The Evolution of Train in Counter-Strike: Interesting Facts, Easter Eggs, and Iconic Matches
The map Train holds a special place in the history of the Counter-Strike series, being one of the most recognizable and popular among players. From its appearance in CS 1.6 to CS:GO and its subsequent return in CS2, it has undergone significant changes, and in 2025, we will experience a completely different Train. In this article, you will learn about how the map looked in different eras, revisit iconic moments, discover interesting Easter eggs from past and current versions, and recall several legendary matches.
Train in CS 1.6
Train first appeared in Counter-Strike as a map set in an old railway depot. Its main feature was the abundance of trains that divided the space and influenced gameplay. Narrow passages, long sightlines, and a high level of vertical gameplay made Train one of the most challenging maps to master.
Key Gameplay Features in CS 1.6:
- The legendary “B” bombsite on the upper warehouse with a train, where snipers often defended.
- The “A” bombsite with tightly packed trains, providing a tactical advantage to players who knew how to utilize smoke grenades.
- The Heaven position, offering a great view of the entire A-site.
- The staircases, which were dangerous for both sides, allowing for ambushes or retakes.
Train's Overhaul in CS:GO (2014)
In December 2014, Train was completely redesigned to meet the more modern standards and requirements of the competitive scene. Valve took player feedback into account regarding the excessive complexity of the old design, making the map cleaner and more balanced.
Key Changes:
- Object movement: Trains were lowered, improving visibility and reducing the influence of snipers on the round’s outcome.
- Changes to A and B sites: Train cars were repositioned to create more cover and reduce attackers’ advantages.
- Optimization: Unnecessary passages were removed, crawling under trains was forbidden, and the Heaven position was moved, making it less effective.
- Graphical changes: The map adopted a more modern industrial style while retaining the Soviet atmosphere.
Train's Return in CS2 (2024)
Train returned in Counter-Strike 2 with a major update featuring improved lighting, textures, and new design elements. One of the key features was the addition of weather effects, such as rain, which enhanced the map’s atmosphere and improved the appearance of player models due to water droplets on weapons and hands.
Key Changes:
- Graphical improvements: The use of the Source 2 engine made the map more realistic. Reflections and light effects were added, altering visibility and gameplay experience.
- Weather effects: During rain, smoke grenades disperse differently, and footsteps become less audible.
- Tactical changes: The size of the map was significantly reduced, and some positions were reworked (Heaven was completely removed, and the A-site was made more open. The upper/lower staircase was replaced with a long corridor, and the upper B-site entrance was blocked).
Iconic Matches on Train
- SK Gaming vs Liquid – ESL One Cologne 2016 One of the most memorable matches on Train occurred in the grand final of ESL One Cologne 2016. SK Gaming defeated Liquid, and the Brazilian team won the Major title for the second consecutive time.
- Virtus.pro vs Astralis – ELEAGUE Major 2017 This Major grand final marked the rise of Astralis as the best team in CS:GO history. The experienced Polish team Virtus.pro led 13-7 on Train, but gla1ve’s legendary round with a Tec-9 helped the Danes complete the comeback.
- Gambit vs Immortals – PGL Major Krakow 2017 Gambit chose Train as their map pick after losing the first map in the grand final. Having previously defeated the legendary Astralis, the CIS team was expected to easily beat the Brazilians, but the match ended up being incredibly close.
- Quantum Bellator Fire vs MOUZ – ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 The underdog team QBF made a stunning comeback from a 13-2 deficit, winning the second half 14-1 and advancing to the Major playoffs. The star of the team was the young BoombI4, who captivated the arena’s fans.
Interesting Facts about Train in CS2
Train in CS2 is filled with various Easter eggs and references, here are a few:
- Reference to Viktor Tsoi and the band “Kino”: On a train near the B site, there is a graffiti with a crossed-out “Kino” logo and the phrase “Wish me luck,” referencing the song “Blood Type.”
- List of map developers: On one of the walls, there are the names of all the developers involved in creating the new version of Train as a tribute to their work.
- Picture of the old Train version: In one of the rooms, there is a picture depicting the Train from the CS:GO era as a nostalgic reference for long-time fans of the game.
- Real phone number: A phone number on one of the walls leads to a delivery service in the Voronezh region, and it turns out the number is real.
- “Respect the pigeons” graffiti: On a trash bin, there is a graffiti that reads “Respect the pigeons,” referencing a bug in CS:GO where players could fly on birds for an unfair advantage.
- Music in the counter-terrorist spawn vehicle: Now, music plays from a vehicle at the counter-terrorist spawn, adding atmosphere to the start of the round.
- Old Train slideshow: Near the B site, there is a computer playing a slideshow of images from the old de_train from CS 1.6.
- Missing chicken ads: On the terrorist side’s bulletin board, there are posters in Russian about missing chickens. While chickens aren’t on Train, they appear on other maps like Inferno and Anubis.
- Station names as map references: Opposite the bulletin board is an information panel with names of railway stations, which reference existing and possibly future maps in the game.
- QR code to CS2 Steam page: Next to the station list, there is a QR code that leads to the Counter-Strike 2 Steam page when scanned.
Easter Eggs from Previous Versions of Train
- “Popdog” area: The area near the ladder connecting the A bombsite to the depot building (upper/lower) is called “Popdog.” This is a reference to the original creators of the map, who named the area the same.
- “Do not step on the birds” sign: Near the terrorist spawn, there is a sign referring to a temporary bug when players could fly on birds.
- Vladimir Lenin mosaic: In the updated version of the map, a mosaic featuring Vladimir Lenin has been added to a building near the terrorist spawn.
- Geiger counter: A Geiger counter is located at the A bombsite, adding to the atmosphere.
- Radio playing TF2 music: In a café near the terrorist base, music from Team Fortress 2 plays.
- Depot name: The depot building on the map is named “LESGORAD-1 STATION.”
Statistics and Popularity
Train has remained one of the most popular maps in professional play for many years.
Win Rate on Train (CS:GO):
- Terrorists: 45%
- Counter-Terrorists: 55%
Last Tournament
The last major tournament where Train was featured before its removal from the competitive pool was ESL Pro League Season 13, which concluded on May 3, 2021. After that, Train was replaced by Ancient and was absent from the competitive pool until 2025.
Conclusion
The return of this map to the competitive pool is a true celebration for the community, eagerly awaiting new legendary matches and highlights on their beloved map. The only question left is: Is Train ready for its return to the pro scene?
