Trains

[Chesh 173]

Hi I've always managed to get sufficient usage for my trains, without much trouble. I just implemented the first train line in my new region, connecting a residential island to the mainland, and I can't figure out why I have no usage. Generally my rails always get used - even if it's only a small amount - but for some reason these Sims refuse to take it. I've tried cutting off road access to force them to use the rail, but that only resulted in 100% no job zots. So that makes me think there's something wrong with the way I built the line. But it's all connected, so I'm stumped.... 

Here's a picture of the residential island train line:

And here's the rest of the line, connecting to the mainland CBD:

[mrsmartman 200]

Wealthy people prefer to drive. Ensure your sims are within walking distance from the train stations.

 

By the way, the street layout of your suburb looks nice.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Rail stations have their own parking.  Try adding more stations, they are cheap enough.  SC4 default rail is set up to be commuter rail with many stations long the lines.

[Prophet42 1,500]

Use the route query to see how your sims are commuting.  If you have NAM installed, you may find your sims are simply driving to their jobs.  They usually pick the method that will get them there the quickest.  You may try adding bus stops around your residential area and then place bus stops by the train stations.  The sims may take the bus to the train station and then take the train to work..

[Chesh 173]

I conducted a test by separating residential and industrial by a rail line, and the same thing is happening. Zero usage! So I'm thinking it's the game? Would I have to reinstall it or something? Or re-run the NAM? It's like the game isn't recognizing rails as a form of transportation anymore?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Are you using the RRW option of the NAM or the default Maxis railway?

[Chesh 173]

Does the RRW not work....?

[z1 566]

Wealthy people prefer to drive.

 

This is true only if driving is almost as fast as taking the train, or faster.  If taking the train is more than a little faster than driving, Sims will take the train, regardless of how wealthy they are. 

[mrsmartman 200]

 

Wealthy people prefer to drive.

 

This is true only if driving is almost as fast as taking the train, or faster.  If taking the train is more than a little faster than driving, Sims will take the train, regardless of how wealthy they are. 

 

Then it depends on the types of road network and location of rail station.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Does the RRW not work....?

I don't know because I've never invoked it.  Regular heavy rail works fine.  RRW is in initial release and there is a published fix for it (RUM).  I won't try it until the next release at least, and maybe not even then.  I am a heavy rail user, and to invoke RRW means starting new regions.

[.anonyman 28]

Before you re-install the game, try a few simple tests:

 

- Firstly, you are using the Maxis train station, right? Other stations you may have downloaded may not work properly.

- Remove the alternative routes, forcing Sims onto the railways. This will verify that the rail system is possible. (Oh, you've tried that.)

- Let the simulation run for months or years, in both cities, to give everything a chance to balance out.

- Try making the switches more robust, so trains can go in a loop and make more turns.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Good point.  Reinstalling is a large pain if you have the CDs.  With the NAM, however, you can reinstall it as often as you like changing options ad libitum.  It is a sweet piece of software.

 

If you want to test without RRW, all you need to do is run the installer and not select it.  Then start the game in a new city, and lay down some tracks with stations (lots of them).  If there is no way to get to the Industrial sector other than by rail it will work.  Don't forget to put some buses in the industrial area for people who would rather not walk from the station.

[z1 566]

- Firstly, you are using the Maxis train station, right? Other stations you may have downloaded may not work properly.

 

The stations included with the NAM are also guaranteed to work properly.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

 

- Firstly, you are using the Maxis train station, right? Other stations you may have downloaded may not work properly.

 

The stations included with the NAM are also guaranteed to work properly.

 

Actually, they work magnificently.  I have pretty much stopped using outside stations.

[Chesh 173]

I reinstalled the NAM without the RRW, and then I went back and relayed the rail line - and now it's working fine. A few thousand people use it a day, which is good considering the line only covers a population area of about 20k sims. Things looked slightly more appealing with RRW but it's a small price to pay for my rails (I love heavy rail, it's my favorite mode of transportation!) Thanks all

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

I reinstalled the NAM without the RRW, and then I went back and relayed the rail line - and now it's working fine. A few thousand people use it a day, which is good considering the line only covers a population area of about 20k sims. Things looked slightly more appealing with RRW but it's a small price to pay for my rails (I love heavy rail, it's my favorite mode of transportation!) Thanks all

 

After installing the RRW, all rail lines have to be re-dragged to fix the textures and enable functionality.  And if you use Left Hand Drive, you need this patch.

 

And also be sure to get

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

At the moment RRW is not really ready for people, wouldn't you say?  Patch this, use that extra download.  Should it have been included in NAM in this iteration at all?

[47ply 1,100]

I like the RRW it works just fine. the only thing I see wrong with his railroad is there doesn't appear to have a large enough population to use it. I have city's of over 200,000 sims and trains run all day on the RRW. my only complaint at the moment is some stations texture clashes with it so I don't use them.

[mrsmartman 200]

It depends on the degree of details you seek.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

At the moment RRW is not really ready for people, wouldn't you say?  Patch this, use that extra download.  Should it have been included in NAM in this iteration at all?

 

Better to get it out early, because there would be conversion pains regardless of how complete the mod is.  Since it's an override, rather than a whole new network, adjustments to existing infrastructure have to be made no matter what.

 

The LHD path problems were a bug in the installer; they were planned to work properly.  The additional third party addon was just a recommendation.

[jmsepe 2,038]

Pardon, what is RRW? 

[Compdude787 916]

Pardon, what is RRW? 

It's Real RailWay, a new retexturing mod in NAM 32 that makes the railways look more realistic. It's not fully complete yet, and you have to do the fully custom NAM installer in order to enable it.

[jmsepe 2,038]

Hmm. I haven't checked that feature, or was it the elevated rail with green pillars?

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Hmm. I haven't checked that feature, or was it the elevated rail with green pillars?

 

This is the RRW.