🚂 Train Simulator Bridge

🇬🇧 English | 🇮🇹 Italiano | 🇩🇪 Deutsch

Physical replica of the MFA indicator panel from German trains (PZB / SIFA / LZB) using an Arduino Leonardo with 13 LEDs via MAX7219 driver (3 pins), driven in real-time by Train Sim World 6 or Zusi 3.

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Screenshots

Main GUI	MFA Popup	Web Panel	Profile Tab

Overview

┌──────────────┐    HTTP / TCP    ┌──────────────────┐    Serial    ┌─────────────────┐
│  Train Sim   │ ──────────────> │  Train Simulator │ ──────────> │  Arduino        │
│  World 6     │   port 31270    │  Bridge (Python) │  115200 bd  │  Leonardo       │
│  or          │   port 1436     │                  │             │  13 LEDs (MFA)  │
│  Zusi 3      │                 │  Tkinter GUI     │             │  MAX7219 LEDs   │
└──────────────┘                 └──────────────────┘             └─────────────────┘

The application reads real-time data from a train simulator and controls 13 physical LEDs that replicate the MFA (Multifunktionale Anzeige) panel found in German locomotive cabs.

Features

• Dual simulator support: TSW6 (HTTP API) and Zusi 3 (TCP binary protocol)
• TSW6: 7 train profiles with custom endpoint mappings (DB BR 101 Expert, Vectron, Bpmmbdzf Expert, BR 146.2, BR 114, BR 411 ICE-T, BR 406 ICE 3)
• Zusi 3: works with most trains — LED data comes via generic TCP protocol
• SimRail (planned): support will be added when official I/O APIs for cab instrumentation are released
• Auto-detect (TSW6): automatically identifies the active locomotive and loads the correct LED profile
• 13 physical LEDs: PZB (55/70/85, 500Hz, 1000Hz), SIFA, LZB (Ende, Ü, G, S), Doors (L/R), Befehl 40
• Realistic LED behavior: priority-based logic with steady ON, variable-speed BLINK, PZB 70↔85 Wechselblinken
• MFA Web Panel: browser-based LED panel accessible via tablet / phone on the local network
• QR Code: one-click QR code for easy tablet connection to the web panel
• Multilingual GUI: Italian, English, German — auto-detects system language, switchable with flag icons
• Modern GUI: dark theme interface with real-time LED preview
• Standalone EXE: build with PyInstaller, no Python installation required

MFA Panel — 13 LEDs

#	LED	Function
1	SIFA	Sicherheitsfahrschaltung (dead man's switch)
2	LZB	Linienzugbeeinflussung Ende
3	PZB 70	PZB mode M (70 km/h)
4	PZB 85	PZB mode O (85 km/h)
5	PZB 55	PZB mode U (55 km/h)
6	500 Hz	PZB 500 Hz frequency
7	1000 Hz	PZB 1000 Hz frequency
8	Türen L	Left doors unlocked
9	Türen R	Right doors unlocked
10	LZB Ü	LZB supervision
11	LZB G	LZB active
12	LZB S	LZB forced braking
13	Befehl 40	Befehl 40 km/h

Requirements

Software

• Python 3.13+ (or use the prebuilt EXE)
• Windows 10/11
• Train Sim World 6 with External Interface API enabled (see TSW6 Setup), or Zusi 3

Hardware

• Arduino Leonardo (ATmega32U4)
• 13 LEDs driven by MAX7219 module (3 pins)
• See Arduino Firmware for two firmware options

Installation

From source

git clone https://github.com/Giako888/bridge-trainsim-arduino.git
cd bridge-trainsim-arduino
pip install -r requirements.txt
python tsw6_arduino_gui.py

Build EXE

python -m PyInstaller TSW6_Arduino_Bridge.spec --noconfirm
# Output: dist/TrainSimBridge.exe

TSW6 Setup

1. Enable the HTTP API

TSW6's External Interface API is disabled by default. You must add the -HTTPAPI launch parameter:

Steam

1. Open Steam → Library
2. Right-click Train Sim World 6 → Properties
3. In the General tab, find Launch Options
4. Type:

   -HTTPAPI
   

5. Close the window — the setting is saved automatically

Epic Games

1. Open Epic Games Launcher → Library
2. Click the three dots (⋯) on Train Sim World 6 → Manage
3. Check Additional Command Line Arguments
4. Type:

   -HTTPAPI
   

5. Close the window

2. Launch TSW6 & generate the API key

1. Launch Train Sim World 6 (with -HTTPAPI active)
2. The game will automatically generate the API key file at:

   %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\TrainSimWorld6\Saved\Config\CommAPIKey.txt
   

   Note: this file is only created after the first launch with -HTTPAPI.

