This page explains how to create a simple `vehicle.lua` file, primarily intended for AI-controlled trains in SubwaySim 2.

A simple `vehicle.lua` usually defines:

• Vehicle metadata (name, author, IDs)
• Basic physical parameters (mass, length, vmax)
• Blueprint references
• Coupling definitions
• Braking systems
• Basic lights and audio
• Train compositions for AI

For a detailed explanation of a fully featured and player-drivable vehicle, see:

• Complex Vehicle.lua

The following example is based on the GI1E (Gisela) AI vehicle used in the SubwaySim base game.

Because the original file is not publicly downloadable, the full structure is shown below and explained step by step in separate sections.

vehicle.lua

---@type RailVehicle_DataTable
local GI1E_a = {
	contentType		= "railVehicle",
	contentName		= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
 
	title			= "GI1E",
	author			= "$GameDeveloper",
 
	emptyMass			= 37.0,
	vmax				= 70,
 
	length				= 12.64,
	frontToFirstBogie	= 2.53,
	rearToLastBogie		= 2.53,
 
	maxEnginePower		= 480,
	maxEngineForce		= 50,
 
	blueprintFilename	= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/GI1E/BP_GI1E_A.BP_GI1E_A",
 
	couplingFront		= {
		rotationOrigin		= "Coupling_F",
		couplingOffset		= 0.985,
		automaticCoupling	= true,
		skeletalMesh		= "Exterior",
		couplingBoneName	= "Coupling_Rotation1",
	},
	couplingRear		= {
		rotationOrigin		= "Coupling_B",
		couplingOffset		= 0.985,
		automaticCoupling	= true,
		skeletalMesh		= "Exterior",
		couplingBoneName	= "Coupling_Rotation2",
	},
 
	-- players shouldn't try to attach this vehicle
	cameras				= {
		exteriorCameras	= {},
	},
 
	brakingSystems		= {
		pneumatic5bar	= {
			maxBrakeForce	= 60,
		},
		electric		= {
			maxBrakeForce	= 50,
			maxBrakePower	= 480,
		},
	},
 
	components = {
		LightManager,
		VehicleNumber,
		AudioManager,
		Berlin_PIS,
	},
 
	audio = {
		audioBogieAI = {
			{
				audioComponent = "AiAudio",
			},
		},
	},
 
	lights = {
		headLights = {
			{
				direction			= 1,
				headlightElements	= {
					{
						mesh			= "Exterior",
						materialSlot	= "GI1E_LightsExterior_mat",
						materialParams	= {
							["Emissive01"] = 100,
						},
						lightComponents	= {
							{lightComponent ="Headlight1", intensity = 50, temperature = 4500, attenuationRadius = 500, innerConeAngle = 0, outerConeAngle = 70},
							{lightComponent ="Headlight2", intensity = 50, temperature = 4500, attenuationRadius = 500, innerConeAngle = 0, outerConeAngle = 70},
						},
					},
				},
			},
		},
		tailLights = {
			{
				mesh			= "Exterior",
				materialSlot	= "GI1E_LightsExterior_mat",
				direction		= -1,
				materialParams	= {
					["Emissive02"] = 100,
				},
			},
		},
	},
 
	---@type Berlin_PIS_DataTable
	PIS = {
		destinationDisplays	= {
			{
				componentName	= "ZZA",
				direction		= 1,
			},
		},
 
		announcementNextStop		= {},
		announcementTerminus		= {
			"/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/General_Termination01.General_Termination01",
		},
		announcementExitLeft		= {},
		announcementExitRight		= {
			"/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/General_ExitRight.General_ExitRight",
		},
		announcementBell			= {
			"/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Gong/Berlin_Standardgong_MasterV1_kurz.Berlin_Standardgong_MasterV1_kurz",
		},
		announcementTerminusBell	= {
			"/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Gong/Berlin_Infogong_MasterV2_kurz.Berlin_Infogong_MasterV2_kurz",
		},
		announcementDelay					= 1.2,
		defaultDestinationAnnouncement		= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/Destination_General.Destination_General",
		destinationAnnouncementByLine		= {
			["U1"]	= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/Destination_U1.Destination_U1",
			["U2"]	= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/Destination_U2.Destination_U2",
			["U3"]	= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/Destination_U3.Destination_U3",
			["U4"]	= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/Shared/Audio/Announcements/Destination_U4.Destination_U4",
		},
 
		audioComponent				= "PIS_Audio",
		autoTerminateAnnouncement	= false,
	},
 
	vehicleNumber = {
		labels	= {
			{
				mesh			= "Exterior",
				materialSlot	= "DecalDigits_mat",
			},
		},
		poolName		= "Berlin_GI1E",
		poolValueMin	= 1070,
		poolValueMax	= 1094,
	},
};
 
---@type RailVehicle_DataTable
local GI1E_b 								= TableUtil.deepCopy(GI1E_a);
GI1E_b.components 							= GI1E_a.components; -- TODO
GI1E_b.contentName 							= "Berlin_GI1E_b";
GI1E_b.blueprintFilename 					= "/SubwaySim_Berlin/Vehicles/GI1E/BP_GI1E_B.BP_GI1E_B";
GI1E_b.lights.headLights					= nil;
GI1E_b.lights.tailLights					= nil;
GI1E_b.couplingFront.couplingBoneName		= "Coupling_Rotation3";
GI1E_b.couplingRear.couplingBoneName		= "Coupling_Rotation4";
 
---@type TrainComposition_DataTable
local GI1E_1x = {
	contentType		= "trainComposition",
	contentName		= "Berlin_GI1e_1x",
 
	title			= "GI1e x1",
	author			= "Simuverse GmbH",
 
	-- not required for AI trains
	description			= "",
	previewFilename 	= "",
	hidden 				= true,
 
	vehicles		= {
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
			forward		= true,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_b",
			forward		= true,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_b",
			forward		= false,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
			forward		= false,
		},
	},
};
 
---@type TrainComposition_DataTable
local GI1E_2x = {
	contentType		= "trainComposition",
	contentName		= "Berlin_GI1e_2x",
 
	title			= "GI1e x2",
	author			= "Simuverse GmbH",
 
	-- not required for AI trains
	description			= "",
	previewFilename 	= "",
	hidden 				= true,
 
	vehicles		= {
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
			forward		= true,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_b",
			forward		= true,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_b",
			forward		= false,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
			forward		= false,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
			forward		= true,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_b",
			forward		= true,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_b",
			forward		= false,
		},
		{
			contentName	= "Berlin_GI1E_a",
			forward		= false,
		},
	},
};
 
g_contentManager:addContent(GI1E_a);
g_contentManager:addContent(GI1E_b);
g_contentManager:addContent(GI1E_1x);
g_contentManager:addContent(GI1E_2x);

In the following sections, we will break down this file step by step and explain what each part does:

• Metadata and identifiers (`contentType`, `contentName`, `title`, `author`)
• Physical parameters (`emptyMass`, `length`, `vmax`, engine values)
• Blueprint reference (`blueprintFilename`)
• Coupling setup (`couplingFront`, `couplingRear`)
• Braking systems (`brakingSystems`)
• Basic components, lights and audio
• Train compositions (`trainComposition`) for AI