A train simulator is a computer based simulation of rail transport operations.
Like flight simulators, train simulators have been produced for railway training purposes. Driver simulators include those produced by
Signaller training simulators have been developed by The Railway Engineering Company (TRE) in the UK, and OpenTrack Railway Technology in Switzerland.
There are two broad categories of train simulation video games: Driving simulations and railroad-themed strategy simulation games.
Train driving simulation games usually allow a user to have a "driver's view" from the locomotive's cab and operate realistic cab controls such as throttle, brake valve, sand, horn and whistle, lights etc.
One of the first commercially available train simulators was Southern Belle, released in 1985. The game simulated a journey of the Southern Belle steam passenger train from London Victoria to Brighton, while at the same time the player must comply with speed limits, not to go too fast on curves and keep to the schedule. It was followed with Evening Star in 1987.