Super lost with setting up trains

[datguy.dev]

Hi,

I'm trying to setup a route to ship between like 4 warehouses via train. This is what I got: https://i.imgur.com/lFfK3p7.png From the red arrow at the top to the blue arrow at the bottom. I get "cannot reach destination" alerts and I don't know know what else to try.



I put this game on the back burner until it was released. Now, I see many things have changed - for the better. But back in the day, there was a UI button of arrows that was used. But I can't seem to figure out how to setup such logistics.


Anyone want to help me avoid the tutorial? Side note, is it red to green, or red to red etc?

[redunzl_gw]

The basic concepts at work here are (devs, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on any of these!):

1. Each railroad track is one-way only.
2. Each train station has exactly one "out" track and one "in" track, just as warehouses do. Which one is "in" and which one is "out" cannot be changed, same as with the in/out roads of a warehouse (yeah, that's annoyting, but is part of the strategy of the game). Therefore, the orientation of your railroad stations can be important, especially if you haven't researched tunnels and bridges yet.
3. Train tracks cannot cross each other except via tunnel or bridge.
4. Train tracks can split and merge at junctions as long as their directions match.
5. Trains cannot change direction once dispatched.
6. Each train station must be connected to a warehouse via roads.

Therefore, it takes two separate tracks to connect any pair of stations, from "out" at one to "in" at the other, and vice-versa. If you want to connect multiple stations, you will have to use junctions to split and/or join racks, and bridges or tunnels to cross intervening tracks or roads as needed.

Yes, the red and green colors represent the direction of the track. I forget which is which, but I'm sure you can figure that out.

[Alex, Master Penguin]

Just my 0.02c:

1 and 3 are kinda incorrect. You can merge the two tracks immediately after the terminal. Know that when go through each other, they go suuuuuuper slow, but easier layouts and cheaper costs are oftentimes worth the slowdowns.

Another addition: trains can't turn more than 45'. Careful with those sharp turns

[datguy.dev]

I figured it out. Had to go through the tutorial again... My issue was the actual pathing. I had to make clovers and such.

From my perspective, this shouldn't have been a big deal. But given 1) The wiki is outdated : "Trade routes can be set up using the little arrow symbols in the top right of the screen as per the tutorial. The way these work on a financial level are not clearly explained though." 2) The amount of outdated information when you try to look up the answer outside the wiki.

That is just a bad cocktail that over complicates something as simple as trains in a video game. Just look at the length of red's post....

[Alex, Master Penguin]

Wiki is community managed, so yes it might be outdated.

As for the mechanics, it's super easy: connect both parts of the terminal, and don't make sharp turns. Simple as that. Red was trying to help you by giving more tips