How do YOU build tracks?

[Sinophile]

Hai Guyz!, I never make one-way tracks like they encourage in the scenario. I always build two-way tracks but only keep one train on it. I am curious as to whether people make two-way tracks or do the same thing I do.

[gardlt]

Sometimes when starting out, I may not be able to afford double tracks. Then I will use a mid-point siding to put two trains on the line. This is more for express heavy usage. Also if money is tight I may occasionally use them for freight. But in the long-term to meet the needs of a larger city volume matters and double, aka a pair of one-way tracks, is the clear go-to strat.

[zeitbauer]

i only build one track and use the 'pass each other' option. if i want to play signaling, i build in 'Trainz', where signalling placement is realistic and kind of an art. signalling in this game is just click-bait pretend, to sell the game.

[rff1]

Single track with one train: either a short resource-to-city route or for making initial connections, as it's the cheapest way of doing some tasks.
Add a passing loop on longer runs, for two trains.
Extend the loop to full double track with more trains when affordable.
Big city to big city, another double track - one for goods, one for expresses.

And in my opinion, zeitbauer, using the simple no-signalling mode removes about 90% of the charm of this game.

[chaney]

I concur with the double track advocates, and that signals are a lot of the fun. Starting out single and adding a mid-track siding when you can afford to do that and add a second train for inter-city routes is a strong start. Doubling up higher capacity track allows more trains, including the mixing in of some Freight.

Of course single train sections only need one track.

If you have a 2 City route that you never intend to use more than 2 trains for, consider stopping with a single track with a siding in the middle. With full double tracks, the trains tend to bunch up. If one breaks down or has a heavier load, it slows and the other catches up. From there, the second train ends up running lighter and faster, continuing to keep up with the first train. This ends up inefficient because of unused capacity and all the service coming together so that other demand is totally unfulfilled. The single siding midway between Cities keeps the two trains locked in to opposite phases.

[Empty1958]

gardit, rff1 & chaney build very much the same as I do. Sometimes I have more than a dozen trains using a section of track. That would not work well unless multiple trains could be on it at the same time. The only way to do that is to make it a pair of one way tracks. I like warehouses and these seem to put a lot of trains in a small a space.

For my mail and passenger trains I try to have a pair of one way tracks exclusive to them. Sometimes I can't. I will try to minimize the time a freight train will be on those tracks.

[Totemych]

I want to add my 5 cents : if train has more than 2 stops and you want pass-through the station you should create a special bay near that station for trains (in north america it is about 20km, but i've never met train longer than 18, in south america it seems twice more, and in britain it is shorter cause km=mil ) or if you want to create bypass tracks - start track about 20-60 km from station, typical length for bypass tracks from 65 to 130 km