Funicular network: Too niche or useless for Cities Skylines ?

[R3V0 909]

Now I stopped modding for a while and decided to "play" the game. 

I forgot how additcing it was. 

While working on my city, I decided to a bit vertical and build a residential zone on a hill. The main type of transportation is currently trams, going to the local train station and cims are being distributed to the rest of the city. Railwhales are pretty good handling the high amount of cims and their train variants are hauling cims to the main station or nearby stations connected to metro networks. 

The concept is working but I intend to improve it, thus this idea came up. 

The main issue with trams is the fact that they do not cover the same zone as metro network. Trams works fine on a street level, but when you want to deliver "transport" to a small district, they fail, even if you create walkways between streets and through apartments to increase the accesibility. 

Metro does that well. You can transport crapload of people between districts and since it's underground there's no traffic. I like metro because of this. The problem with metro though, just like train stations, you can't build them on slope. Even if you do, they will look weird just like below (ignore the budget, free public transportatin is killing it)

So that's where this idea came in; funicular. 

Funiculars are basically sloped trains or metros, consider how you will. While they are not widely popular around the world, they still have use. I live in a country which most of the cities are built around hills and thus we use funiculars a lot. There are 2 cases I'd like to talk about: 

1. Istanbul, where funicular is still used but somewhat integrated into metro network. 

2. Lausanne, where funicular line is upgraded into Metro network. So while the system is currently a metro network (with metro cars and all that, it actually operates on old funicular line)

I know that it's imposible to build slope train stations (smh), but stops can be added on sloped roads if it's bus or a tram station. So 2 possiblity comes to mind: 

a. Create a new road connection (just like tram only roads) call them funicular line. Since they are roads, stops can be added on sloped terrain. There will 3 issues to settle:

   1. Underground stops

   2. Adding proper stations

   3. Giving them same coverage as metros 

b. Use existing metro network. This one is better but a bit hairy because of:

  1. Will require MOM mod. So it will not be compatible with existing cities or will require to destroy metro tunnels and rebuild (some issue I had in my playthrough, they clip the terrain when there are too close to the ground level)

  2. Will require underground metro depots for funiculars.

  3. New stations will have to be made, which they wont be long default stations but much shorter so it won't look weird on sloped terrain. (4 or 5 units long perhaps)

  4. I don't usually care how tracks look like so current MOM style would be fine. Cars have to be modeled, obviously. 

 

 

 

[R3V0 909]

I'm adding some wikipedia Resource: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicular

And Lausanne Metro: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lausanne_Metro

Ouchy line was basically funicular before, now metro cars are operating on it, which are the same as Alstom cars operating in Paris.

 

[Ronyx69 2,413]

Reminds of the one I found (online) in Japan: 

 

I was actually thinking of a hacky way to do it, but never tried it. My idea was hiding the stations with trees or something, and applying the fence shader to the train car, so it would be slanted, no idea if that would work.

 

An actual mod like this would be awesome though.

 

[boformer 3,169]

Too niche. How about cable cars? Those would have many different usages.

 

 

[Alexgru88 19]

Cable cars will be great addition!

[R3V0 909]

2 hours ago, Ronyx69 said:

I was actually thinking of a hacky way to do it, but never tried it. My idea was hiding the stations with trees or something, and applying the fence shader to the train car, so it would be slanted, no idea if that would work.

An actual mod like this would be awesome though.

 

Cars would look way to weird I'd imagine. 

I uploaded a pdf with some drawings in it (Disclaimer: I usually draw much better than that)

@boformer cable cars would be pretty cool actually. Making a dedicated mod would be quite the challenge though. 

 

Funicular POC.pdf

[Roadman20 601]

I've been to Istanbul a couple times and used the funicular to jump between Karakoy and Beyoğlu, as well that Taksim and Kabataş, which is a transfer connection between the tram line running servicing the Old City shoreline and the Metro network throughout the rest of the city.  The ridge that İstiklal Cd sits on is quite the climb to walk on foot through the twisty, narrow streets that run around there.

Prague has a funicular servicing Petrin Hill and the large park west of Old Town.

The funicular system, while useful, is incredibly niche.  Like the cable cars, I don't know if they are worth the effort to mod into the game to see significant use outside of a few select individuals.  Although for cable cars, I could see people going ham on making ski resorts.

[boformer 3,169]

6 hours ago, R3V0 said:

cable cars would be pretty cool actually. Making a dedicated mod would be quite the challenge though. 

It's a completely isolated network, could be based on the power lines of the game.
I wonder if there are new network types in the next DLC. Are there cable cars in Finland?

 

[Avanya 2,605]

10 hours ago, boformer said:

I wonder if there are new network types in the next DLC. 

I guess we'll know soon since GCC starts tomorrow and Mariina hinted at an announcement  

[Darf 1,439]

On 26-2-2017 at 1:40 AM, boformer said:

It's a completely isolated network, could be based on the power lines of the game.
I wonder if there are new network types in the next DLC. Are there cable cars in Finland?

 

So evil!  

[AmiPolizeiFunk 446]

lol, you guys called it!

