Copied over from
http://www.boardgamegeek.com/article/5342976#5342976:
From my crude translation, it seems that the expansion is a re-imagining of The River with the river tiles being replaced with a large (double wide) road that connects two cities and divides the board at the beginning of the game (seems to be the exact same starting mechanics as the River):
"The trade route is a wide road that connects two major cities, played at the beginning just like the expansion: "The River". It consists of 12 tiles high quality tiles!
"The beginning and end are tiles with 3 edges of city so that both cities will have the potential to be large. The normal roads branching out of the trade route are worth an extra point for each segment; however, only if they are completed. Otherwise, the roads do not earn any points."
So, just like the River, it seems the Trade Route is not worth any points in itself. Instead, it acts like a giant Inn from Inns & Cathedrals, adding a point to each road segment that is linked to the Trade Route and negating any points that would be earned from incomplete roads. A rather interesting concept that may or may not prove useful or aesthetically pleasing. Unlike Inns & Cathedrals, the benefit of this Trade Route is that it is placed first and so players have the entire game to try and finish their +1 point routes. Again, interesting concept and good find. I do not doubt that this expansion is legitimate and will have more information available in the near future.
