Retail versions were released later that year. RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012 was released on Steam on 23 September 2011 under the name Train Simulator 2012. Owners of the original RailWorks received a free upgrade to the RailWorks 2 core technology via the Steam platform. Contents in retail versions could vary in different countries to include local routes and locomotives. RailWorks 2 featured the same routes and content as the original game, and only one new route: TestTraK, based on the Test and validation centre, a German testing facility owned by Siemens Mobility used for technical acceptance tests and approvals of locomotives and rolling stock. It also featured level crossing animations, among other improvements. Players could earn Steam Achievements for completing scenarios, as well as compete and compare scores online via Steam Leaderboards. The new version contained a range of new features and enhancements, including enhanced menus, the new RS Cab Control driver interface and new RS Career System scenarios. The first major update to RailWorks was RailWorks 2: Train Simulator, released on Steam on 18 October 2010 under the name RailWorks 2. Train Simulator became Train Simulator Classic which was released on the 26th April 2022. The core game has received several updates since release, including major new versions RailWorks 2: Train Simulator, RailWorks 3: Train Simulator 2012, Train Simulator 2013, Train Simulator 2014, Train Simulator 2015, Train Simulator 2016, Train Simulator 2017, Train Simulator 2018, Train Simulator 2019, Train Simulator 2020, Train Simulator 2021 and Train Simulator 2022 released between 20, respectively.

Steam is used to deliver additional routes and locomotives in the form of downloadable content. It is a Steamworks title, which means it uses and requires Steam to activate and to deliver core game updates. The first release of RailWorks contained all five real-world routes of the original European and North American releases of Rail Simulator, and added three new fictional routes: Hedborough North, a large UK goods yard, Seebergbahn, a route set in the Alpine region and Castle Rock Railroad, a route based around Denver, Colorado. It is the successor to Rail Simulator, and was released online on 12 June 2009 and in stores on 3 July 2009. Train Simulator Classic (originally RailWorks and Train Simulator) is a train simulation game developed by Dovetail Games.

Railworks 3 railroad crossing