I think I would love this game, but every time I start a new game it all work out good in the start..... Then the citisens start queeing up. I can't build Lines everywere at ones. Should I just ignore 200 pepole at a stop?? I know I can click on a person a see were he/she is going but it is still everywere.
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Be more specific about what are you doing. Where are you building your lines, how long is it, how many vehicles you put in, etc. And the city you are having problems with, so we can identify where is the problem.
You can also read general tips on how to start your company. Try here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?524994-Wiki-Guide-FAQ
You can also read general tips on how to start your company. Try here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?524994-Wiki-Guide-FAQ
In the totorial map I would make 2 lines both with 4 busses. One on the center street, and one from the north auto factory to the south. Both lines are about 14 stops
14 stops is a lot. From personal experience, I think that 5 or maybe 6 stops is the absolute maximum per line. Each stop adds extra loading/acceleration time, which means that passengers at other stops have to wait longer.
Also, while 4 buses per line is not too much, I try to maintain lines with fewer buses. Adding more vehicles stops helping the passenger load after some point, because they add to the street traffic and clog up the roads, leading to long stalls and increasing turnaround times.
In any case, I found (and many other players seem to suggest the same on these forums) that the best way to plan your layout is this. Have a metro line between two heavy-traffic areas (railway stations, airports, department stores, other landmarks), then start adding bus lines to bring passengers from a few surrounding blocks to the metro stops. If your metro stops are in quaint areas of town (e.g. next to the airport in Berlin), the buses will not get caught up in traffic and will be very profitable. Another good thing about metros is that you can add quite a few to a line, and they have large capacities, so you will almost never run into problems with not being able to pick up all the passengers in a stop.
Also, if you find a possible route that goes mainly through wide avenues with a green zone in the middle, you can build tram tracks there, avoiding traffic as well. However, make sure that your trams don't stall at that one narrow street with 150% traffic
Finally, if you have one or two out of 10-20 stops with a hundred passengers, that is not a terrible sign. But if most of your stops are like that, it's not good.
Also, while 4 buses per line is not too much, I try to maintain lines with fewer buses. Adding more vehicles stops helping the passenger load after some point, because they add to the street traffic and clog up the roads, leading to long stalls and increasing turnaround times.
In any case, I found (and many other players seem to suggest the same on these forums) that the best way to plan your layout is this. Have a metro line between two heavy-traffic areas (railway stations, airports, department stores, other landmarks), then start adding bus lines to bring passengers from a few surrounding blocks to the metro stops. If your metro stops are in quaint areas of town (e.g. next to the airport in Berlin), the buses will not get caught up in traffic and will be very profitable. Another good thing about metros is that you can add quite a few to a line, and they have large capacities, so you will almost never run into problems with not being able to pick up all the passengers in a stop.
Also, if you find a possible route that goes mainly through wide avenues with a green zone in the middle, you can build tram tracks there, avoiding traffic as well. However, make sure that your trams don't stall at that one narrow street with 150% traffic
Finally, if you have one or two out of 10-20 stops with a hundred passengers, that is not a terrible sign. But if most of your stops are like that, it's not good.
Like he said: 14 stops is way too much.
The secret of public transportation is frequency. Don't let your passengers waiting too long for a bus or tram. With 14 stops and 4 buses they are sleeping at your bus stop.
Also don't put stops too near to each other, in order to get as much passengers as possible. More stops means the bus will stop more time, taking longer to take people where they want to go and taking longer to get people at the stops.
Start with a metro is a good solution, but if you don't want to start taking loans right at the beginning of the game, you can start with buses and trams, but forget downtown.
I remember when I was playing the tutorial town, and it's not easy. I build a tram line in downtown but you need to avoid any roads as the devil avoid the cross.
Stay on lane as less as possible. Build in parks, parking lots etc, and if it's not possible, forget the route and plan another one.
For a start you can build a route from the suburb in the north to the church. Then keep growing and connect the factories in the north and the rail station.
That main line you can see, near the market and the department store is out of question. No buses, no trams. Maximum a tram line crossing it.
You can also connect the southwest part by tram, laying tracks on the green part and your tracks will be in the lane only at the bridge and in front of the hospital.
Routes are what is fun to figure out. Just keep in mind that you should make short lines and off road as much as possible.
In tutorial town, even a bus in the suburbs will lead to traffic jams, so use trams.
The secret of public transportation is frequency. Don't let your passengers waiting too long for a bus or tram. With 14 stops and 4 buses they are sleeping at your bus stop.
