Help with connecting cities

[ngeeves 5]

Hi im new here and only got sim city 4 a couple of weeks ago. What zones should i connect with a freight train line to get it to work and also how can i get seaports to be more efficient as when i build them they never carry anything despite two industrial zones having seaports (in different region tiles).<br /><br />Ngeeves

[landen99 0]

The freight station and the seaport are only means to transfer freight out of the city from your Industrial zones. If there is a faster route out of the city, your seaports will not be used. Also, a lighthouse is usually required by your seaport, but I doubt that the lighthouse is the issue here.

[Sam 163]

Freight just needs to get out of the city, and will choose the shortest way to do so. So for all your industial areas, make sure they have a short, fast way out of the city ie via nearby neighbour connections. These can be road or rail. The closer you put your neighbour connections to your industry (and the more you have) the better

Rail:

Any industry buildings directly touching a rail line do not need a freight station to use the rail (I wonder how they get their goods on a moving freight train). For buildings not touching a rail line, you will need to place a freight station if you want them to use rail. Make sure the rail line goes out of the city at a nearby neighbour connection.

Road:

The most common way. Again make sure the neighbour connection is close by. Also, roads overload quickly. Avenues or highways are better than roads for the actual neighbour connection, and provide more industrial demand cap relief. You will need feeder roads and on ramps for your highway, they don't toss their goods on the the highway the way they do for rail.

I find that if I cut all road connections, the other freight options are better utilised (since they have no choice). Roads (except highways) get congested too quickly anyway.

Seaports:

Your seaport will only be used if it is the fastest way out of the city ie it is best to put it right in the middle of your industrial area and surround it with industrial zoning. Don't put it half a map away from the industry. Make sure it has road connections and power and deep enough water.

I rarely use a lighthouse with my seaports and they seem to work ok. I think the light house just improves their efficiency a bit, but I use MrTruesage's upgradeable seaports anyway.

[rodent1989 9]

again, make sure the seaport is colser to the industry than the edge of the map, otherwise they'll just send the freight on trucks

[RushHourFreak 1]

Freightruck is not a big problem, connect your beighbouring with highways or rail. Seaports connected by rail, a mass transit system and a highway is always important. Commercial is the best zone for your seaport.