3. Connect Train Simulator Bridge

1. Open Train Simulator Bridge, select TSW6 and click Connect
2. The API key is read automatically — no manual configuration needed
3. The train is detected automatically and the LED profile loads

Zusi 3 Setup

1. Launch Zusi 3 with the TCP interface active (port 1436)
2. In Train Simulator Bridge, select Zusi3 and click Connect
3. LED data is received via generic TCP protocol — works with most trains, no per-train profiles needed

Supported Trains

TSW6 — Specific profiles required

Each TSW6 train needs a dedicated profile with custom API endpoint mappings. Only the following trains are currently supported:

Train	PZB	LZB	SIFA	Notes
DB BR 101 (Expert)	PZB_V3	LZB	BP_Sifa_Service	Full MFA panel
Siemens Vectron	PZB_Service_V3	LZB_Service	BP_Sifa_Service	No MFA
Bpmmbdzf (Expert)	—	—	—	Cab car (same endpoints as BR101 Expert)
DB BR 146.2	PZB_Service_V2	LZB_Service	SIFA	26 mappings, realistic PZB 90
DB BR 114	PZB	—	BP_Sifa_Service	No LZB, both cabs (F/B)
DB BR 411 ICE-T	PZB_Service_V3	LZB	BP_Sifa_Service	Tilting train, no MFA
DB BR 406 ICE 3	PZB	LZB	IsSifaInEmergency	ICE 3M, partial key matching

More TSW6 trains will be added in future versions. — Most trains supported

Zusi 3 provides cab instrumentation data via a generic TCP protocol (Fahrpult message). The LED panel works with most trains that expose PZB/SIFA/LZB data — no per-train profiles needed.

Arduino Firmware

Two firmware versions are available, both 100% compatible with Train Simulator Bridge (same serial protocol):

	ArduinoSerialOnly	ArduinoJoystick
Purpose	LED panel only (MFA)	LED panel + full joystick controller
Components	~16 (Arduino + 13 LEDs + 13 resistors)	70+ (LEDs + sliders + encoder + switches + diodes)
Pins used	5 (A3, 0, 1, A4, 14/MISO)	All 20 pins + pin 14 (ICSP)
Libraries	None	Joystick + Encoder
Difficulty	Easy	Advanced

See ARDUINO_FIRMWARE.md for full details, wiring guide, and component list. Also available in: English | Deutsch

💡 Tip for Joystick version users: to set up the Arduino joystick in TSW6, check out TSW Controller App — a great tool for mapping your controller axes and buttons.

Project Structure

├── tsw6_arduino_gui.py        # Main GUI (Tkinter)
├── led_panel.py               # MFA LED panel (Tkinter popup + web server)
├── i18n.py                    # Translations (IT/EN/DE)
├── tsw6_api.py                # TSW6 HTTP API client
├── config_models.py           # Data models, profiles, conditions
├── arduino_bridge.py          # Arduino serial communication
├── zusi3_client.py            # Zusi 3 TCP client
├── zusi3_protocol.py          # Zusi 3 binary protocol parser
├── TSW6_Arduino_Bridge.spec   # PyInstaller spec file
├── requirements.txt           # Python dependencies
├── ARDUINO_FIRMWARE.md        # Arduino firmware guide (IT)
├── ARDUINO_FIRMWARE_EN.md     # Arduino firmware guide (EN)
├── ARDUINO_FIRMWARE_DE.md     # Arduino firmware guide (DE)
├── ArduinoSerialOnly/         # Firmware: serial LED only (simple)
│   ├── ArduinoSerialOnly.ino
│   └── WIRING.h
├── ArduinoJoystick/           # Firmware: LED + joystick (full)
│   ├── ArduinoJoystick.ino
│   └── WIRING.h
├── tsw6_bridge.ico            # Application icon
└── COPILOT_CONTEXT.md         # Full context for GitHub Copilot

LED Priority Logic

Each LED can have multiple mappings with a numeric priority. The highest-priority mapping with a satisfied condition wins:

Priority	Effect	Example
0	Steady ON	Active PZB mode
1	BLINK 1.0s	Frequency monitoring
3	BLINK 1.0s	Restricted mode (Wechselblinken)
4	BLINK 0.5s	Overspeed
5	BLINK 0.3s	Emergency

Wechselblinken (PZB 90)

In restriktiv mode, PZB 70 and PZB 85 LEDs alternate in anti-phase (Wechselblinken), exactly like the real PZB 90 system:

"Wird eine 1000- oder 500-Hz-Beeinflussung restriktiv, so wird dies durch Wechselblinken der Zugart-Leuchtmelder 70 und 85 angezeigt." — Wikipedia DE, Punktförmige Zugbeeinflussung

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

You are free to share and adapt this work for non-commercial purposes, with appropriate credit. See LICENSE for details.