Roads or Rail lines?

[patriot1776]

which is better at getting supplies toward the front line and your troops? Thanks

[GIJoe597]

My opinion is, it does not matter except in very specific instances. For example; are you automating your units? Do they have use rail option on? Planes and helos are good for cargo drops and they do not use rails.

I believe what matters most is distance from a supply source. The most effective range from a supply source seems to be around 6 -8 hexes when supply is moving on its own. Of course when using vehicles/aircraft that changes. Building one Airbase or Airfield with cargo planes stationed there will cover a much greater distance at a faster rate if planes are manually controlled. *I have not tested any form of minister/ai control yet.

In some previous titles units could not use rail so it made since to build it. No way for the enemy to use it and move fast within your territory.

[Grimlich]

It's circumstancial. It all depends on 2 factors being :
1 ) Population density ; high pop density is best served by roads. (Pop services and commodity consumption). Population in itself is an indicator of natural supply output.
2 ) Distance in - between supply sources ; if you want high supply level at a short distance, roads is better while rail will bring supply farther from the source although with less intensity.

When specifically aimed at troop movement speed rail will always be better but rails should stop short a few hexes short from the front so as to not get units moving in trains being bombed in this vulnerable situation.

Not sure for one this last line, but I think rails builds faster than roads so they can make a front supply advance quickly. I guess I'll be testing that today...

[patriot1776]

I'm playing as Egypt in 1914 and it's now 1932 and I have been at war with Sudan for 10 yrs now. I'm only 2-3 hexes from their capital. I have rail lines running from the north to where the front line is now. Connected to all towns, oil and ports. I have built no roads as of yet.

My issue has been supply so I have built supply depots where needed, as well as supply trucks. Also increased infrastructure spending as well as other important things.

[GIJoe597]

When in the desert I tend to use planes/helos or trucks. It is just not beneficial for me to spend so much on infrastructure. Of course using cargo planes/helos mean you must have air superiority.