Freight Trains

[Badassgj 0]

I have 5 of my cities in my region all connected by rail in my heavier industrialized areas. I only get about 3-5% usage out of my frieght trains. Any tips to make use of these trains more efficient?

[nerdthisname 1]

First, industry prefers Freight trucks over all other transport and will be VERY persistent on sending freight trucks, even if consists on going 3/4 of a med city. So you have to download the No-Trucks in the STEX and close ALL the exits from your industrial areas.

Now the will be using freight trains or seaports (if you have one nearby):

If the industry lot has contact with rail (passing behind, at a side, etc) they will automatically send freight trains and no station will be used, nor freight trucks (can be useful to reduce costs, real state and reduce pollution).

If the industry hasn't contact with rail you have to place a freight station. They will send trucks to the station.

If you want automata, they appear in both forms.

[quicksilver991 37]

yeah. you can use a truck blocker lot like this (www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm) it will block trucks from entering but allow all other traffic types. the point is to use it on all the exits so the trucks go to the freight station.

[BIWDC 2,296]

Well if you have any Roads,Highways,Ect connected to another city near

where the freight trains travel to the next city,remove them that will force

the trains to be used.

The freight rail stations can help if you have any industrial not near the

railroad tracks.

Make sure all freight tracks provide a good route out of the city.

The shortest route is always best.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

One technique I have used successully is to place rail sidings inside the industrial areas.  make your indusrial blocks a little bigger and put rail inside the areas.  Do this before you supply power, and it is easy.  Any plant that has a rail siding next to it will put its freight directly on the trains.

Any plants that do not should use a nearby freight station.  Keep neighbor connections away form the industrial areas except for rail, and they are forced to use it.

[joshriddle 29]

If and when I use industrial rail is I set up a large railyard in the center of it. Then after that I zone my industry, and put it as far away from the roads that go out of town as possible. I surround it also with heavy industry, and lay out my routes so if a truck gets out it has to drive all across the city just to get to the main road out.

So basically I make it hard on freight truck drivers.