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Topic: Can't seem to make a profit (Read 15020 times) previous topic - next topic

Can't seem to make a profit

Hello all, first time post.
I just got Simutrans a few days ago, as I was reminscing some good old days playing transport tycoon.
I must say, it looks very nice, and the interface is pretty easy to learn.

Now.. I went bankrupt one game, where I tried to make a p****enger-only company. That was to be expected.

However, my next game, I decided to build up an industrial chain, to get my income going.
I fully supllied an automobile production chain with input materials (oil>>refinery>>plastic, coal+iron>>steel), and my trains bring the cars to a car shop in a nearby village, as well as to a car shop far away.

I also fully supplied a concrete factory (stone+coal>>cement, cement+stone+sand>>concrete) and my trains bring the concrete to the construction works in a nearby city.

I'm using trains for everything except the oil, which is hauled by boat.

HELP. Even though everything is producing goods, and my trains are transporting full loads of cars and concrete, I can't make a profit.
Even my trains selling end products (cars and concrete) are running at a loss.
It does not improve over time. I turned on free play to prevent game-over-by-bankrupt and let the game run for a few years, to see if the lines would start seeing any profits. Nope. DOwn to -18 million debt now.

How do I make a profit in this game?

Edit: some additional info: using Pak64, starting year 1947, all my trains are F7A-Diesel trains (105km/h), with a locomotive and a rear locomotive. Trains with bulk goods have 5 cars, reducing their speed to 104 km/h.


Nevermind. Figured it out. I just needed more trains per line.
I started a new map, and I have about 4-5 trains per line now. Making money on selling books and chemicals now.
I had to get used to the economy system, which differs quite a bit from TTC. In TTC, freight production occurs in increments, here, it happens realtime.

Mod note: please do not double-post. Edit your last comment instead.
~Fabio

Re: Can't seem to make a profit

Reply #1 –
I have always had a hard time making money on transporting cars and concrete by train. Same with paper.

Re: Can't seem to make a profit

Reply #2 –
in order to make profit :
_ transport the maximum amount of p****engers (there'are often more profitable than goods)
_ don't use high speed ways for low speed convoys
_ don't use too much structures (a double track for a single convoy for example), the less structures you have the best it is because the lower is the maintenance cost
_ you freight convoys must be full at least 50% of their journey; p****enger's convoys mustn't be empty (or near).

if you use this advice you should make profit easily.