Anyone know of a good trains tutorial?

[Reluctant Addict]

Im talking about how to plan, not how to build. Im hoping someone can point me to a tutorial that explains the logic behind getting a train network running effectively. For instance, should I have more than one station allowing intercity trains or one that then feeds the whole map?

Lets start with passenger trains - which may lead to thinking specifically to cargo.

[MaxFX]

- For best results having a seperate railnetwork for cargo and for passengers is ideal.
- You can use TM:PE's 'Vehicle Restrictions' to prohibit either cargo or passenger trains from using particular rails.
- Like you mentioned; It is best to 'collect' the intercity traveling cims in one station, and spread out from there.
- Whenever you have a junction where rails split up or come together, make sure the distance between junctions is larger than the length of a train. This way, whenever a train has to wait at one of the junctions, it isn't blocking another junction.
- To prevent barely filled trains from driving through your map, and clogging up your railnetwork, it is highly recommended to use the following mod: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1721492498&searchtext=optimised

Here's a nice Biffa traffic fix fixed on trains: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g3KVXm-Z1I&list=PLR5G_Kc9r-JDza2Bzd2GIA01_jVyHhhXw&index=18&ab_channel=BiffaPlaysIndieGames

[failsafe]

Above is good answer. If you dont use optimising mods (I dont) then everything is about not allowing spam of trains riding on your tracks. If you see that number of trains is already growing and some congestions happen, try to rebuild junctions - typically I build train junctions similar to motorway junctions, with one way tracks, overpasses or underpasses to avoid route collisions. Anyway, if you follow few simpler rules (like having internal trains rather than external trains going thru the whole system, creating smart junctions, spreading railway traffic ect) you dont need any mods.

[WhiteKnight77]

Build a multi-platform train station and ensure that all the platforms are accessible to the outside train network. Allow just that to accept intercity trains, and them connect trains from that to your city stations and do not allow intercity trains to go to them. You could also build a metro route to a tourist area to give tourists another means to get around.

Keep your cargo train network separate from your passenger rail network. If you can, use just one way tracks from your cargo terminal to the outside connection so you export goods instead of importing them. Place cargo terminals near highways and industry areas/zones and up the speed limit of the one way road leading to up cargo terminal.

[mistermcd]

Using TM:PE and Quad Track you can separate your cargo and passenger lines using the same (ok, slightly wider) rail corridors the standard vanilla tracks use. I switched over to using the quad tracks for all the 'main' lines (still use dual tracks for the spur lines) and then with TM:PE vehicle restrictions and lane connectors, was able to ensure my cargo traffic and passenger traffic (I use high speed trains, so now they don't get stuck behind slow cargo trains) aren't on the same tracks. There are some places where they have to cross, but then I used time traffic lights to make sure no trains try to use the diamonds or spur connectors at the same time).

The tip about making sure there is a train-length of room between switches is a very valuable one. It's all too easy to get into a spot where no trains are moving because 3 of them have all arrived at a junction at the same time and no one wins.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2276841147

McD

[Stealthy]

Lot of complicated answers. It is very simple in reality: Keep your industry balanced and don't over or under produce your goods. Less imbalance you got, less traffic you got.

On top of that, ideally 1 station per map edge and don't allow through traffic in them.

That's it for cargo. Nothing else needed.

For passengers, as mentioned, your central station allows intercity trains and rest only your own trains. Again, sorted.

No need to separate your networks, you won't have that many trains in them at all if you follow these simple guidelines.

[Reluctant Addict]

@MaxFX
@failsafe
@WhiteKnight77
@mistermcd
@Stealthy

Thanks to you all for such useful advice which has confirmed some of my ideas and given me more to think about. I have already upgraded to quad tracks on my mainlines and subscribed to the Optimized Outside Connections mod.

[cc800series]

Check Arkruas and Old Bore on Youtube they build custom huge rail lines and yards and have tutorials on how and what mods to use as well. ♥♥♥♥ Luck

[Sol]

I use Map Editor to rebuild rail networks to have two rail lines (4 connections) that do not connect to each other. I use one for Passenger and one for Cargo.