ZDSimulator: EP1m Locomotive

The EP1m Locomotive DLC for ZDSimulator was developed and published by the ZDSimulator Team. It was released on 17 April 2025, and, like the base game, is available only on Windows — there are no console or alternate‑platform ports indicated. Ownership of the base simulator is required to use the DLC.

This DLC adds the EP1M, an AC electric passenger locomotive originally designed for 25 kV electrification by the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant. In the simulator, the EP1M is modelled with attention to technical detail: a six‑axle Bo‑Bo‑Bo configuration, accurate pantograph and overhead‑line interaction, and a driver’s cab designed to reflect its real‑world counterpart. The locomotive is aimed at passenger service on AC‑electrified mainlines, representing a modern post‑Soviet passenger engine suitable for intercity trains in the game’s virtual rail network.

Promotion for the EP1m DLC was primarily done through its store listing on Steam. The listing highlights the locomotive’s history, its technical specifications, and its suitability for passenger operations. As part of the initial wave of locomotive and route DLCs released with ZDSimulator on Steam, the EP1M was presented among many other rolling‑stock and route options. There was no large-scale external marketing campaign; visibility depended mostly on the Steam catalogue and interest from the existing train‑sim community.

Reception has been limited, due to the small number of user reviews — currently just one. From community forum discussions among players of ZDSimulator, opinion appears cautiously mixed. Some enthusiasts welcome the EP1M as a realistic and historically relevant passenger locomotive, appreciating the added variety in rolling stock. Others caution that its usefulness depends heavily on having compatible AC‑electrified routes available — without suitable track and service scenarios, the locomotive’s practical value in the game is reduced. Consequently, the EP1m DLC seems to appeal primarily to dedicated simulation fans who value realism and a broader roster of authentic locomotives rather than casual players looking for simpler or more immediately accessible content.