train length and signal interval

[Horta]

Wondering what folks think about train lengths, are you using 4 or 5 cargo/passenger cars in a train? What is optimal?

And a related question. What track interval are you using between signals? I tried using 8 tracks between signals with 4 car trains (not counting engine and tender) but that seemed to bog down. I tried 10 and 5, but it also bogged down, 10 and 4 seems to be doing better.

[BlueOrange]

There are situations (like after a chain signal) where it's very important to have 'length of longest train +1' as your space between signals. In especially high-traffic areas (especially the approach to a really busy station) I'll put one signal per square, to maximize the opportunity for the trains to squeeze right up against each other. For long-distance rural tracks, I might just slap a signal down at the halfway point and not think about it very much.

[redtwotwo]

Originally posted by BlueOrange:

There are situations (like after a chain signal) where it's very important to have 'length of longest train +1' as your space between signals. In especially high-traffic areas (especially the approach to a really busy station) I'll put one signal per square, to maximize the opportunity for the trains to squeeze right up against each other. For long-distance rural tracks, I might just slap a signal down at the halfway point and not think about it very much.

This was very helpful, thank you.

[jhughes]

Early max length is 11. After bricks you can build trains up to 22 (max platform size). I generally use 6 as my signal length.

Signals are used to create blocks, but also 'clear' a train to move. Having 'max length + 1' is a good plan, but close to intersections, it takes a long time ton clear, so I like 1/2 max length as two signals still are basically 'max+1' and you clear out faster after stopping.

So 6 works fine for 11 length trains and even for 21 length trains.

Different people do it in different ways.. Not sure one way is 'better than' another.

[Edmera]

You can go up to train length 33 (max depot) by placing two stations next to each other and connect them to the same distributioncenter and giving them the same name. By doing this both stations work as one.

As i understood if from the dev about this unintended feature. When a train enters a station for a load or unload the game checks is each wagon besides a station platform? yes/no And is the station name the same as destination in train planner? yes/no. If both are yes the loading or unloading starts for that wagon.

[BlueOrange]

To clarify regarding ‘max length +1’, this is the best way I know how to do an intersection:

1 square before: chain signal
1 square after: regular signal
Then count max+1 before the next signal

That way, you clear the intersection as fast as possible, but you don’t let a train into the intersection unless it can come out the other side.

If you don’t have that guarantee of space on the other side, you create a risk that trains will block each other, and that can cause widespread chaos.