Advanced Station Layout: Any tips?

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

I'm playing with Senseless Industry and as a result the train traffic is massive.
Specially in towns stations, I have an average of 18 lines either passing or serving the station. My main problem are trains waiting to pass or to enter the station. Is there a place where I can see some station layout to get me some ideas?

I already make use of 1 line being able to use any platform. Really great addition to the game.
I already isolate the passing trains to not block platforms.
I have 4 cargo platforms and 2 passengers.
There are 4 tracks between stations as I don't mix cargo and pax.

I looked into Transport Tycoon layout, as there are many but they have a solution its not really feasible for Transport Fever. They put bridges or tunnels so one train can access the side track without crossing the opposite track. Which pretty much solve the entire problem.
But Transport Fever is more realistic and bridges or tunnels for trains occupy huge space making impossible to make this for every station platform.

A Ro-Ro station is quite good but in Transport Fever is quite common to mix lines that go through stations and the ones that go and go back. This mix is also a problem to find a proper solution. Loops maybe? Loops around the town? Anyone use this?

[chrisasnyder]

My preference is to use exit loops to improve efficiency of freight stations. However the in-out stations can be made to be pretty efficient as well. The goal is to minimize stopping trains moving at speed and to prevent trains waiting on slow moving trains going in and out of the station. What really can slow down a station is the trains exiting a station. They are usually slow, and with long trains they can end up blocking crossovers. By building a path for a train to fully exit the station without being stopped is necessary. For the loops, have it pull out onto the loop, one long track for each lane, then provide space for trains to wait while merging back to the single mainline.

Allowing a line to select an available platform really helps this construct since incoming trains can choose the next open lane, even while one train is leaving.

The In-out station is a little more tricky but the idea is the same. For these you have the line entering the station in the middle of the available platforms, with the exit lane coming straight out to each side of the entry lane. Then merge the outgoing lanes out past the maximum train length of the incoming line. This allows the incoming trains to find an open platform and move in at speed, even while a slow train leaving is blocking one or more platforms.

These pictures show these ideas as part of the station layouts.

Loop Example:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411499

Loop Example with lines shown:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411509

In out example.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411528

In-out example with lines shown
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411517

[Vimpster]

Could you show a picture of what you have so far?

[Swiss Tac0]

I have a 20 passenger station need to expand it as most platforms are at or near capacity but queuing is little to none.

I wouldn't have a train use more than 4 platforms....and that's only if those platforms all go in the same direction without having to cross trains of the opposite direction. Sometimes only 2 platforms...just depends

Goal is just to minimize crossing where ever possible...leave it as a last resort. I tend to have sporadic single track flying junctions when a new line merges into the mainline so they are already organized mostly at least directionally before the arrive at the station. And then I letting trains going the same way start moving and merging lanes as far from the station as I can afford to allow


If I have trains that reverse then I put them on the inside of the opposite direction tracks so they don't have to make any conflict....they peel off into into the station and then peel back on when leaving but never cross over any through traffic...only merge once

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

My preference is to use exit loops to improve efficiency of freight stations. However the in-out stations can be made to be pretty efficient as well. The goal is to minimize stopping trains moving at speed and to prevent trains waiting on slow moving trains going in and out of the station. What really can slow down a station is the trains exiting a station. They are usually slow, and with long trains they can end up blocking crossovers. By building a path for a train to fully exit the station without being stopped is necessary. For the loops, have it pull out onto the loop, one long track for each lane, then provide space for trains to wait while merging back to the single mainline.

Allowing a line to select an available platform really helps this construct since incoming trains can choose the next open lane, even while one train is leaving.

The In-out station is a little more tricky but the idea is the same. For these you have the line entering the station in the middle of the available platforms, with the exit lane coming straight out to each side of the entry lane. Then merge the outgoing lanes out past the maximum train length of the incoming line. This allows the incoming trains to find an open platform and move in at speed, even while a slow train leaving is blocking one or more platforms.

These pictures show these ideas as part of the station layouts.

Loop Example:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411499

Loop Example with lines shown:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411509

In out example.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411528

In-out example with lines shown
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411517

Exactly the problem and exactly the solution I was trying to avoid. Thank you! I will apply those, there is indeed no way around it. Your examples look great but they serve industry. A loop around or near a city will look weird, but I can't see any other way. The In-out I think will take a lot more time to implement.

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by Swiss Tac0:

I have a 20 passenger station need to expand it as most platforms are at or near capacity but queuing is little to none.