Also don't put stops too near to each other, in order to get as much passengers as possible. More stops means the bus will stop more time, taking longer to take people where they want to go and taking longer to get people at the stops.
Start with a metro is a good solution, but if you don't want to start taking loans right at the beginning of the game, you can start with buses and trams, but forget downtown.
I remember when I was playing the tutorial town, and it's not easy. I build a tram line in downtown but you need to avoid any roads as the devil avoid the cross.
Stay on lane as less as possible. Build in parks, parking lots etc, and if it's not possible, forget the route and plan another one.
For a start you can build a route from the suburb in the north to the church. Then keep growing and connect the factories in the north and the rail station.
That main line you can see, near the market and the department store is out of question. No buses, no trams. Maximum a tram line crossing it.
You can also connect the southwest part by tram, laying tracks on the green part and your tracks will be in the lane only at the bridge and in front of the hospital.
Routes are what is fun to figure out. Just keep in mind that you should make short lines and off road as much as possible.
In tutorial town, even a bus in the suburbs will lead to traffic jams, so use trams.
Don't give up. It's not supposed to be so simple that you'd get bored in a day. There are great tips on this forum and questions are answered quickly. Don't try to do too much too soon. Try the sandbox mode for a while. Tutorial Town has a perfect setup for a tram down the middle of the city (trams are great in the grassy median between roads and in the parks). A few bus stops is better than many. Your coverage should grow as the need arises. Metros are moneymakers but cost a fortune to start up. Take loans or wait if you can. I finished Amsterdam rather quickly and then replayed it to really do a good job as a transportation manager, not just a gameplayer. I have a tram line from the airport to the south bank of the canal, just the two stops. Feeding it is a tram line from the center of the city, a bus line from the center of the city and another bus line which runs through the southern suburbs. It got so popular that I added a helicopter line from the northwest suburbs (never used one before, wanted to see what it was like). Then a metro. Now there are people scurrying around from tram to bus to metro to helicopter all the time. Never a huge queue, but a lot of people. It's fun to watch.
Incidentally, since I used to live and commute in New York City, I tried to build a north-south, east-west system. I have buses (and a tram) running up and down each island with buses (and a tram) cutting across. The stops where they meet are near each other so passengers can transfer. Click on a passenger and see how they get from one place to another. It seems like two lines and a bit of a walk is no problem. Don't play the game, think real-life.
Incidentally, since I used to live and commute in New York City, I tried to build a north-south, east-west system. I have buses (and a tram) running up and down each island with buses (and a tram) cutting across. The stops where they meet are near each other so passengers can transfer. Click on a passenger and see how they get from one place to another. It seems like two lines and a bit of a walk is no problem. Don't play the game, think real-life.
In both Berlin and Amsterdam (campaign scenarios), I set up my initial metro line and an extra feeding bus line without taking a loan. It's difficult, but possible. And the metro line is profitable almost immediately, so you can simply wait for some money to arrive before building anything else. I ended up taking a few loans later, because I wanted to do some rapid expansion from time to time.
best combo
The best combination so far, that I have discovered, is a tram line running counterclockwise feeding a metro line. Both are profitable from the get go and the tram going the "opposite" direction seems to avoid most of the traffic. Just keep the lines short with only a handful of stops, probably six or seven maximum, otherwise the lines(queues) will get quite long. GOOD LUCK!
The best combination so far, that I have discovered, is a tram line running counterclockwise feeding a metro line. Both are profitable from the get go and the tram going the "opposite" direction seems to avoid most of the traffic. Just keep the lines short with only a handful of stops, probably six or seven maximum, otherwise the lines(queues) will get quite long. GOOD LUCK!
Damascus has it absolutely right:
I find that this game plays best if you don't view it as a money-making "tycoon" game, but as a keep-your-peeps-happy "sim" game.
Focus on keeping your customers happy, and everything else will fall into place.
p.s. Damascus - I see you're located in NJ - fyi I'm working on a custom NYC map - you can follow progress on my Cities in Motion Exchange blog.
I find that this game plays best if you don't view it as a money-making "tycoon" game, but as a keep-your-peeps-happy "sim" game.
Focus on keeping your customers happy, and everything else will fall into place.
p.s. Damascus - I see you're located in NJ - fyi I'm working on a custom NYC map - you can follow progress on my Cities in Motion Exchange blog.
NYC born and raised. St. John's grad. Commuted from Queens to Manhattan for 11 years plus three years to Stuyvesant H.S. Been in NJ for the past 12 years. Good luck on your map, I will certainly keep up with your progress.
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