In this guide I'll be listing startup procedures and nonstandard hotkeys of trains that I own.

For a full overview of all the keys you can just read the manuals, I'm writing this mostly as a quick reference for myself.

I'll be expanding this guide with more trains over time.

If you're having difficulty getting your train to move, check out this checklist: https://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1566264177

• 23 March 2021: Published first version of the guide.
  
• 28 March 2021: Added BR 218 & Bnrdzf cab car by VirtualRailroads
  
• 25 December 2021: Minor additions and fixes.
  
• 31 December 2023: Added U-Bahn Hamburg HHA Type DT5

Train Simulator has different hotkeys depending on what language the game is in. This guide is in English, and I play the game in English, so keep in mind that your experience can be different if you play in German or another language.

On top of that, German rolling stock not from DTG tends to use slightly different hotkeys for common features, even when the game is played in English. For example, this applies to Expert-Line trains from Virtual Railroads and trains from Railworks Austria:


These make sense considering you need to press SIFA a lot more often than the horn.

This one uses German-style hotkeys.

First move to the locomotive and start the engine, set the brake mode and turn on train heating as described above. Then go back to the cabcar, set up the safety systems and you're ready to go. The keys are the same as for the locomotive.


Fast off sets the throttle to 0 quickly and is intended for emergencies. This key was not listed in the manual. PZB help was shown as "Shift + ß" in the manual, but good luck finding the ß key on an English keyboard.

This is for the BR 476.3 that comes with the Mitten durch Berlin / Heart of Berlin route.

Press Shift + Z and wait for it to finish.

Finally set up the destination displays using the Krüger device. The codes you need are in the manual, or will be mentioned during the scenario.


I bought this directly from the developer[www.virtualtracks.eu], so I don't know if the Steam version is any different.

Press Z and wait for it to finish.


Afterwards, set up IBIS for the announcements and destination display (see below).


A full list of IBIS data can be found in the manual, but here are some of the more common entries for the S25 route.

The keys and procedures are the same for all three included trains: U3, U4 and U5.


You need to enter the following:

• Kurs: A number between 1 and 12. Effectively meaningless in the simulator.
  
• Linie: Line number, precede with 9, e.g. U5 = 95
  
• Ziel: You enter TWO numbers here. First is origin, followed by destination. e.g. 709 for Hbf, then 726 for Preungesheim.

The buttons to the left of the number panel are for scrolling through the stops. They're organized like this from top to bottom:

• Fast forward next stop
  
• Next stop
  
• Previous stop
  
• Fast forward previous stop

I'm basing all this on the version sold by JustTrains.

The U2 and Ptb trams have identical hotkeys.


For this you'll have to use the external "informator" tool.

Press F. Wait for the train to start up. Then use the mouse to press the button labeled "Übernahme" on the touch screen monitor on the right. You're now ready to drive.

Most things are set up with the mouse, such as the radio and destination display. Codes for the destination display are listed on the wall on your right. Even the driving direction is switched with the touch screen monitor on your right.

Go to FIS(ELA) and then press ZZA (Zugzielanzeige) to set the destination display. Use the buttons above and below the list to scroll through it. The button above ZZA, with the H between two arrows, is used to set the current station.

The manual has a few errors in it. The following is correct.

This is what you do if the engine isn't running yet.

This is what you do if the engine is already running.

This text is licensed as Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)[creativecommons.org].


This guide is not licensed for training an AI or to be minted as NFT.

Feel free to link to this guide.

If you have any feedback, additions, corrections, suggestions, etc., please leave a comment below and help make this guide even better.