Railway Empire

Railway Empire

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Signaling Guide [EN]
By WolfyRkz
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Basics
  • Trains always use the shortest available path even if a slightly longer route would be faster.

  • If you have more then one train to a station configure the used platform manually (edit route > click station) to divide them optimally between the available platforms. Hovering with the mouse over a platform shows you how much (in percent) the platform is currently in use.
    If you have trains driving through a station don't use that platform for other trains as you can't select on which platform trains drive through.

  • Everywhere where you use shunts place entry-signals from all directions facing into the area.

  • Don't place signals if a full length train does not fit behind it. (Tip: a train is ~14km long compared to track length in building mode)

  • Supply Towers and stations have built-in signals

  • Signals "think" ahead if a train reserving a path to them will cause a conflict somewhen further ahead. (if it wouldn't do that for example, you couldn't use automatic block points on single tracks or trains would soon block each other head on head). Think of it like trains can pre-reserve a path ahead of these signals, even if that path is still in use by another train, as long as it won't cause a conflict in the future.

  • A signal in the opposite direction of a train has no effect. It acts like there would be no signal at all.
Simple Constructions
Stations
Connect all platforms with shunts and place an entry signal.


Passing Place
Blocking signals at the end of the sidetracks and entry signals right before the shunts. As the supply tower has builtin signals make sure that there is enough space behind them so trains loading supplies don't block the whole construction.
Each sidetrack here is ~32km long so 2 trains fit in it for each direction (4 total)
At best build passing places close to stations, but not too close (so at least a train fits between entry signal from station and entry signal from passing place)


Simple Crossing
Just place entry-signals around the whole construction.


Automatic block points
Not much to consider here. Just place signals facing in both directions to allow trains following another train.
Advanced Constructions
Double Track
You need two shunts here at the entrance to the double track (S-shunt). This is technically the same as the X shunts you know from other games, it just takes slightly more space.


Branching point to double track
Example of how to simply connect a single track with a double track (both directions)



Others
If you need help with anything just ask ;)
33 Comments
chris.australia 9 Apr, 2020 @ 6:24am 
Makes no sense :-(
DruidDobby 6 Jan, 2020 @ 10:26pm 
Ah jeez... I can understand the basic principle of signals, and how using one-way directional signals allows for parallel tracks, shunting and what-not, but other than that I have no idea.

Like what does the non-one-way signal mean? The yellow arrow things, what do they mean and what to they do to the trains?
brigadon 29 Dec, 2019 @ 8:31pm 
So the trains ignore signals that do not point in the direction they are going, unless the signal is specifically a one-way signal (making the track arrows flow in that direction) unless they are immediately shunting to a track flowing in the direction they are going?
Gwengandalf 18 Oct, 2019 @ 9:43pm 
take a minute and place tracks add a train and see what happens with each signal at a junction,split for double and a double split (above) .
chaleur 10 Mar, 2019 @ 3:07pm 
This looks brilliant but something basic is missing. I don't understand which is the direction of blocking or the difference between signal types.
Red John 15 Feb, 2019 @ 10:54am 
Thank you:)
Lord Haart 21 Dec, 2018 @ 3:32pm 
Good so far, but we need more advanced trax pls.
NetPCDoc 29 Nov, 2018 @ 1:03pm 
Could you add another "Advanced Constructions"? Also do a Double-track branching point to double-track? ... while leaving the current "Branching point to double track", for comparison?
spinozab 20 Jul, 2018 @ 10:47am 
Thank you very much !
:steamhappy:
WolfyRkz  [author] 8 Jul, 2018 @ 9:37am 
@nissan-man: At least last time i played entry signals where needed, otherwise trains where not able to follow each other on a single track. (and they never got stuck that way as they "reserved" anyway a virtual path until their set platform).
But i wouldn't rule out that they changed something since release so that the guide isn't 100% accurate now