User Tools

Site Tools


construction:trackandstreet

Track and street construction

Overview



Tracks and streets are essential to build a comprehensive transport network in the game.

While tracks can only be built by the player, streets are laid to generate and connect towns as well as industries, when a new game is created. Streets are also automatically built and upgraded when towns expand.

In contrast to tracks, the player does not own streets (even if constructed by the player). Towns can construct new town buildings along any street and AI controlled cars and persons can use them without restrictions.

Construction costs

The construction costs are a combination of the costs per meter (see the list below) and the costs for terrain terraforming.

The costs also increase with the height of bridges above ground respectively with the depth of tunnels below ground.

Upgrades add extra cost, e.g. railroad catenary increases the cost of railroad tracks by 30%. For a detailed list, see below.

Speed limit

Streets, roads and tracks have speed limits, depending on the type used. For details see the list below.

The speed of trains is limited on curved tracks by the radius. A smaller radius will result in a smaller top speed. The top speed of tracks is displayed while constructing tracks.

Rail bridges have an additional speed limit, which may lower the speed limit of the used tracks. For details see the list below.

Track construction

Track construction menu

The track construction menu is divided into four sub sections.

tracks_tracks.jpgTrack construction:
Used to build normal and high-speed tracks.

tracks_upgrade.jpgTrack upgrading:
Used to upgrade tracks with catenary or from normal to high-speed.

tracks_signals.jpgSignal construction:
Used to build signals.

tracks_waypoints.jpgWay-point construction:
Used to build way-points.

Straight track

To build a straight track, point to the landscape, click and hold the left mouse button and drag the end of the track to the desired position. After releasing the mouse button, you can either confirm the construction by clicking on the green symbol or cancel the construction by clicking the red symbol.

It is also possible to alter the construction before confirming. Click and hold the left mouse button on the end of the track and drag it to the desired position.

To extend an existing track point to the end of the track and left click and drag. The track will snap to a straight track when aligned within a few degrees. Press and hold the Shift key on the keyboard to disable the snapping.


Curved track

To build a curved track, point to the end of an existing track and left click and drag. The track will automatically stop bending at the minimum radius.


Switch

To build a switch, point at an existing track, where the switch should start. Left click and drag at a narrow angle away from the existing track.

Note: Dragging at a large angle will create a crossing instead of a switch.


Parallel tracks

To build a parallel track, point next to an existing track (the cursor will turn blue) and left click and drag along the existing track. This can be repeated multiple times.


Double switch

The technics of switches and parallel tracks can be combined to construct double switches.


Crossover

To build a crossover, point at an existing parallel track, where the crossover should start. Left click and drag in the direction where the crossover should go.


Extended crossover

The same concept can be used to construct extended crossovers.


Double diamond crossover

To build a diamond crossover, point at to the end of an existing crossover (the cursor will snap and turn blue). Left click and drag to the opposite side of the crossover.


Double slip switch

To build a double slip switch, point at a crossing with a flat angle, left click and select “Double slip switch: Yes”.

If the crossing is not highlighted while pointing at it, the angle is probably too steep, and it cannot be upgraded.


Bridge

To build a bridge, point to the landscape or at the end of an existing track and left click and drag across a river.

Before finishing the construction, choose the bridge type to adjust the look and maximum speed of the bridge.

Note that bridges can also be built partially and curved. Enabling the manual gradient function will avoid an automatic adjustment to the ground. Bridges can also be fitted with switches, signals, and waypoints.


Tunnel

To build a tunnel, point to the landscape or at the end of an existing track and left click and drag across a hill or mountain.

Note that tunnels can also be built partially and curved. Enabling the manual gradient function will avoid an automatic adjustment to the ground. Tunnels can also be fitted with switches, signals, and waypoints.


Crossing

Rails and roads can be crossed in any way possible. Point to the landscape or at the end of an existing track and left click and drag a track or a road.


Automatic / manual gradient

While constructing tracks or streets, the construction tool tries to automatically adjust the gradient to the terrain. When building in rough terrain use smaller track segments to allow more precise adjustment to the ground or raise / lower the tracks manually.

To activate the manual gradient adjusting of a track or road, click the gradient icon before finishing the construction. By holding down the shift key, the gradient can be adjusted in smaller steps.

To return to automatic gradient, click the gradient icon again.


Raise / lower

To raise or lower tracks and roads, press <n> or <m> on the keyboard before finishing the construction. This is useful to raise bridges, force tunnels or adjust the tracks in rough terrain.

To set the start height of a track or road press <pageup> or <pagedown> before dragging a track or road. To set the end height of a track or road press <pageup> or <pagedown> before finishing the construction. This can be used to start the construction with a tunnel or bridge.


Upgrading

To upgrade rails with catenary or to high-speed rails select the tool and click on a track section. Sections that are not upgraded yet are displayed in red, all others are green.

The same process can be used to remove catenary or downgrade to standard rails.
Hold shift to enable segment wise up- or downgrade.


Signal and way-point placing

Signals can be turned into one-way signals. Trains are only allowed to pass, when the signal is placed on the right hand side seen from the train drivers perspective. One-way signals are indicated by a symbol with one white and two black dots in the signal icon.

Way-points are valid in both directions and are used to create stops in lines. Way-points are indicated by a symbol with a single white dot.


