New features and improvements included Xbox 360 Controller support, Relay Play mode allowing for users to combine efforts to complete scenarios (removed since Train Simulator 2014), new menus and control options (including the new Quick Drive mode), updated HUDs, improved 2D task map and support for a new community download center using the Steam Workshop where players can share and download free user-created scenarios.

[12] Owners of Train Simulator 2012 received a free upgrade to the TS2013 core technology via the Steam platform.

It featured a new menu system, better graphics including increased draw distance and headlight flares, a new camera system with user-adjustable FOV, improved passenger appearance and behaviour, improved editing tools, expanded Quick Drive mode and an enhanced Career mode, letting players earn points towards medals, rewards and achievements.

The Steam Workshop feature was expanded to support free user-created routes, in addition to scenarios, and the new Marketplace was designed to make it simpler to share and obtain new third-party payware content.

[14] Those who purchased the Steam Edition, also received an additional seven-mile (11 km) Sheerness Branch line in Kent (an extension to the London–Faversham High Speed route) and two extra locomotives (Class 466 and SD70M).

Owners of Train Simulator 2013 received a free upgrade to the TS2014 core technology via the Steam platform.

Routes included with the Standard Edition were East Coast Main Line: London–Peterborough, Northeast Corridor: New York–New Haven and Munich–Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Owners of Train Simulator 2014 received a free upgrade to the TS2015 core technology via the Steam platform.

[17] The beta access to Train Sim World: CSX Heavy Haul started at 8 December 2016 at around 6pm GMT.

Train Simulator 2020, released on 19 September 2019, comes with three routes: Nuremberg & Regensburg, South Western Main Line: Southampton – Bournemouth and Norfolk Southern N-Line.

This year's edition comes with three routes: Norddeutsche-bahn: Kiel – Lübeck, Clinchfield Railroad, the Fife Circle Line.

The Deluxe Edition also includes a new route, the West Coast Main Line South: London Euston – Birmingham.

[23] The game features steam, diesel and electric traction trains; keyboard, mouse or gamepad are used to control throttles, brakes and switches with Simple and Expert driving models for varying player skills.

Quick Drive mode allows a player to pick a train (or to put together their own by snapping together cars), choose a route, set departure and destination stations and decide on the time of day, the season and the weather.

The route editor has the ability to import Digital Elevation Model data (DEM) to shape the terrain and has a built in Google Maps overlay.

Various add-ons are available for Train Simulator, containing routes and rolling stock units for Quick Drive use, as well as scenarios for Standard, Career and Free Roam modes.

[25] IGN gave RailWorks a seven out of ten, or "good", stating that the game "doesn't bring a lot of new stuff to the genre" and graphically "lacks the high-end flair of today's top-level titles".