Question about trains (new sc4 player)

[tpettit 0]

I can't seem to get my residents or industry to use them. I don't know if it's a problem with my placements where the stations are or how they are connected. For example, am I supposed to point the arrow when placing the stations at the road or rail?

Also, how often should I be placing stations? Is one passenger station per residental area enough? Even if I put stations at regular sections they're still unused. Does it hinder train use if I build avenues with similar layout to the trains, (ie. they will rather use the avenues then the rail)?

Now onto freight!
How often should stations be placed around my industry? Should I put them at choke points in the transport network (ie. at point where I know trucks will be driving past) or place them more around the industry itself? Last question, where do I need to put the freight stations for the goods to arrive at their destination? Is this even needed?

I hope thats all understandable, for you to answer! I have SC4 rush hour with the NAM installed, if that helps answer any questions.

[tpettit 0]

Ok so I figured out something wasn't quite right when my rail is crossing the roads. I seem to have the same problem as this guy - https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=22&threadid=103962&enterthread=y

Whenever I build a road with a rail crossing, no traffic can pass (cars, or trains) only pedestrians. Has anyone heard about this problem before? Highly annoying! Seems I'll have to delete my rail until I can fix this

[skyscraperC3 0]

1st question-you may not need rail yet in your city. If it is a large metropolis, then sims should be using them, unless you just added a rail system and your sims were already widely using other forms of mass transit. 
2nd question-it depends. What I would do is put one in each residental area. If one starts getting overcrowded then build another one , and so on. (look at sc4's website for more info or in your sc4 manual included with the game.)
3rd question-it depends, but normally yes. If your avenue is overcrowded, it would be a good idea to put rail next to it. If it isn't, but the rail system is used a lot, then it doesn't really matter if the rail and avenue run parallel together. *REMEMBER*-don't waste your money on something you don't need in the game like a rail system. Build one only if you need it or if you know that you will use it in the future.
4th question-that's weird! I've never heard of that before. Let's see-did you lay them out correctly? did you drag the two allthe way through each other? Sorry, can't help you much there. Look at the link that you posted every once in awhile. Maybe someone will post something helpful. 
private message (PM) me if you have any questions. Hope I helped! 
btw-welcome to the sc4 community

[Eʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ 273]

Ok I'll try and answer the fourth question. The easiest way to transport goods from the frieght rail station is to place them in a "Industrial Zone Area". This way goods can be transported alot quicker as goods have to then go by truck to other industrial zone areas from the station.

-Element

[tpettit 0]

Ahh thank you for the help guys. Just incase anyone was wondering, I fixed the bug where there was no traffic  with the road/rail intersections by reinstalling the NAM with left hand drive. (I really should read the installation instructions )