Learn more about signals and way-points here.

Street construction

Street construction menu

The street construction menu is divided into two sub sections with a replacement option.

street_street.jpgStreet construction:
Used to build various types of streets.

street_replace.jpg
Street construction with replacement option enabled:
Used to replace streets with another type.


street_upgrade.jpgStreet upgrading:
Used to upgrade streets with tram tracks and bus lanes.

street_waypoint.jpgWay-point construction:
Used to build way-points.

Straight streets, curved streets, street tunnels and bridges are constructed in the same way as tracks. Also, the gradient can be adjusted manually, or a section can be raised/lowered. Use the examples in the tracks section above as a reference.

Upgrading

To upgrade roads with tram tracks or bus lanes select the tool and click on a road section. Sections that are not upgraded yet are displayed in red, all others are green.

The same process can be used to remove tracks or bus lanes.

Hold shift to enable segment wise up- or downgrade.


Replacing roads

To replace roads with a different type, activate the replace mode and select the road with which the existing one should be replaced.

In addition, it is possible to add or remove tram tracks or bus lanes at the same time. The default setting “keep” will replace the road but keep bus lanes or tram tracks, if there are any.

Hold shift to enable segment wise replacing.



Track and street types

Tracks

TypeMax. speedUpgradesAvailableCost per m
Standard tracks120km/hCatenary from 1910
High-speed tracks from 1925
from 185050
High-speed tracks300km/hCatenaryfrom 192580

Signals and Way-points

TypeWay-point functionalityAvailableCost
Semaphore path-signalyes1850 - 19504000
Lights path-signalyesfrom 19254000
Way-pointyesfrom 18504000

Rail bridges

TypeMax. speedUpgradesAvailableCost per m
(at 10m height*)
Wooden bridge60km/hCatenary from 1910
High-speed tracks from 1925
1850 - 1925600
Stone bridge90km/hCatenary from 1910
High-speed tracks from 1925
1850 - 1925720
Iron bridge120km/hCatenary from 1910
High-speed tracks from 1925
1850 - 1925900
Concrete bridge120km/h
with standard tracks

200km/h
with high-speed tracks
Catenary
High-speed tracks
from 1925864
Steel bridge120km/h
with standard tracks

300km/h
with high-speed tracks
Catenary
High-speed tracks
from 19251080

* additional cost to tracks, increases exponentially

Rail tunnel

TypeMax. speedUpgradesAvailableCost per m
(at 10m depth*)
Tunnel120km/h
with standard tracks

300km/h
with high-speed tracks
Catenary from 1910
High-speed tracks from 1925
from 18501230

* additional cost to tracks, increases exponentially

Upgrades

TypeMax. speedAvailableAdditional Cost
Catenary120km/h
with standard tracks

300km/h
with high-speed tracks
from 191030%

Streets and roads

TypeMax. SpeedMax. LanesUpgradesAvailableCost per m
Small street20km/h2 lanesTram track
Tram catenary from 1910
1850 - 192532
Medium street40km/h2 lanesTram track
Tram catenary from 1910
1850 - 192556
Large street60km/h4 lanesTram track
Tram catenary from 1910
1850 - 192588
Small country road40km/h2 lanesTram catenary from 1910
Tram track
1850 - 192524
Medium country road60km/h2 lanesTram catenary from 1910
Tram track
1850 - 192542
Large country road80km/h4 lanesTram catenary from 1910
Tram track
1850 - 192566
Small street30km/h2 lanesBus lane
Tram track
Tram catenary
from 192532
Medium street50km/h2 lanesBus lane
Tram track
Tram catenary
from 192556
Large street70km/h4 lanesBus lane
Tram track
Tram catenary
from 192588
Extra large street70km/h6 lanesBus lane
Tram catenary
Tram track
from 192588
Small country road60km/h2 lanesBus lane
Tram catenary
Tram track
from 192524
Medium country road80km/h2 lanesBus lane
Tram catenary
Tram track
from 192542
Large country road100km/h4 lanesBus lane
Tram catenary
Tram track
from 192566
Extra large country road100km/h6 lanesBus lane
Tram catenary
Tram track
from 192566

Signals and Way-points

TypeWay-point functionalityAvailableCost
Way-pointyesfrom 18504000

Street and road bridges

TypeMax. speedMax. lanesUpgradesAvailableCost per m
(at 10m height*)
Wooden bridgedepends on street typedepends on street typedepends on street type1850 - 1925400
Stone bridgedepends on street typedepends on street typedepends on street type1850 - 1925480
Concrete bridgedepends on street typedepends on street typedepends on street typefrom 1925576
Steel bridgedepends on street typedepends on street typedepends on street typefrom 1925600

* additional cost to streets, increases exponentially

Street and road tunnel

TypeMax. speedMax. lanesUpgradesAvailableCost per m
(at 10m depth*)
Tunneldepends on street typedepends on street typedepends on street typefrom 19251476

* additional cost to streets, increases exponentially

Upgrades

TypeAvailableAdditional cost
Bus lanesfrom 185010%
Tram tracksfrom 185020%
Electrified tram tracksfrom 191040%


construction/trackandstreet.txt · Last modified: 2019/03/19 10:18 (external edit)