Railway Variety

[GulMacet]

I noticed recently that the amount of passenger trains from other cities seems to correlate with the number of passenger railway stations. In fact, in one of my cities, a veritable Zerg rush of almost empty trains (less than 10 passengers each) descended upon my poor rail network and clogged everything up. It got so bad that I had to create a separate rail network, disconnected from the outside world, for my inner-city light rail and leave only the cargo stations connected.

Is it perhaps possible to split the Passenger Railway Station building into two buildings? A bigger one called "Main Railway Station" or "Long Distance Railway Station" or something like that for handling inter-city traffic (perhaps even with an internal subway station, like the International Airport) and a smaller one called "Light Rail Station" for connecting your districts, that does NOT attract trains from other cities.

Thank you for feedback and responses!

 

[metacritical]

there are lots of assets that do this. i use this one but mostly this one

you also need this: Multi-Track Station Enabler

 

[Fox_NS_CAN]

I have noticed that trains to-from the outside world do seem to only go to one station. Would be nice if they would make multiple stops, as they do seem very light on passengers as GulMacet has noted.

Adding stuff like those mods to the game via a DLC would be a DLC well worth having. (Transport DLC! More train stuff! Ferries! Variety of buses and aircraft. Small planes/airport, cargo planes? Getting off-topic, sorry.)

One thing I find that can help with the congestion (aside from totally separate rail networks), is to make a "loop siding" (I think that is the correct terminology) for each station, off of the main line. Traffic that is stopping at a station will pull off the main line onto the siding and stop at the station. When they leave the station they go back onto the main line. Passenger trains go by cargo stations and cargo trains go by passenger stations, never entering the siding. Outside connections also pass by the stations they are not going to, remaining on the main line. This way, trains stopped at a station do not impede trains that are not going to that station.

I have made some a bit short, but it works best if the siding has enough length on either side of the station to allow a waiting train to be stopped without blocking the main line.

I'm currently in a city with no trains (yet), so I had to dig up some older screenshots. Not the best, sorry. Still you should get the idea.

In the first screenshot, you can see the main line at the bottom of the screen. The passenger train station is connected to that (offscreen) on both the left and right. Waiting or stopped trains do not block the main line. A little awkward on the hill, but it works.

In the second screenshot, you can see a passenger train bypassing a cargo station. (The train appears to be slightly overloaded with passengers.)
At the right is another siding for a passenger station off-screen. A bit close together, but sometimes that is just the way it works out.

This has always been good enough for me to not break my lines into inside/outside networks. I do have a lot of train traffic in this city, but very little congestion (there is a little from time to time, but good the majority of the time). Still a small population though. (This was a "painting" city, infinite cash, but still in the "green".)

 

[Fox_NS_CAN]

This (quick low-quality) sketch illustrates what I mean.

Sidings can be on either side of the main line.

 

[GulMacet]

Yes, I already do that. It works fine for less than ten stations, but after reaching about that number, the amount of almost empty trains still clogs up the main line. Like I said, making a separate passenger line completely disconnected from the main network was the only option I could think of.

 

[Fox_NS_CAN]

Like I said, making a separate passenger line completely disconnected from the main network was the only option I could think of.

Without any other changes, I would have to agree with you on that one.

The other options are like 'metacritical' said, use mods. Another is to convince CO to deal with it, and give us multi-track stations without mods. (That would be the best IMHO.)

 

[GulMacet]

That's why I made this thread, but they don't seem to be responding. Paradox devs are much better at this, they answer, even if the answer is a flat-out "No".

 

[Jaysmallz]

I feel and hope this new DLC will provide this!

 

[GulMacet]

So do I.

 

[Fox_NS_CAN]

It would appear so:

 

[GulMacet]

Hooray! O frabjous day! Calloo! Callay!