Switch arrows?

[Alundra (Alunny)]

I don't understand the switch arrows? I have 5 of them and two trains want to sit there waiting 8 stations apart without moving? Aren't they supposed to use the switches to change tracks? Can these arrows be more I dunno clear? Maybe replace the weird triangle with a little train so I know what side the train stops on? :)

[destroyalldreamers]

It might be a little difficult to grasp at first (and I don't think the game necessarily does a good job at explaining it). The little green arrow points in the direction you want the train to go. If you hold down shift while placing your signal you will also see the little red block that blocks traffic coming in the opposite direction making your lane of track of one-way. If you hold down shift and ctrl you can automatically place signals (just over the length of a full train) along the entire route of the track (until it hits an intersection or supply tower).

A good practice (though there's certainly other ways to do things) is to utilize double lane tracks with each lane going in an opposite direction. Plop down the signals with ctrl and shift and then replace one set of signals with a supply tower. (Sometimes odd terrain and bridges will cause the signals on each lane of track to differ in placement but usually they are side by side, the supply tower acts like a set of signals).

Double lane track.
https://gyazo.com/6bf30684314ae3b754fb4b4559a2b485

Double lane track with signals and supply tower.
https://gyazo.com/42f029e158d8124b7ef3a716ef4f6d5f

[Thineboot]

I'm not a native speaker, so maybe that's some dialect but I can't really figure out what you're exactly meaning.

Whatever "switch arrows" are exactly, "8 stations apart without moving" sounds like no legal round-trip. Check "Route details" after selecting the "i" button. That enables you to see the route in detail, obviously ;)

[some moron]

I think there is no such thing a "switch arrow" in this game, they are two different things for different purposes. There is the concept of a "switch" but it's not a thing you place it's a thing you build, it's basically two small pieces of track that form an "X" so trains can swap between two tracks.
Then there are "signals" which I think you are talking about, best to think of them as a Yield sign "stop if someones reserved the track ahead of you". Yes the green arrow is funky, get used to it. No they do not have anything to do with which track gets used.
I think trains will always use the "shortest to the originating city" track in a station (should have been called "platforms"). You can force them to use a different platform in the route configuration, on the left click the clipboard.

[chaney]

Just here for redundancy ....

A SWITCH is a piece of track that allows trains to move from one track to another track.

A SIGNAL is a device that regulates how and when a train can move along a piece of track.

I suspect OP is talking about Signals.

When placing them, the little cone points in the direction for which a Signal will be used by oncoming trains. A STOP Signal will make the train stop if the block ahead of it is claimed/occupied by another train. A DIRECTIONAL Signal (little stop sign) will do the same and also prohibit trains coming the opposite direction from ever passing that signal location on the track.

The Basic Mechanics guide has a section on Signals that may be helpful.

[Alundra (Alunny)]

Originally posted by destroyalldreamers:

It might be a little difficult to grasp at first (and I don't think the game necessarily does a good job at explaining it). The little green arrow points in the direction you want the train to go. If you hold down shift while placing your signal you will also see the little red block that blocks traffic coming in the opposite direction making your lane of track of one-way. If you hold down shift and ctrl you can automatically place signals (just over the length of a full train) along the entire route of the track (until it hits an intersection or supply tower).

A good practice (though there's certainly other ways to do things) is to utilize double lane tracks with each lane going in an opposite direction. Plop down the signals with ctrl and shift and then replace one set of signals with a supply tower. (Sometimes odd terrain and bridges will cause the signals on each lane of track to differ in placement but usually they are side by side, the supply tower acts like a set of signals).

Double lane track.
https://gyazo.com/6bf30684314ae3b754fb4b4559a2b485

Double lane track with signals and supply tower.
https://gyazo.com/42f029e158d8124b7ef3a716ef4f6d5f

Thank you so much!!

[t.schmidt]

I think two different directions of the pointy end should work just fine. Are you walking in the direction of the finger is pointing or in the direction the arm is pointing towards the body?

Build two parallel lines and paste one sort of arrows on one side and the other on the other side, that should work just fine. Of course you need crossings at she stations, if you have the cheap and short stations. (And look for the tool tips concerning further option, they may be helping, too)

[chaney]

I'm not sure what to make of some of the language here.

