Merscom LLC today announced an agreement with Auran Games to publish "Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006" for the PC in North America. The latest installment in the Trainz franchise, Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 brings the world of trains to the computer desktop and puts players in the engineer's seat.

Virtual conductors can design rail systems using over 7,500 scenery objects and drive more than 150 types of locomotives over hundreds of miles of stunning 3D terrain. Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 is scheduled for a Q4 2005 release.

One of the most anticipated features of Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 is Content Manager Plus, a new asset management utility that lets players easily access and organize files, download new content from the Download Station (which has over 50,000 assets), and even edit existing components. The Trainz tools and rules systems have been greatly improved to give players more flexibility than ever before in creating a personalized railroad adventure, and enhancements to the physics engine have significantly enhanced the driving experience.

Once known as the working title "Engineer's Edition", Trainz Railroad Simulator 2006 will ship with fully realized routes that include a wide range of activities users can immediately enjoy. Players will be able to embark on long haul freight services, high-speed passenger runs and challenging yard operations, all while servicing a huge variety of interactive stations and industries.

For more information on TRS2006 please visit http://www.VirtualTrainz.com.