Usable single track would improve the game

[gardlt]

The game "forces" you to build double track. The process is streamlined since RE1, but still tedious. Trying to make single track work is a bit of pain and you see the warnings all the time as if you are doing something "wrong."

With the new DLC we get something akin to "track maintenance" for electric lines. That's a step forward. But variety of usable networks in automatic mode remains limited.

The game logic should be able to handle multiple single lanes entering/exiting a single station platform. A single train should be able to reserve an uninterrupted single track to the next station WITHOUT reserving the space in the station too.

Is there an official showcase of the logic how single track lines work? If there is not, I would challenge the devs to develop this ability which will let the player have more options for network design. After all, 80% of the game is building rails.

PS. I selected auto signals mode. Last time I tried manual I couldn't stand the bugs.

[jhughes]

You can easily do single tracks, just create a very small double track going in and out of each station where you can put signals. It needs to be one train length. You have to have a signal to block rest of the single track from the ends.

You can also just use another platform out of said station .. so, Station 1 platform 1 to Station 2 platform 1 .. then the connection out comes from another platform to station 3.

[gardlt]

Originally posted by jhughes:

You can easily do single tracks, just create a very small double track going in and out of each station where you can put signals. It needs to be one train length. You have to have a signal to block rest of the single track from the ends.

Those extra steps are why I think it's not easy. Requirements to get around the game logic, the sidings required, and then still getting hit with the warning, make the experience lean negative for me. Doesn't the warning suggest that the devs haven't really intended for this to work, and instead it's a hack? The reason for my post is that hopefully the devs can make the game more complete by having a supported method to do single tracks and not just hacks.

You can also just use another platform out of said station .. so, Station 1 platform 1 to Station 2 platform 1 .. then the connection out comes from another platform to station 3.

Yes, that works. But it doesn't always work well in tight terrain. To add a connection/not block existing rails you might have to re-do most of the station which has a good risk of messing up trains routes. Not ideal for me.

[jhughes]

Originally posted by gardlt:

Originally posted by jhughes:

You can easily do single tracks, just create a very small double track going in and out of each station where you can put signals. It needs to be one train length. You have to have a signal to block rest of the single track from the ends.

Those extra steps are why I think it's not easy. Requirements to get around the game logic, the sidings required, and then still getting hit with the warning, make the experience lean negative for me. Doesn't the warning suggest that the devs haven't really intended for this to work, and instead it's a hack? The reason for my post is that hopefully the devs can make the game more complete by having a supported method to do single tracks and not just hacks.

You can also just use another platform out of said station .. so, Station 1 platform 1 to Station 2 platform 1 .. then the connection out comes from another platform to station 3.

Yes, that works. But it doesn't always work well in tight terrain. To add a connection/not block existing rails you might have to re-do most of the station which has a good risk of messing up trains routes. Not ideal for me.

It certainly would be better to not have to 'work around' the stations and get working signals for single track. I have not personally tried manual signals since I have been working around the single-track issues and as soon as I can afford it I use double tracks everywhere.

[tonytoy]

Hi, my understanding is that you can run a train between station one and station to landing on the number 1 platform at both stations. This will allow you to run one train back and forth locking up the station the platforms at both ends. Addition of an additional line on the other side of either stations will have your trains locking the platform and keeping one of the trains from moving.
i overcome this by putting a lay-by. this allows you to have multiple trains on the same one rail over the majority of the route (depending on number trains you have on the route).
each lay by will have directions and signals the release the main line for the other train to move past. Once past the train moves on.
I normally have up to 4 trains on the route with two lay by areas.
Though at some point it becomes more cost effective to run double lines.

[Adekyn]

If you use manual signals you can run a single track line (assuming a single train on each line) from city A to city B and another single track line from city B to City C. Set non-directional signals on each track which divides the track into blocks but does not force a direction of travel. That way the train from A and the train from C can share the platform at B.

[gardlt]

Originally posted by Adekyn:

If you use manual signals....

Thanks, maybe I should try manual signals again.... Last time I tried them they cost me the CEO role on my first restricted attempt at Journey to the East. Maybe I was trying to be too creative with them.

Isn't there a downside to using manual signals as "auto" signals: workload to redo them when adding junctions? I will have a tendency to add a bunch as the game goes on. I guess I like to tie things together instead of making a bunch of overkill rails that pave the land or random spaghetti.

[Sigismund]

It seems to me that it's a platform problem. I can do the "A to B, B to C" one train, single track, and everything's fine. Where I run into trouble, is when I bring another single track into the mainline from a rural station. At the "Y", I put two manual non-directional signals facing into the stations. It works fine for a few trips, but eventually goes south when train B holds up at the "Y", and train A (ahead of B) enters the station. At that point, it seems train B thinks the block is clear, and proceeds. Then, it's either a conflict, disappearing train or ghost train.

It seems to me, there is an "invisible" signal (creating a block) at the entrance to the station, and when a train goes in, the following train sees the block before as clear and proceeds. I just tried it a few mins. ago and same problem after the small update.

[Sigismund]

To get around it, I usually create a point to point double track with 2 or 3 blocks right at the entrance to each station. It's a little more expensive, but it works. The reason I like the single track mode is because it's cheap. I try and daisy-chain as many single track mixed lines as I can afford, then add in goods once the money is flowing (ala Adekyn's strat in RE1). You can only add about one rural train per line, as it's inefficient because of wait times. I would like the option to single track station to station, and bring in the one good for the industry in each city before I have to start double tracking. Hopefully the next update...

[Amadeus]

I agree with that 100%. An additional problem with interfering lines is that some trains stop more than 100 km in advance and do not continue. I also observe that there would be no problem because some trains would turn off beforehand. There are then several trains standing and blocking each other, although there is actually no problem. I didn't know that from Railroad Tycoon. Here I would like to see a revision or simplification of the track and signal setting

[lakerebg]

I totally agree with gardit's original post. Rube Goldberg would love what you have to do to get single track lines to work.

[Ellye]

Never had a issue with single tracks, but never played with automatic signals - so it's probably only a limitation on that mode.

See if manual signals help.

[lakerebg]

I tried manual mode once, when it first came out. Yes, it was nice for single tracks, but became tedious in the mid and late game.

[MrSkinny]

No problem with single track and auto signals for me. In the early game, I usually have all the local industries single tracked onto a double track mainline between cities. Mid game, there's usually plenty of money that it's not worth the savings doing single track; just pay now to be ready for higher capacity later.