I wouldn't have a train use more than 4 platforms....and that's only if those platforms all go in the same direction without having to cross trains of the opposite direction. Sometimes only 2 platforms...just depends

Goal is just to minimize crossing where ever possible...leave it as a last resort. I tend to have sporadic single track flying junctions when a new line merges into the mainline so they are already organized mostly at least directionally before the arrive at the station. And then I letting trains going the same way start moving and merging lanes as far from the station as I can afford to allow


If I have trains that reverse then I put them on the inside of the opposite direction tracks so they don't have to make any conflict....they peel off into into the station and then peel back on when leaving but never cross over any through traffic...only merge once

I avoid crossings but I also try to make it as realistic as possible and flying junctions is not something I would like to make. I use a mod to make a neat tunnel, I guess there is no way to avoid some crazy tracks to keep the efficiency. Thanks for your thoughts. Its helpful.

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by Vimpster:

Could you show a picture of what you have so far?

Here you go:

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1930380745866000468/17119DF065595BF17B45718119FB508EB3BC8993/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1930380745866000684/63CF391F11EFB6076F39CCE6C20BB5A6769CCA25/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false


First image is the first layout where the last tracks where reserved for passing trains, but the trains coming in and out of the platforms blocked them, no wasn't really a fast lane.

The second the passing trains are in the middle, with no need to make a curve and signals everywhere to make the trains leaving the station wait for the passing ones. But the queuee is quite big because the train that need to acess the platform blok each other.

[RadiKyle]

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

Loop Example:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874411499

@chrisasnyder I don't want to threadjack the OP's topic, but that cargo yard looks great wow! How did you make that? I'm mostly looking at the large area where all the waiting cargos are piling up. I haven't seen the cargo types so randomly intermixed in the same area before, but maybe it's because none of my stations have that much traffic yet. Normally my track-side platforms fill up first before anything appears in the shared cargo area, but in your screenshot it looks like almost all of the track-side platforms are empty and only the shared area is filling up? Is this the Freestyle Station mod?

[chrisasnyder]

There are mods involved in this image. Senseless Industries creates many options for cargo paths, making it much easier to build a busy cargo hub like this for the intermediary cargo types. Also in play is a mod to increase train station platform capacity, truck station capacity, and more industry levels. The reason for the capacity increase is to deal with long trains, 1000+ items, to be able to unload and not immediately overflow the station. I like long trains. The capacity mod also lets you add more cargo platform rows to increase the capacity of a single platform in addition to the buildings adding capacity.

This station services many intermediate cargo's: steel, planks, copper, tools, and textiles. This allows multiple lines to come in and collect those for other industries that need them. Then those lines bring those finished back to swap through this station to other industries. There is also a city just out of the screen shot, which is what most of the trucks deliver, to allow for lines bringing in finished goods for the city.

The part on making this setup efficient is lanes 1-5 are shared. Platform 1, has a huge storage capacity that bounces up and down with every large train that comes in. Every train line that picks up cargo here, uses Platform 1 as it's primary platform, 2-5 as secondary. Trains that drop off only, coal, ore, and copper ore, use platform 5 as primary with 1-4 as secondary. This allows all waiting cargo for all lines to share the largest platform at the station.

The collection of cargo related mods

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874770365

[chrisasnyder]

Originally posted by ❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂:

Originally posted by Vimpster:

Could you show a picture of what you have so far?

Here you go:

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1930380745866000468/17119DF065595BF17B45718119FB508EB3BC8993/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/1930380745866000684/63CF391F11EFB6076F39CCE6C20BB5A6769CCA25/?imw=5000&imh=5000&ima=fit&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=false


First image is the first layout where the last tracks where reserved for passing trains, but the trains coming in and out of the platforms blocked them, no wasn't really a fast lane.

The second the passing trains are in the middle, with no need to make a curve and signals everywhere to make the trains leaving the station wait for the passing ones. But the queuee is quite big because the train that need to acess the platform blok each other.

They way I would modify this setup is to use the example of the in-out I posted above. The idea is to create a single waiting lane for trains coming into the station to wait. Then create a single exit lane for each platform that is as long as the longest train to it exit the station completely before merging back to the mainline. By moving the mainline merge point away from the station will allow trains move through blocking points at a higher speed, reducing the wait time. In your pictures, all the switches get blocked by slow moving trains.

