Despite no official announcement from Valve, many Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) fans are convinced that the release of an iconic map, Train (de_Train), is arriving at the station sooner rather than later. According to our in-house CS2 expert, the Train release date may be around December 16, 2024. These rumors began swirling after Valve updated its official CS2 account on X with a new banner showcasing asphalt with a familiar crack and reflection in the Source 2 engine.
Let’s take a look at when Train could be released in CS2, the potential changes for a Source 2 version, and which map it could replace in the Active Duty Map Pool.
Please note: Our discussion about Train’s potential release in CS2 includes speculation, educated guesswork, and historical data. We’ll update our readers when official information becomes available. Until such time, take release date information with a grain of salt.
CS2 Train Map
When Will Train Release In CS2?
Valve has yet to announce when Train will arrive in CS2. And whether it’s Train or not remains up in the air! Some fans actually think it’s another map, such as Cobblestone, or a completely new map that the developer is teasing. However, the reflection at the top-right side of the image, which looks like a building from Train’s T-spawn, along with data-mined updates to the map, has convinced us.
A History Of Train
Train was added to the original Counter-Strike on Dec. 30, 1999, as part of the BETA 5.0 update. It’s also one of the previous Active Duty CS2 maps that have yet to enter the competitive rotation in CS2, with Cobblestone and Cache being the two other omissions. The developer showed a glimpse of the original Train during the CS2 launch trailer more than one year ago, so the map’s release does feel inevitable. The question is not “if” but “when” we’ll see Train launch in CS2.
A December Release, Perhaps?
So, when will we finally get the CS2 Train map release? We can’t say for sure. However, our resident Counter-Strike expert speculates that Train should only be released sometime after the Perfect World Shanghai Major Championship finishes up, not during the event. Based on historical trends, the earliest possible release date could be Dec. 16, 2024.
Another aspect to consider is that Train’s 25th anniversary is Dec. 30, 2024. If Valve wants to get sentimental, the developer could wait until the precise date to release the iconic map with a massive update to finish the year in style. Therefore, our initial speculation is a release date window of Dec. 16 to 30, 2024.
Keep in mind that Valve does not follow a strict patch schedule. It releases huge content updates for CS2 on different days of the week. The developer generally sticks to updates on work days and tends not to release anything significant on Saturdays or Sundays.
Which Map Will Train Replace In The Active Duty Pool?
All signs point to Train replacing Vertigo, especially Valve dropped a sly hint at the end of October 2024 that the map may get removed from competitive play. It is no secret that most professional players and casual gamers prefer not to play Vertigo. Even those who still love the skyscraper map no doubt notice how it was only played twice at the BLAST Premier World Final 2024, indicating low popularity amongst pro teams and coaches.
At the time of writing, it is unclear how long after Train’s CS2 release we’ll have to wait before it joins the Active Duty Map Pool. For context, Dust2 was added to the Active Duty Map Pool on April 26, 2024, replacing Overpass roughly four weeks after the PGL Copenhagen Major. If the same trend continues with Train replacing Vertigo, our educated guess is that Train will become part of the Active Duty Map Pool in the CS2 esports scene before the end of January 2025.
Changes To The CS2 Version Of Train
There’s no official word of the changes Valve will make to the layout of Train for its return to CS2. However, we predict the developer will make adjustments to alleviate previous shortcomings of the iconic Counter-Strike map.
Train’s issues in the CS:GO esports scene included the following:
- Unbalanced: Train was CT favored in competitive Counter-Strike. According to HLTV, the all-time stats on Train indicate 54.7% round wins on the CT side, compared to 45.3% T-side round wins. The difference is nearly 10%, which is exceptionally high for a CS map.
- Long Rotations: Train wasn’t very popular in CS:GO matchmaking before its removal from the Active Duty Map Pool in May 2021 because of how long it took to rotate from one bombsite to the other. When Train returns, we’re hoping Valve adds another, shorter avenue to rotation between bombsite A and B. This would be a welcome change that could help balance the map.
Other likely updates include map adjustments for the Max Round 12 (MR12) format, graphical improvements, several bug fixes, and sound enhancements. Known data miners and leakers have also said that Valve added new thunder and rain sound files to Train and wet effects to the map’s textures.
Waiting Patiently For The Train
While there’s certainly a lot of evidence pointing to Train’s inevitable addition to CS2, only time will tell if we had the right ticket—or if this one passed us by. OK, enough train puns, because we’re genuinely excited about any new map entering the Active Duty Pool, especially with the collective disdain for Vertigo in the community.
In the meantime, you can keep up with all the CS2 esports action on our dedicated CS2 betting page. You’ll find live streams of all the best events and tournaments to go along with our unbeatable odds.
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