The Long Island Rail Road LIRR M3 is a key Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) available as an add-on for the Train Sim World series, allowing players to experience classic commuter operations on one of North America’s busiest rail networks.
🔑 Essential Details & Requirements
| Feature | Description |
| Rolling Stock | LIRR M3 Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) |
| Configuration | Two-car “Married Pair” |
| Role | Commuter Passenger Service |
| Required Route | Long Island Rail Road: New York – Hicksville route add-on |
| Compatibility | TSW Compatible (TSW 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6) |
🛠️ Authentic Simulation Features
The M3 add-on is faithfully recreated to capture the specific operational experience of the real-world commuter train:
- True-to-Life Performance: Features accurate performance and handling of the electric-powered two-car set.
- Authentic Cab & Sound: Includes a highly detailed driving cab with controls, and authentic sound recordings taken from the real LIRR M3 unit.
- Safety Systems: Operates with functional in-cab safety systems, including Automatic Train Control (ATC) and ACSES (Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System).
🗺️ Routes & Content
The M3 is fully integrated into the existing LIRR route, providing an alternate schedule layer:
- Core Route: The required Long Island Rail Road route (New York – Hicksville) utilizes the M3 for commuter services.
- Gameplay:
- Fully operable within the Timetable Mode on the LIRR route.
- Includes three engaging scenarios and an interactive training module.
💰 Purchasing Information
The LIRR M3 EMU add-on is generally priced around $19.99 USD, though prices may vary by platform or current sales.4
- PC: Steam and Epic Games Store
- Console: PlayStation Store (PS4/PS5) and Xbox Store
Would you like to know the differences in operation between the M3 and the M7 EMU (which is often included with the base LIRR route)?
That is a fantastic question that gets into the fine details of LIRR operations!
Yes, there are significant differences between operating the LIRR M3 and the LIRR M7 (which is usually the default train on the route):
M3 vs. M7 Operational Differences
| Feature | LIRR M3 (Add-On) | LIRR M7 (Base Route) |
| Era/Technology | Older, 1980s-era electrics. | Modern, 2000s-era electrics (built by Bombardier). |
| Cab Experience | Features an older, more classic control setup. | Features a modern, digitalized cab with CDP interactive screens for the engineer. |
| Traction Control | Utilizes older mechanical or electro-pneumatic control characteristics. | Uses modern 3-phase AC traction motors, which offer better acceleration and stopping power (in the real world). |
| In-Game Handling | Tends to be modeled as quieter, smoother, and perhaps requiring less effort to modulate speed, reflecting its older, continuous control design. | Often modeled as having very strong, almost “twitchy” acceleration and braking, requiring more frequent cycling between power and brake to maintain speeds. |
| In-Cab Safety Systems | Features ATC and ACSES. The safety systems are optional to turn off in the M3 in some TSW versions. | Features ATC and ACSES. On the M7/M9, the safety systems are typically mandatory and cannot be turned off. |
| Replacement Status | These are the older cars that the newer M9s (and initially the M7s) were bought to replace, making them a “classic” experience. | These are the primary workhorse cars of the LIRR today. |
In short, driving the M3 gives you a feel for the older, “classic” LIRR operation, while the M7 provides the more modern, technically sophisticated, and often more aggressively accelerating experience of the current commuter fleet.
