Why use trains vs trucks?

[Oddible]

What are some of the defining factors that help me make a decision on trains vs trucks. I read that ships for instance have one of the highest up front costs but the lowest maintenance cost. How do trucks / trains fare? Is it that trains have a high up front cost but lower maintenance than trucks?

If I were to put an equal number of trucks on the road to match a rail cargo connection between point A and point B where are the tipping points if any (for instance, if the distance is X and the line time is Y you should use a train instead of trucks). Or would that many trucks sink me in maintenance cost?

[Oddible]

Here's an example:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1942509151

Some have said to run a truck line between the close crude and oil. Others have said run a train since it is along the track to where the fuel refinery is anyway. How do you make this decision of truck vs train? What is your thinking process and logic.

[Autocoach]

Well with a full loan available and a desire to start with oil .

Trucks from the near oil well to the 1st refinery (to make processed oil)
Train from the back right oil well to the 1st refinery
Train from the back right oil well to the 2nd refinery (to make fuel) and make sure this line has a stop at or near the town on the way back .

Both lines double tracked , should have money for a couple of trains on the 1st line and one on the 2nd .

First line should be full both ways as I would aim to get the two oil wells running at the same rate.

[genemead]

I have 3 Rules Of Thumb:
* If you "need" 20+ trucks on a line, use a train.
* Use trucks for short routes.
* Use trains for long routes.

A train hauls more and is much quicker, making it well worth the extra cost.

However, it all depends on the terrain. Sometimes it's just too hilly to make trains viable.

[canophone]

Between those points, I wouldn't run any line. I'd choose industries further to match those industries. You'll get more out of production with farther range, as trucks do have a maximum capacity that is better served with trains and boats.

[Autocoach]

Originally posted by canophone:

Between those points, I wouldn't run any line. I'd choose industries further to match those industries. You'll get more out of production with farther range, as trucks do have a maximum capacity.

I can see the benefit , possibly the one right at the back on the other bank . However because of the 1:2 ratio you will always want a close one to maximise profits on the far away ones with back loads.

[Oddible]

Originally posted by Autocoach:

Well with a full loan available and a desire to start with oil .

Trucks from the near oil well to the 1st refinery (to make processed oil)
Train from the back right oil well to the 1st refinery
Train from the back right oil well to the 2nd refinery (to make fuel) and make sure this line has a stop at or near the town on the way back .

Both lines double tracked , should have money for a couple of trains on the 1st line and one on the 2nd .

First line should be full both ways as I would aim to get the two oil wells running at the same rate.

But see why chose a truck line for the near Oil Well? In 1850 that increases my maintenance cost because now I have a truck stop at a location that I already have a train station (Oil Refinery) as well as a truck depot. Whereas I'll already have a rail depot.

BTW thanks for the suggestion to run the train around the mountain in the direction of the farther oil well to the fuel refinery - I was running it to the left past Lansing it is more efficient carrying crude back to the refinery on its return trip.

[Autocoach]

Initially trains cost a fair bit to buy , also in my approach I want to make the capacity of the two lines carrying crude identical . I will buy x trains to a set spec that I am happy with and just work out how many trucks are required to match the line capacity because I care about maximum train profits.

[canophone]

Originally posted by Autocoach:

Originally posted by canophone:

Between those points, I wouldn't run any line. I'd choose industries further to match those industries. You'll get more out of production with farther range, as trucks do have a maximum capacity.

I can see the benefit , possibly the one right at the back on the other bank . However because of the 1:2 ratio you will always want a close one to maximise profits on the far away ones with back loads.

Yes, I'd go with the second from top right for crude, transport crude and oil back and forth, and transfer from the crude to industry to process the oil.

[Gregorovitch]

The limiting factors with trucks are speed, loading/unloading time and traffic, including trucks on your own line getting in each others way. Trucks only make sense when a train doesn't make sense and that is pretty much limited to very short routes.

[canophone]

Originally posted by Gregorovitch:

The limiting factors with trucks are speed, loading/unloading time and traffic, including trucks on your own line getting in each others way. Trucks only make sense when a train doesn't make sense and that is pretty much limited to very short routes.

Yes, often short routes and hills. Although there are other times too, but those often can be served with trains and boats. I've been onto tropical and mesa maps, so have to use those more.

[Martin]

Originally posted by genemead:

I have 3 Rules Of Thumb:
* If you "need" 20+ trucks on a line, use a train.
* Use trucks for short routes.
* Use trains for long routes.

A train hauls more and is much quicker, making it well worth the extra cost.

However, it all depends on the terrain. Sometimes it's just too hilly to make trains viable.

Yeh pretty much this is it. Short trips for trucks, long trips for trains, huge trips for planes.. boats a fairly cheap and good for medium/short trips.

[Oddible]

Originally posted by canophone:

Yes, I'd go with the second from top right for crude, transport crude and oil back and forth, and transfer from the crude to industry to process the oil.

Lol what!? So you make artificially long lines just to make profits? Eww, there is something broken in the mechanics if you can exploit the system like that. That is really terrible, I feel like end-of-production goods should be prioritized in profit if the game is so easy to exploit with mid-chain production.

So it sounds like everyone is saying no trucks really necessary in this setup. Maybe if I REALLY wanted to ensure that refinery was humming to use trucks at the near oil well but otherwise just get crude by rail from half way across the map to game up the profits. Then only use trucks for transfer operations from rail yards to inner city.

[Oddible]

There is actually another Oil Refinery over by Ann Arbor. So basically to completely game this system I could ship Crude from the near refinery all the way to Ann Arbor and ship Crude from near Ann Arbor all the way back to the near Oil Refinery.

/facepalm

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1942575171

[canophone]

Originally posted by Oddible:

Originally posted by canophone:

Yes, I'd go with the second from top right for crude, transport crude and oil back and forth, and transfer from the crude to industry to process the oil.

Lol what!? So you make artificially long lines just to make profits? Eww, there is something broken in the mechanics if you can exploit the system like that. That is really terrible, I feel like end-of-production goods should be prioritized in profit if the game is so easy to exploit with mid-chain production.

So it sounds like everyone is saying no trucks really necessary in this setup. Maybe if I REALLY wanted to ensure that refinery was humming to use trucks at the near oil well but otherwise just get crude by rail from half way across the map to game up the profits. Then only use trucks for transfer operations from rail yards to inner city.

It's the way the game is designed, so no not an exploit, just maximizing usage. If the game design decided that it would produce first and then I have to deliver what is produced at more fixed prices, then I might agree. But the game is designed based on price per km.

[Gregorovitch]

Originally posted by Oddible:

Originally posted by canophone:

Yes, I'd go with the second from top right for crude, transport crude and oil back and forth, and transfer from the crude to industry to process the oil.

Lol what!? So you make artificially long lines just to make profits? Eww, there is something broken in the mechanics if you can exploit the system like that.

It's not actually. IRL although transport distance/cost is a factor in purchasing decisions it is not the only one - product price, quality and reliability of supply are equally important - so people do not always buy from the nearest source. It is also the case that transport costs are in most cases only a low % of overall product cost.