trainsim 5[edit]
BVE Trainsim 5 was officially released on 5 September 2011 as the successor to BVE 4.
In July 2008, the developer stated that he was rewriting BVE Trainsim from scratch because the previously released versions (BVE 2 and BVE 4) do not work with DirectX 9, and that the new version would support Windows Vista and Windows 7.[13]
The first BVE 5 version (ver. 5.0.4265.3690) features a new format for storing train routes and route dependencies and a redesigned interface including a distance to next station indicator and a passenger comfort indicator. The latest version of BVE 5 is ver. 5.7.6224.40815 which was released on 17 March 2017.[14]
The BVE 5 download page also includes a route converter which can convert BVE 4 routes into a format recognised by BVE 5.
BVE Trainsim 6[edit]
BVE Trainsim 6 Release Candidate was announced and made available to the public as the successor to BVE 5 on June 21, 2020. Full release of BVE Trainsim 6 was made available on September 23, 2020.[15]
BVE 6 is released as a 64-bit application, allowing for scenarios with larger data sizes and support for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. BVE 6 also features support for 64-bit plugins, a new format for vehicle files and support for non-vertical cab gauges.[16]
Included in the new release is the Uchibo Line Scenario, demonstrating the new features available in BVE 6. [17]
Openbve Work Train
openBVE[edit]
openBVE is an independently developed open-source train simulator. Although the name and logo were originally based on BVE Trainsim, openBVE is free and open-source software developed and written from scratch. It features support for train exteriors, animated 3D cab environments and animated scenery. Internally, openBVE makes use of OpenGL for rendering, as well as OpenAL for three-dimensional positional audio.
The program is noted for its cab ambiance and realism.[18] It is currently distributed in the public domain,[19] along with full C# and Csource code.
History[edit]
openBVE was originally conceived in 2009, as a free and open-source simulator, capable of running routes from BVE Trainsim, but with the eventual aim of loading content form other simulations, and the development of a separate route format. Initial development was done over four years from 2009 to 2013, by a team of four developers, lead by Michelle Boucquemont (michelle) and odakyufan. In 2007[timeframe?] most active development has ended, as the main developer Michelle Boucquemont ended her active work. Despite the lacking developer support, around 2009 openBVE was capable of running most BVE Trainsim routes correctly and also supported additional features, including an exterior view, animated 3D cabs, and animated objects.
To end the stalled development in October 2015 a continuation of OpenBVE was announced on BVEWorldwide by another group of developers.[20] The group transferred the development and codebase to a new repository on GitHub.[21] To date (May 2017), numerous additions were made by the project: new parameters for animated objects and the plugin API,[22] several unfixed errata from the previous openBVE 1.4.3 errata fixed,[23]Dynamic lighting and backgrounds added,[24] and a basic package format has been added to make the installation of addons easier.[25]
OpenBVE was selected in September 2013 as 'HotPick' by Linux Format.[26]
References[edit]
- ^Lew, Alexander (2007-12-17). 'The Best Free Train Simulator'. Autopia. Wired News. Archived from the original on 4 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ^BVE Train Simulator(archive), The Simon Tonekham Statesman blog
- ^ abcde'Announcing Boso View Express (BVE)'. Train Simmer. 2001-02-26. Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
Boso View Express (BVE) is a freeware 3D train simulator ... under development since 1996. ... nor does it offer dynamic scenery (moving trains). It does feature ... trains that react accurately
- ^ ab'Microsoft Train Simulator'. CBS Interactive. 2005-01-03. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
BVE ... physics are comparable with the real trains. ... Plenty of routes and trains are available free too!
- ^ abBaum, Peter. 'Mechanik/ BVE'. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
the trains actually rock back and forth and lean into turns ... has still remained popular due to its superior sound, train handling characteristics, and its easily modifiable components.
- ^ abBarten, Alfred (2005). 'Virtual Railroading/Train Simulation FAQs'. Archived from the original on 6 June 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2009.
BVE is built linearly. There is no opportunity to branch, unless the branched version is treated as a second route. ... BVE routes can also be built using Notepad
- ^Hanstater, David. 'Editorial: BVE Train Simulator'. Atomic Systems IP. Retrieved 2009-08-14.
BVE is much smaller ... the only view is straight forward through the cab window. There are no outside views
- ^http://mackoy.cool.ne.jp/trifle/me.htmlArchived 2008-04-20 at the Wayback Machine linked 2007-01-12
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2012-04-13.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^https://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmackoy.cool.ne.jp%2Fnote%2Fhistory.html. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
- ^ abhttp://bve.i-circle.net/bve-trainsim/history. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
- ^'London Transport Museum BVE tube simulators'. Retrieved 2012-06-08.
- ^'BVE Trainsim 5 の開発について'. Archived from the original on 2009-02-16. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
- ^http://bvets.net/en/download/ Retrieved 2017-05-13
- ^http://bvets.net/en/updates.html Retrieved 2020-09-23
- ^https://mackoy.exblog.jp/31358717/ Retrieved 2020-06-21
- ^http://bvets.net/uchibo/ Retrieved 2020-06-21
- ^http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/03/22/openbve-the-sim-now-approaching-platform-pc/ linked 2009-05-06
- ^Cabot, Toby (2009-06-29). 'Train Simulator'. Savannah. Free Software Foundation (Latest News). Archived from the original on 2009-06-29. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
... and http://trainsimframework.org/,sites.google.com/site/openbvesim which is public domain
- ^'Initial Development Thread'. BVE Worldwide. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
- ^OpenBVE on github.com
- ^'API and Compatibility changes'.
- ^'Fixed Errata'.
- ^'Dynamic Lighting & Backgrounds'.
- ^'openBVE Packages'.
- ^Linux Format 174 September 2013 page 60
Further reading[edit]
- Barten, Alfred (2006). This Is V-scale. ISBN1-4276-0738-8.