[RadiKyle]

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

There are mods involved in this image. Senseless Industries creates many options for cargo paths, making it much easier to build a busy cargo hub like this for the intermediary cargo types. Also in play is a mod to increase train station platform capacity, truck station capacity, and more industry levels.

The collection of cargo related mods

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874770365

Thanks for that! The collection link seems dead?

I haven't tried the Senseless Industries mod yet, only the Industry Expanded one (plus the mail/waste add-on). Maybe my next game...

So that large cargo platform is not a station mod, it's a cargo capacity mod?

Thanks!

[❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂]

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

They way I would modify this setup is to use the example of the in-out I posted above. The idea is to create a single waiting lane for trains coming into the station to wait. Then create a single exit lane for each platform that is as long as the longest train to it exit the station completely before merging back to the mainline. By moving the mainline merge point away from the station will allow trains move through blocking points at a higher speed, reducing the wait time. In your pictures, all the switches get blocked by slow moving trains.

You mod list link is not working:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874770365

I think the loop would take less space than the in and out as my trains usually have 320 meters.

[chrisasnyder]

Originally posted by RadiKyle:

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

There are mods involved in this image. Senseless Industries creates many options for cargo paths, making it much easier to build a busy cargo hub like this for the intermediary cargo types. Also in play is a mod to increase train station platform capacity, truck station capacity, and more industry levels.

The collection of cargo related mods

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874770365

Thanks for that! The collection link seems dead?

I haven't tried the Senseless Industries mod yet, only the Industry Expanded one (plus the mail/waste add-on). Maybe my next game...

So that large cargo platform is not a station mod, it's a cargo capacity mod?

Thanks!

I didn't hit the publish button in the collection. It should work now.

[chrisasnyder]

Originally posted by ❆🎄Douglas 🎁 🎂:

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

They way I would modify this setup is to use the example of the in-out I posted above. The idea is to create a single waiting lane for trains coming into the station to wait. Then create a single exit lane for each platform that is as long as the longest train to it exit the station completely before merging back to the mainline. By moving the mainline merge point away from the station will allow trains move through blocking points at a higher speed, reducing the wait time. In your pictures, all the switches get blocked by slow moving trains.

You mod list link is not working:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874770365

I think the loop would take less space than the in and out as my trains usually have 320 meters.

Forgot to publish collection, should work now.

Both designs need space, just in different ways. Loops create the tear drop effect, using large areas around the station. Loops are width space around a station.

In-out designs keep the land usage in a narrow but long corridor leading to the station that create sidings longer than your train length.

Another angle of the in out example where 2 lines share 4 platforms. Lots of long (600m+) trains. Everything merges back down to 2 tracks just past where the screen shot shows.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2874837531

[RadiKyle]

Originally posted by chrisasnyder:

I didn't hit the publish button in the collection. It should work now.

Thanks. Ah okay, looks like that large cargo area is from this mod:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1962650483

The Freestyle Station mod has some similar features, where extra cargo areas can be added in a variety of sizes, so maybe I'll just stick with that one for now (and hopefully avoid any compatibility issues).

[Lallaren]

Okay so i have read this thread now and i found that i have had similar problems as you. What i did was to create regional hubs. Which both have running trough lines and end lines that turn around. I also came up with a solution too don't have turn around trains in station, but create a small loop for them. That resaults in both bridges and tunnels.

The problem with trains queing in to the station was solved by using longer arrival tracks and larger capacities. For example in my first picture i have 3 northbound tracks going in to the station, and 2 southbound tracks leaving the station. The leaving tracks goes in to single track when the trains have reached the correct speed. By doing this, a train have time to wait for a brief moment for a free platform, because, other trains have 2 other tracks and platform to choose from. In the first picture i have around 12 lines, and around 7 trains per line in total.

Too round this up, my success factors is:
- Efficiency, have the trains moving around the same speed.

- Have enough length in both arrival and departure tracks, so slow acceleration trains have time to accelerate before joining the main tracks. And so arrival trains have the possibilty to que off the main track and don't cause a congestion.

- Seperate platforms for in and out trains, and terminating trains. In that way you receive more efficiency on your main line.

- Combine bridges and tunnels in your loop to save space. For example, the arrival tracks can go under the departure tracks. In that way you work in the same amount of space, but on different levels.

My biggest regional hub:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2875046132

Zoomed in:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2875046156

With lines:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2875046174


My smaller regional hub (It gives a good representation about the in and out trains and terminating trains):
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2875046192

With lines:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2875046203