Trains respect Stop Signals when the post they are mounted on is on the right side of the train, but not in the other direction of travel.
Directional Signals are treated as Stop Signals when on the train's right side, and prohibit track use in the other direction (when the post is on the train's left side.)

[t.schmidt]

Don't place them one by one, normally you can build them for the whole line at once. Just use control + shift together with a mouseclick, And for the other track you have to set on signal (is then has usually the same prefered direction as before) click on it to change direction and then a shift + mouse click . I think that's about it for a whole line, maybe you need a second control + shift + mouse click for the second track at a second position.

[chaney]

I think mouse wheel scroll changes the direction of the pending signal build which can save some time :)

[genemead]

Aren't they supposed to use the switches to change tracks?

No. To me they're stop signals used to keep one train from getting on the same section of track as a train already there, not "directional" signals. (Or to make it a "one way" track.}
Trains already know which path to follow (you already told them that)- they just need to know when the path is clear.

[t.schmidt]

I don't realy get you problem, I've made a 10 min Video and uploaded it at a file-sharing service, maybe it is halping may be not. You can download it until sunday 23:55 (germany-time)

https://fh-aachen.sciebo.de/s/MxdkCgiz24qL5ej

[Thineboot]

Well done, t.schmidt :)


Just a few notes:

Kalypso miles are ~1.925 km, so nearly a 1:2 ratio.
Switches use up 10+ km (curved switches need more space).
Supply towers use up ~7 km.
The mentioned 80 km offer straight rail for about 53 km or 26.5 km between signals and Supply tower. Full trains use up ~20 km (rule of thumb, there are longer and shorter engines and cars).
South America map has a 2:1 ratio compared to US regional maps.
Do the math to find the proper length for those side-tracks which are easy to expand to full double tracks once you have enough money.

@ 2:50 you start placing signals. Just press Ctrl-Shift when placing them and the first will be placed the nearest you can place it to the switch. Additional signals will be spaced out in proper distances.


Halving the distance is the right way to do it. That works for 2 trains, one in each direction.
ST-A-ST and ST-B-ST are the same length.

Once you're using more than 2 trains math kicks in and just halving doesn't work that way any longer. At that point you have to count in the station itself and the distance between those side-tracks in both directions.
ST-STA and ST-STB are the same length.
STA-A-STA and STB-B-STB are the same length... you see what I mean?

Also adding a short side-track at both stations allows incoming trains to enter the station as fast as possible once the station-track is cleared.

[some moron]

I wish there was an easy way to convert a side path into the full second lane. For example if I could edit an existing track. I am greatly enjoying the strategy aspect of this game but sadly I am spending a huge amount of time clicking mouse. First a small station and single-track because I don't have a lot of money. When I get some money, then I make a double track but still single station and that involves mouse clicking to make them one way each. When I have enough money then I need to pretty much delete everything except one track OR if it's a complicated track I place a supply to lock the track, delete the track that merges, replay it as double track, then delete the supply. My graphics are sluggish so deleting the supply + confirmation is too long. THEN the switch. Anyone got anything faster?
As I said, being able to edit an existing track would be much time and boredom saving.

Obviously if I waited for more money I could place a track once instead of multiple times, but I'm guessing to beat hard challenges I will need to micromanage this way. But the boring repetitive parts could certainly be easier.

or a key to "place double one way track with switches" would save me much time and boredom. Then I could fuss over which platforms and other interesting stuff.

Anyone know where I could request these features?

[Thineboot]

You've read my answer in another thread and here t.schmidt even made a video about it - you just have to extend the rail. What else do you need? Mind reading? Well, at the moment they at about 90 characters per minute[www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]. Not for RE but people like the late Stephen Hawkings. Including implantation of electrodes through brain surgery.

A feature request for a text-to-mouse would be a proper way to let people with paralysis to play any game and I pretty sure that whichever studio takes the challenge will receive a huge boost in various areas.

Or make a feature request for

Originally posted by some moron:

[...] a key to "place double one way track with switches" [...]

in the forum with the literally matching name, Feature-Request Forum.

[some moron]

Thineboot and schmidt I don't know to whom either of you are speaking. Could you please use names because otherwise I assume you are addressing the original question and the original person.
But I went back and watched that video and placing the switch in the middle, instead of near the cities, and leaving the ends unattached, answers many of my problems. Thank you schmidt!