Build passenger train (or passenger/cargo) stations in the heart of Towns.

[larry_roberts]

I always build passenger train stations in the middle of towns (even if it means knocking half the town down to do it). I can then add more passenger/cargo buildings to increase the catchment area. I see (on youtube) so many players building railway stations on the outskirts of town then having to use buses/trams & lorries (to add to the cars already there) to ferry people/cargo to/from the station, while my lot have just a brisk walk to the station.

Now, I know you are going to say 'emissions' but adding buses/trams and lorries cause emissions and I have looked at 'emissions' around my stations (medium level play) it's really not that bad. Airports are far worse, and they need to be out of town. My towns seem to grow (in population and cargo demand) very rapidly around the stations and it's only when they grow away from the station I need to add buses etc.

What do you think, 'am I playing the game the wrong way?.

[GordonDry]

Nope. You do it right.
Try https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2363493916 for even more fun.

[larry_roberts]

GordonDry: Looks like a keyboard, to be honest I'am afraid to use mods in this game because they often seem to cause problems. I've used mods in Workers & Resources and Planet Coaster but I don't want to risk my favourite game.

[Wolfsun]

Hmmm... never tried that in TF2 though I have in other railroad games. Interesting concept and I am definitely going to try it. Thanks for the idea.

Way to think outside the box.

[GordonDry]

Originally posted by larry_roberts:

Looks like a keyboard

I don't know what you mean.

I got 899 mods actually in my game. And it works.

[BobthenotsoGreat]

You are not doing it wrong larry, just different. There are 2 options. Build inside or build outside. Both have their positives and negatives. As the town grows though, these effects can change. So if building inside emissions early game can become too much later game with just simply more vehicles required to meet the demand. But that effect is the same for building outside but I feel you get to control it more.

I have tried both methods (did a train only run through once). But my preferred method is to build a ring road around the centre(3-4 road segments out) and place the station on the outside of that on the residential side so the residential area will grow around it. On the other side of town is the distribution hub for the town ensuring that goods do not travel through the residential zone. This isn't always possible though. The ring road is populated with a clockwise / anticlockwise fleet (trams usually) with the lowest emissions and regular maintenance. This ensures that not only is every building reachable when I build it, it also allows considerable growth outside it as a catchment. I do not mind them walking far. It regulates the flow of them better.

If you build inside it is far more costly but very efficient in the beginning. But with lack of space and cargo constraints it becomes less so over time. Especially as you will have more congestion because of cargo distribution.

So its not wrong at all, just a different set of circumstances.

[Tsubame ⭐]

Either strategy works. Whatever works out or you think it is best.

[Jimbo_1977]

Originally posted by GordonDry:

Nope. You do it right.
Try https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2363493916 for even more fun.

It' is worth trying with, you can make some funky designs!
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2813525002
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2813525112

[Vimpster]

I would think the biggest downside to building the station right in the middle of town is the cost associated with bulldozing all the buildings. But if you don't mind the cost, and temporary reduction in town size, than have at it.

Personally I don't typically find it worth while. I build right on the edge of town if it is a through station, and perhaps more in the middle if it is a terminal station as the terminal station usually requires a lot less destruction to put it near the middle.

[larry_roberts]

Originally posted by GordonDry:

Originally posted by larry_roberts:

Looks like a keyboard

I don't know what you mean.

I got 899 mods actually in my game. And it works.

What I meant was (that first picture from an aerial point of view) it reminds me of one of those curved keyboards. I had a look at it in the workshop, and that's a great, versatile, station. I'am tempted but I want to keep this game mod free. I think you have been very lucky with the mods.

[General Tso]

How you play the game is totally up to you of course. But in my humble opinion. You are short changing yourself by not using mods in this game.

Yes they can have problems. So you sometimes have to spend time managing them. But they add so much to the game it's worth a little trouble. (In my opinion.) And the more you use mods the more familiar you become with the typical problems encountered.

Here's a few basic rules.

If you have spent a lot a time on your current map and you don't want to take any chances on loosing it. Make a backup folder and copy all of the mods in use to it. And try to keep it as current as possible by updating it every so often. That way if a mod disappears from the Workshop you still have a copy of it to use. (I actually copy all of my subscribed mods when I back them up rather than just the mods being used in the current map. Because it's easier. But it does take up more space that way.)

For the most part adding mods to a saved game is always safe.

For the most part removing mods from a saved game is also safe. If done properly. But it can cause problems depending on the situation. Missing assets usually show up as graphics place holders in the game. (They can be manually removed.) While other problems can sometimes cause the game to lock up.

[Huperspace]

I always try to place train stations at the industry district. the max -40% emissions due to trains/trucks is aceptable only airports near the town would cause anything higher up to -100% emission.

[GordonDry]

@larry_roberts it's luck when you're a noob, but after some years of experience with Train Fever, Transport Fever and then Transport Fever 2 it's mostly experience and brain 2.0

[larry_roberts]

Originally posted by Huperspace:

I always try to place train stations at the industry district. the max -40% emissions due to trains/trucks is aceptable only airports near the town would cause anything higher up to -100% emission.

Thats good advice, thank you.