NAM: What is the difference between Trams and GLR?

[fugosushi 41]

so Ground Light Rail is basically Elevated Rail on ground level, but then what are Trams?

[CaptCity 4,862]

'Trams' is sometimes used to refer the the carraiges/cars/vehicles that use the GLR/El-Rail as opposed to 'trains' that use regular heavy rail tracks. Therfore, any usage of the word 'trams' is probably a reference to GLR or El-Rail.

[fugosushi 41]

thanks for the reply!

in the NAM toolset, there are different options for laying Ground Light Rail track and Tram track. until the Misc. Transportation menu, there are 3 options for GLR: Ground Light Rail, Draggable Ground Light Rail, GroundLightRail/Avenue Dual Network Pieces

and then there are 2 options for Tram: Tram-in-Road, and Tram-on-Road&Texture Variations.

so what's the difference between these two? the NAM documentation doesn't really mention anything about Tram.

[CaptCity 4,862]

Originally posted by: homefish...and then there are 2 options for Tram: Tram-in-Road, and Tram-on-Road&Texture Variations. So what's the difference between these two? the NAM documentation doesn't really mention anything about Tram.quote>

Ah... Didn't realize that you were referring to those... The two Trams (Tram-in-Road and Tram-on-Road) are another way to make the GLR (which is really El-Rail) appear, while at the same time allow vehicle trafic on either side. So basically, you will have a network that is a single tile wide with a GLR network on the same tiles as a road network. The tram track portion is the same transportation network as GLR and can be connected together with the pieces available.

Tram-in-Road will allow you to build tracks that appear with a cement base between single lanes of a road allowing road and tram traffic on the same tile. The Tram-on-Road is the same concept except the tracks will be on the road's asphalt allowing cars and trams to share a lane. Both the newer textures are pieces that have to be plopped together (as GLR used to be and the current GLR-in-Avenue is).

Here's a few examples of their use...

and showing traffic...

More info can be found here...

Hope this helps... Let us know if you have any more questions...

[Cougar2004 127]

Someone may need to correct me, but from the list you just gave, It looks to me as if they are the same thing... except whe its inside a road it is being called Tram instead of GLR. Maybe that is it?

[fugosushi 41]

ya, it is kinda confusing. if they both are really the same, the NAM team should just call them all GLR.

and even more confusing, there is also a piece called "Tram-in-Avenue" which looks very similar to the "Groundlightrail x Avenue" piece except for the green grass. is the only difference really aesthetic, or is there another reason why these two pieces are named different things (GLR vs. Tram)?

[warrior 169]

This is probably because they were created at different times, and I think different people from different countries, so the terms used will be slightly different, both pieces in the pictures above are identical, except for the grass.

Jonathan

[fugosushi 41]

and yet the menu buttons you access to build both pieces are completely different. i built the "Groundlightrail x Avenue" piece by clicking on "GroundLightRail/Avenue Dual Network Pieces" menu button, and the "Tram-in-Avenue" piece is built by clicking on the "Tram-on-Road&Texture Variations" button.

so, if they are indeed identical, why have two separate buttons?

[warrior 169]

I have no idea, tbh.

In Development, I'm pretty sure they were, so I'm not sure why it was changed.

I'll ask

Jonathan

[fugosushi 41]

hey thanks Jonathan

[TFM1874 4]

wow, I was hoping to get a little advice like the opening post.....but I think I am more confused now! lol

[warrior 169]

Trams = GLR

It is just another name for it.

We'll probably sort out the naming next NAM.

Jonathan

[io_bg 249]

Tram in avenue is in the button "Tram-on-Road&Texture Variations" because it's a texture variation of the GLRxAvenue (which is the same as Tram in avenue).

[fugosushi 41]

ok, so if i'm reading everyone correctly -- Tram is GLR and GLR is Tram... and will hopefully be renamed in a future release of NAM to prevent confusion

[RdDragon5 0]

Just be lucky they don't also use the term Streetcar, and Streecar Tracks as those of us in Toronto call it.

[fugosushi 41]

haha.. i actually like the term streetcar, or even tram. but what ever they name it, they should be consistant.

[aaaling 83]

CaptCity, where did you get the Tram in and on road stations?

[CaptCity 4,862]

aaaling....

There on the STEX here...

[aaaling 83]

RdDragon5 is right. In Toronto they call it Streetcar.

Signature:

[SteveMSim 275]

GLR, or Light Rail, in the real world is a mass transit type that is largely based on the old-fashioned streetcar/tram. Modern light rail uses streets like the older trams but can operate on its own tracks completely separate from a street or even share railway tracks with a conventional railroad. The older trams/streetcars operate mostly on streets and share traffic with the rubber-tire motor vehicles. Streetcars disappeared from U.S. cities long ago with the exception of a handful like New Orleans, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Several U.S. cities have built modern light rail systems to address their transit needs. They are cheaper to build than heavy-rail subways. In Europe, traditional tram systems are still used in many cities.

[fugosushi 41]

here where i live (salt lake city) they have light rail and we call it "trax"

[Jumpthefence 74]

Out in Boston, we call it the "T". I'm from from rural MA, so I'm not cool enough to call it that.

PS I think trams usually run more localized, such as a theme park tram, which obviously does not travel very far. Trains and rail, on the other hand, can go for hundreds, even thousands of miles. That's the only difference to me. I use subway and tram in urban areas, elevated rail in urban-suburban areas and rail in rural-ish areas.

[Hendrick4life 1]

Why cant I drag my Draggable GLR?? What am I doing wrong? BTW these peaces are just for Eyecandy right?

[Vahr 341]

Hendrick4life: Actually, this is fully functional stuff. And as for the draggable GLR, plop the starter, and take the ele-rail tool and drag from the side that is the starter. If you can't figure it out, try dragging from both sides; only one will work.

Vince

[spinecharmer 2]

Here is a good video to watch.

For those of you who have not seen this guy's SC4 videos, they are not mine, and they are good.