Only one track is used at station

[matrimvidz]

I dont understand why my trains only use one track at the station. If one train is standing at one track, all other tracks are empty but the incomeing trains will que and wait for train 1 to leave. Why is that? I have tried a lot of signaling setups but doesn't seem to make a difference. I have played plenty of transport tycoon but the same signaling logics dont work here.

[Thineboot]

If you show us what's not working for you we may can tell you why it's not working and how it would work.

[gardlt]

This game uses static pathing. There are some rules for that such as shortest route. But a train never makes a "choice." When you go into setup route the path the train will take is highlighted in yellow.

You can force a different path of your choice with waypoints or by specify specific platforms when adding stations to the route. But again it's a static path.

The game wasn't designed for dynamic selection of any path. However, as a workaround about a year ago the developers added the stretched signal-control station varieties.

Traffic volume in the game is high, especially since city growth is pretty much the main strategic option and you will push cities large. You will need all platforms and still it wont be enough. Static pathing needs less switching and therefore is a winner on max through-put. Once you understand the system it's only a little pain to organize things.

[matrimvidz]

Thanks, it's a shame the trains arn't smarter, at least it works much better now!

[chaney]

You've got to work with the rules as they are. This game is not the same as others. There is a lot of good detail in gardlt's post. If you want more explicit descriptions, I have a guide that tries to explain the mechanics so you can optimize to your preferences.

[Jorn]

I don't quite follow. Do the stretched signal-control station varieties allow trains to pick an empty platform? I can distribute the trains over platforms manually, but that's always going to be less efficient than having the train pick since you can't fully predict which train comes in when.

[Thineboot]

Originally posted by Jorn:

I don't quite follow. Do the stretched signal-control station varieties allow trains to pick an empty platform? I can distribute the trains over platforms manually, but that's always going to be less efficient than having the train pick since you can't fully predict which train comes in when.

You're mixing up things.
"the stretched signal-control station varieties allow trains to pick an empty platform".
"I can distribute the trains over platforms manually" unless you're using "the stretched signal-control station varieties".
Therefore "but that's always going to be less efficient than having the train pick since you can't fully predict which train comes in when." is mixing those two different stations up. It's either or.

"... manually ... is always going to be less efficient than having the train pick since you can't fully predict which train comes in when." - when you compare those two different stations - depends on your playing style. It may be true for you but there are many players who would tell you otherwise... see chaney's guide :)
Or check out this forum, there are many threads that deal with this in detail.

[Maxim]

Discover how to use waypoints.. which can be created by opening the route/line selection panel, (which is how you select each city the train goes to), then right clicking on a track or even a x crossover section at the end of a signal-station.. or just about anywhere with a little experimentation. No guarantees that you will succeed on the first try :)

[Dray Prescot]

I think that even in a Signal Controlled Station, with 2 or 4 Tracks available to be used, an incoming train will Always go to the lowest numbered track that is open, i.e. Track 1 if it is open, even if it has to cross other tracks to get to it.

So you might have a train coming in on Track 4, when it is outside the Station, and it will try to use Track 1 rather than going straight in and using Track 4 at the Signal Controlled Station, and then it may try to leave on Track 4.

When a Train changes tracks via switches, it blocks other Trains from using those tracks.

[Varick]

My memory may be faulty but I think the use of waypoints in front of signal control sations/warehouses will determine where the train will go depending on the availability
of a track. If waypoint 1 is open, use it, if not, use 2, if not use 3, if not use 4.