Railway signal guide (official)

Finally after implementation of chain signals (or also called pre-signals) I providing to you a detailed guide how to use semaphores, and how they actually work.

Basic

Understanding the signal block mechanics

Signal block is area of the railway which ends with railtrack dead-end or another signal. If any train entire or it's part is on the block, all signals at enry of the block will become red.

Check out those scenarios for better understanding where exactly are the signal blocks:

Also you should avoid following scenarios - signal block ends with same signal as it start

Single directions signals can be passed only single direction!

If you have signal placed in one direction, train will never able to pass it vice-versa direction

To place single-direction semaphore, just after placing semaphore click once again to change direction, and again to change to vice-versa direction, and once again to revert back to double direction type

Understanding chain signals (or pre-signals)

Chain signal work like normal signal

If no train, it's green

If train in the block, it's red

It works different way in those scenarios:

Chain signal is red also when there is no free exit from the block - chain signal will not allow to pass the train, if the train is not able to exit the block.

If some of the exits from the block are engaged, and some free, chain signal will light up with a blue color. In case train can use the free exit, chain signal allows train to pass, in case train need to access the engaged exit, chain signal not allow train to pass.

Double track

Partial double track

Useful when you intend run like 2 trains on single track, you may make short double track where the trains can get around each other

Double track

Robust system for your railway network

Double track junctions

Legend

T Junction

Simple - at access to junction place the single direction chain signal, at exit from junction place the normal signal

X Junction

Follow same rules as T junction just you have 4 directions
Do not place the signals inside the junction

X Junction Advanced

With higher throughput (more trains can pass same time), but bigger place needed.
This time place signals also inside junction.. but you need maintan following rule.. between every crossing or juction need to be at least one signal.. when there will be any two crossing or junction without signals in between.. then it may not works and deadlock with train may occur

Stations on double track

Double track end-station (without turnabout)

Double track ended with 3-track custom house

Double track end-station (with turnabout)

Double track through-station (fixed direction)

Only one train per each direction same time
Train can't turn and return from same direction as he came from

Double track through-station (variable direction)

Two trains can enter same direction
Train CAN turn and return from same direction as he came from

Double track through-station (variable direction - with bypass)

Trains which not intend to stop on this station can bypass it

Understanding the limitations

While designing track you should always take into acount an maximum lenght of the train you will run on it, check following fails - trains too long for the track:


Also remember, when you will use robust two track system, there is limit how much train can be present on the track!

[pawelkrzyzak]

"Also you should avoid following scenarios - signal block ends with same signal as it start"
What do you mean by that? There are only two kind of signals so block is always ending with the same signal as it starts...

[el bombastico]

I'm having problem with "Double track through-station (variable direction)"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pFgrsX-s-s3YF3wEl-qGDorK-sj0Hx2E/view

Can someone help?
Thank you!

[AntonTheNotSoAgreeable]

Figured it out eventually... If you're having trouble, just move along the track with a train and set your signals one by one. It somehow helped me understand, and it's quite simple really.

[3division]

I recently updated this tutorial to be more water-proof :-)

[Sausage and mash]

thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you

[pint_engineer]

Up till now I've spent hours to understand how the signals work. Thus, they destroyed my republic once again... I'm using a single track system and I've partial tracks at frequent distances. My signals need to point at both directions in order the trains not to be confisued. No matter if I've placed pre-signals at the main track and singals at both edges of the partial tracks, or even if I did the opposite, trains always getting confused. As a result I spend most of the time dealing with the stuck trains. This is the worst part of this game which I really like. I hope in the future this "smart" system to become a "dummy" one, to be able to enjoy the game. Or even completely remove the signals. They ruin the game!!.

[AntonTheNotSoAgreeable]

Still at an absolute loss - why are all my signals red? This doesn't help me actually understand what's going on, sorry.

[Woha]

Good examples!

[imPyre]

The signal system isn't horrible, it's based on train signals as they were used for over a century. Furthermore, chain signals automatically tell trains not only that there are available exits from a junction, but more specifically *which* exits are clear. The train logic works well. It's a bit complicated, but that's the nature of rail networks.

[BobDoleReigns]

All the best guides in the world can't make up for the horrible signal system in this game... thank you for trying though