How to build big, busy stations?

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How to build big, busy stations?

November 01, 2008, 12:40:35 am

Hello, first post.

I've been following and playing Simutrans for a little while, though not very intensely. Recently I picked the game up again and I keep running into an issue with having too many incoming/outgoing trains and goods for my station, clogging up the works.

Simply, I want my trains and goods to flow through the station like water, but instead they frequently have to stop where multiple lanes intersect just to wait for another loaded train to clear the track.

What expandable, efficient approaches do you use for moving lots of trains?

Thanks

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #1 – November 01, 2008, 09:52:04 am

I usually have this layout for a busy station. Just one way to get in, and just one separated way to get out. The ingoing choose-signal is optional and can be replaced by a normal signal if you work with designated platforms.

If you want more ways to get in or to get out, avoid crossings by using bridges.

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #2 – November 01, 2008, 11:13:07 am

I don't have experience with ultra-mega hubs, but the following should be "scalable" enough.

Approach all your tracked route designs as if they had to be circular. I guess you know the TTD ai's track pattern. That works in Simutrans surprisingly well, too (mainly for the starting times when every cent saved on maintenance counts), but in limit where number of p****ing loops (?) ->oo it converges to bidirectional (double) track. And this in turn is "squished" loop. So, here most of my designs start.

Then ask a simple question. Where does the traffic slow down or stop? There you have to put something to facilitate waiting trains. Typically you have somewhere some station with some % loading orders. If the loop is used only by that one line, no worries, it will work. If that end of loop is used by more lines (actually part of more loops), you have to separate them - like this:
http://vs.simutrans.com/remote_images/tracks/simscr02.jpg
The station is to the right, next to the array of tanks. Trains loop clockwise and have to wait there, so there is ample space for queueing (IIRC three or four trains per platform).

Here the direction is counterclockwise, but the overall function is same.
http://vs.simutrans.com/remote_images/tracks/simscr00.jpg

Sometimes it isn't as simple as just adding waiting area. With years the traffic increases tenfold and you have to split the "super(im)posed" loops:
http://vs.simutrans.com/remote_images/tracks/simscr03.jpg
Luckily there was water on one side, so the expansion didn't result in m**** destruction.

With this design "paradigm" there must not be any pieces of track where trains move either way. Everything one-directional, otherwise you'll go crazy

As you can guess, it doesn't work well when you start mixing it with platform select signals.

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #3 – November 01, 2008, 05:34:46 pm

I see, so it might be better if I didn't use platform select signals all the time.

I have found that trains tend to act dumbly if, when production has overflowed the station and several platforms are full of product with the wrong destination, I switch their lines. They'll do a 180 turn and sit, waiting for a chance to go to the waypointed platform instead of the desired one.

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #4 – November 01, 2008, 07:37:30 pm

Just a quick question - how long have you been playing TTD/TTDPatch/OpenTTD before?

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #5 – November 01, 2008, 08:18:43 pm

I've only played TTD/any for about 15 minutes. I found it super annoying (after trying simutrans) that you had to lay track one piece at a time instead of in strips.

You ****umed that I was familiar with the TTD AI and frankly, I'm not exactly. I feel like I know a bit about simutrans' AI but in the latest version I'm a bit hampered since it seems they took out the ability to view a train's reserved blocks as it travels.

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #6 – November 01, 2008, 08:41:42 pm

The first instinct of TTD [derivative] players is to put choose signals everywhere. Hence the question

The AI there builds track either single, point-to-point for one train, or something, which is hard to describe in words.

Don't look at the ridiculous… thing

, instead focus on the track coming from top of screen and follow it to the part that allows p****ing. This is what I referred to.

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #7 – November 02, 2008, 12:36:36 am

I've built an extreme version of Combuijs' "high throuput station" prototype at "Potsdam Güter".

Potsdam Güter is a big hub in my over 320 simu-years lasting simulation. More platforms dedicated to other directions reside in the underground.

In the part of the station on the screenshot the incoming track in the foreground forks to 3 groups of platforms right after the selection signal to rise the throuput. All outgoing tracks leave the station at the upper left end of the platforms and come together somewhere beyond the lower right edge of the screenshot.

Q: Why are there so many platforms, but so few trains in the station?

A: For each train, which is scheduled to wait at a station (deliverer), you need a platform plus at least 1 platform for all trains, which are scheduled not to wait (suppliers). Otherwize suppliers will wait at front of the station for a free platform, which are all occupied by deliverers, which are waiting for the suppliers' goods.

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #8 – November 06, 2008, 09:16:48 am

Omg. I never needed such big station. Its maintenance must be very expensive!

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #9 – March 03, 2009, 08:59:05 pm

you need to p**** years i think

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #10 – March 03, 2009, 09:00:50 pm

You can also use undergrounds and bridges to build nicer station than huge blocks shown upper

Re: How to build big, busy stations?

Reply #11 – March 05, 2009, 09:01:47 pm

Yes, your right.

And some stations are even huger...

This pic show the station under ground.

In this simulation there are some similar huge stations both over and under ground.
BTW: the simulation started in 1825. Its running for more than 360 years now!