[accapulco 132]

If the upcoming monorail is able to make a tunnel you could maybe use a car that looks like a funicular and make a setup like that providing someone makes "end station" assets. Correct me if I'm wrong but is the monorail a regular train, a track variant? The one in the DLC I mean. I think they're trying to go for this inter-connectivity between your transports approach with this dlc. Really wish they'd re-visit metro and tram as well but I doubt it, call me a pessimist. I'd much prefer if the rail system was one big entity where you just chose what cars to run on which tracks with some limitations for aesthetic and functional purposes instead of having to build a whole separate network for each thing where tracks don't connect to anything other than their type and interact differently with roads. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=505909765 Assets like this also come to mind, maybe if someone makes a downhill and an uphill station variant for trams you could run a tunnel between and have a line that you can imagine is a funicular.

[R3V0 909]

26 minutes ago, accapulco said:

If the upcoming monorail is able to make a tunnel you could maybe use a car that looks like a funicular and make a setup like that providing someone makes "end station" assets. Correct me if I'm wrong but is the monorail a regular train, a track variant? The one in the DLC I mean. I think they're trying to go for this inter-connectivity between your transports approach with this dlc. Really wish they'd re-visit metro and tram as well but I doubt it, call me a pessimist. I'd much prefer if the rail system was one big entity where you just chose what cars to run on which tracks with some limitations for aesthetic and functional purposes instead of having to build a whole separate network for each thing where tracks don't connect to anything other than their type and interact differently with roads. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=505909765 Assets like this also come to mind, maybe if someone makes a downhill and an uphill station variant for trams you could run a tunnel between and have a line that you can imagine is a funicular.

There are multiple issues: 

1. Downhill and uphill stations are not possible, since station tracks can't be "sloped". Essentially they will be horizontal, they have to be. End nodes are also horizontal, so there's always a flat segment at some point, I am ok with that though.

2. Trams are no-go, because they dont have the same operational range as metros. I mentioned that on the topic. Metro network is the best option for funicular.

3. Seems monorails will be a separate network type. They made an asset which contains all network types as a "network" hub. I like the idea but, it should've been modular, not a single asset with networks that some people won't be using in their city. 

I am working on two projects ATM, one of them is Russian R1 Tram. Once it's finished, i will make necessary assets for funicular network which will operate on MOM network. A fully modular station with different types of extentions which will have different networks will be the next project. 

[Ocram's Razr 964]

Funiculi Funicula

Cable Cars are coming in the next EP

[Ronyx69 2,413]

5 hours ago, AmiPolizeiFunk said:

lol, you guys called it!

I don't think they called it, a while ago I was uhh... also informed from... sources... that cable cars are going to be a thing, I just didn't say anything.

[tarheelfan8662 0]

On 2/28/2017 at 2:59 PM, R3V0 said:

There are multiple issues: 

1. Downhill and uphill stations are not possible, since station tracks can't be "sloped". Essentially they will be horizontal, they have to be. End nodes are also horizontal, so there's always a flat segment at some point, I am ok with that though.

2. Trams are no-go, because they dont have the same operational range as metros. I mentioned that on the topic. Metro network is the best option for funicular.

3. Seems monorails will be a separate network type. They made an asset which contains all network types as a "network" hub. I like the idea but, it should've been modular, not a single asset with networks that some people won't be using in their city. 

I am working on two projects ATM, one of them is Russian R1 Tram. Once it's finished, i will make necessary assets for funicular network which will operate on MOM network. A fully modular station with different types of extentions which will have different networks will be the next project. 

Did anything ever come from this project? A funicular would be a great addition to the game.

[tarheelfan8662 0]

I think using a tram could be a good idea since trams can stop on angled ground, all that would be needed is a tram that looks quite weird on level ground (angled or whatever), but looks natural on a slope.

[Ronyx69 2,413]

4 hours ago, tarheelfan8662 said:

I think using a tram could be a good idea since trams can stop on angled ground, all that would be needed is a tram that looks quite weird on level ground (angled or whatever), but looks natural on a slope.

The problem is the tram will turn around, so when going in one of the directions it would be nicely sloped, but when it turns around, it would look ridiculous.

[tarheelfan8662 0]

6 hours ago, Ronyx69 said:

The problem is the tram will turn around, so when going in one of the directions it would be nicely sloped, but when it turns around, it would look ridiculous.

Ah yes, I forgot about this...

[R3V0 909]

Still on early stage. Since road tool is released, i can model custom funicular track tho, that's a bonus. 

I need to test incline issue, since funiculars are going up/downwards but keeps a horizontal passenger compartment. 

[donoteat 478]

hard mode: integrate the funicular system with the tram system

[R3V0 909]

So I started to work on it, so far elevated tracks are finished. Ground track will be the same with concrete base and bridge variant will be identical. I wont touch tunnel ends so no special stuff there. 

I decided to go with 1200mm gauge width that is the most common for funiculars. But it is also the witdh for mountain trains so you can use tracks for mountain passes as well. 

That was a proof of concept:

Pictures are crap because i took them from Twitter, you can follow me on twitter: AtkosKhan

Roadmap for funicular will consist on the following: 

1. Tracks

2. End and mid stations

3. Stoosbahn cars (based on real life stoosbahn, that is the steepest funicular of the world) 

4. Neuchatel funicular cars (that are higher capacity)

5. Release of source material

Making of cars for funicular network will be eseential, because of the way tracks work and look. I want people to use different cars for different gradients (for example stoosbahn has 45deg angle, while neuchatel funicular has lower than that.) Thus the way your funiculars looks will be determined by the topology of area your tracks are built.