Speed Buffers are based on reality. Imagine, what would happen to the p****engers standing near, if a train (in Simutrans: high quality track, high speed track, maglevs, etc...) with a speed above around 200 km/h would p**** by?
Well, from the Japanese maglevs, (based on YouTube) a maglev slows down, to an acceptable speed, namely 140 km/h, before it enters the first tile, of a station, where, when it stops, (it enters, the last station tile of a station, (or a track tile, before), with the first car (carriage), and where it stops with the last car), the p****engers can get on/off. Similarly, vice versa (when the train leaves the first station tile of a station, with the last car (carriage), and where it stops with the first car). That said, in simutrans this can be programmed by placing a button (probably in the train tool, panel) in which you can place an invisible speed buffer, for the trains on track, to follow.
Why a special tool, when you can just program it to run automatically, in the game?
Well … because, of the new world record for trains addition in the game, itself. At times an express train, can p**** by, especially, on a track especially designed for new world records (In Real Life and/or Simutrans), so the train don’t have to slow down for every station, if there are many, close and/or consecutively, together. In some maps, this may happen…
I got this idea, because of two things:
1. In Simutrans (probably the same for any other real-world simulation), the trains just go at top speed through any station, even if it is not an important station (express trains) = not safe for p****angers if at, for example 500km/h.
2. I picked this idea from industry, you know, buffers for personnel, manufacturing and/or product safety: safety of p****engers from top speeds of trains.
Can this be created in Simutrans, by any chance? :-\
Simply use a slower track for the station area: first build track ===----===, then ===[[[[=== station. Done.
Thanks, VS.
But It might be ... not necessarily a slower track. What about a slower elctrification of track? :-\
What about for maglevs?
You are right, I didn't think of that.
Since almost no graphic is needed, it is just a question of writing a dat file and putting one black dot into the picture :)
Thanks again, VS.
If you don't really want to produce a graphic, for this menubutton, that's fine with me. It can be a white simutrans menubutton with the wrtting as you roll over it: "Place Speed Buffer" or something like that. But ... It needs to be a special tool. What if a certain player wants to run an express service through (to achieve the new world record for trains addition in the game), for example, ten evenly (well ... basically/variably) distanced stations, not stopping at, say, 7 of them. You only place the speed buffers, before and after, for the stations needed. :) And other trains can use same track to carry p****angers from the other stations not serviced by the express trains. :) 8)
Or possibly introduce a speed limit for railwaystations? should be the most simple solution ...
Thanks, jbode. :)
What about if a player wants to run an express train through it... ? :-\ :-\
Express trains have to slow down too ... allowed speed is/should be a function of the head wind. From the aspect of proper traffic system layout mixing of different speed trains is not ideal anyway. You could - in case you feel the slowdown too problematic - use a byp**** system. As its done in reality.
Jörg
GREAT IDEA (even BETTER than my own ;) :) ) AND GOOD POINT, Jorg. :) So how would you switch between a speed limit (slow down mode) and/or a byp**** system, in Simutrans and how will this be implemented? :-\ :-\
If you use low speed track for braking, then high speed train wayfinder would try to route around anyway, if the penalty (curvewise) is not too high.