High Speed Rail Project

[Murakumon 1]

Well It's Obvious that there should be a number of choices for the trains... Although i think the default train should look more hi-speed ( ish ) than acelea. Although Acelea is nice looking.
I've started on the textures for the track. seem realistic? It's supposed to be concrete panels, and i know it it is strangely pink toned. but it is the same texture as the highway cement in SC4

[Tunafish 48]

My suggestions would be to add some details on the side edges so it isn't just cement. also I think the rails need to pop a little bit more.
Otherwise looks great


Also: why are all of you requesting the trains already. why don't we focus on the system first and the worry about what type of train design to use. We read this thread to see how the progress is on the rail network, not for a debate on which train looks cooler

[Murakumon 1]

I'm trying to come up with a to do list... here is what i've gotten so far...

ELEVATED SINGLE RAIL (PUZZLE)
Elevated hi speed rail, similar to Elevated Rail in RH, but uses supports similar to the highway and ( see picture on page one of dual-elevated for an idea )

GROUND LEVEL SINGLE RAIL (NETWORK)
The basic building blocks of hi speed rail. identical to surface rail today, only with power poles, cement tracks, gravel, and only for hi speed rail use ( no frieght )

GROUND TO ELEVATED SINGLE (PUZZLE)
Obvious.

GROUND TO SUBWAY SINGLE(PUZZLE)
a cleaner way to move hi speed rail thorugh a city. without tunneling

ELEVATED TO SUBWAY SINGLE(PUZZLE)
To quickly and cleanly bypass important buildings and other ground stuff

SMOOTH 45 Degree Turn For Ground and Elevated (PUZZLE)

SMOOTH 90 Degreee Turn For Ground and Elevated (PUZZLE)

Thoughts? Additions?...

EDIT: No need for dual rail stuff now that i think about it... i mean it would be nice and all.. but with bridges and stuff... too much of a hassle.

[3ddz 17]

If you need help on that i would like to do BATs for this project.

I already got a bunch of ideas how it could look, and would suggest using only two tiles wide pieces but with only two tracks

on it so there is space for props along the sides like on the pictures i posted before.

Stuff like power poles and sound walls.

I will do a quick draft and post i later so you can take a look at it.

[Murakumon 1]

AWESOME! yes i could really use both your bating talents and your ideas.. would you mind making a quick drawing in paint shoing me your idea... im trying to picture it but sounds like a lot of empty space.

Thank you so much 3ddz!

[Yoman3 5]

i Suggest deleteing the space in between the tracks on the 4 track line, I also suggest making pieces that keep the land as flat as possible like the TGV viaducts like this  and adding automatic signal boxes inbetween the rails every 100 or so meters. once i learn how to BAT i would love to help with this project.

[3ddz 17]

So here is a first draft just some quick Batting, what du u think?

Actually two tiles wide with some extra stuff...

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Preview.jpg align=baseline>

[Murakumon 1]

i REALLY like that... but unfortunately i think it needs be only 1 tile wide... so that it can connect to subway... but that has excellent detail in it... what would it look like as one tile wide? sides i don't think we need the walls.... i was just gonna use a chainlink fence. The wire holding gantry things are very nice... i like how they are angles a bit.. very realistic. if that could be compressed into 1 wide... then that would make an excellent top to the elevated segments.. which is really the only thing that needs to be BATted.. I'll PM ya.

In the mean time.. what does everyone else think?

[Lord Kronos 0]

It would be completely impractical for this high-speed rail network to conect to the subway system. Does this occur anywhere in the real world with high speed trains?

We have elevated rail/GLR that conects with the subway.

What you're talking about having is the bullet trains of Japan. These trains do not enter the subway system, they do not connect to any other transportatins system directly except at stations where passengers disembark and then alight on a bus, or the subway.

I like the design posted above, the 2 tile wide thing will work, you run it straight into the heart of your city, and make it the centre of all your transportation systems. Passengers catch bus or local passenger train, to the centre then the high-speed to the next city.

I hope that clarifies what I think everyone is wanting, and what I'd like to see.

I'd like to offer my services, but i'll have to learn to BAT first.

LK

[storms991 0]

3ddz, very nice job on that, but it doesn't look like any real high speed lines. It looks good, but its not realistic at all. I would try changing the track texture to a brown, like the games default and making the tracks metallic. The power lines should go all the way across, and the sound barriers need not be there.
I hope you guys accept constructive criticism, it only helps with the final product.

[hamsterTK 93]

the point of a high speed rail->subway conversion really isnt to run subway trains thru the city's subway system.the point is to be able to have tunnels that take the train underneath city instead of thru it, and for those tunnels to be able to be flexible and make turns, they'll have to be subway tunnels. really there's no other choice in tunneling here unless you want the trains to switch to regular tracks and go thru those maxis old style brick tunnel portals into a tunnel that must be built straight.

BTW, im guessing that the tracks in that pic are yellow and red b/c thats a shot from an unrendered bat object...

[Murakumon 1]

Yep. HamsterTK is right, that is the point of them. and i put that on they're because other people requested it... always good to have extra options. But i don't think it's fair to judge 3ddz's bat ... he said it was a rough bat. so obviously gonna be tweaked a bit. Although i don't think that would be the surface rail... it would more likley be elevated. the surface rail should just be a base texture with power line props and control boxes, etc but no need for walls...

[Defenceman 0]

I would prefer to see the HSRP take 2 tiles, I think that it would actually be a better balance to the game, and even not being able to tunnel would be a acceptable cost.  It makes sense too, High Speed Tracks require special considerations, curves cannot be as sharp, etc., so having to sacrifice 2 tiles of development instead of one is a sensable and acceptable cost.  (I also think Highspeed Trains should be VERY expensive).  As for a subway connection, I am not a fan of Modes of Transportation changes, sure this limits us to straight tunnels, or none at all, but I think that a 2 wide highspeed tile is better than subway connections (plus we could make 2 puzzle pieces that do the sub->HS Rail, a left and right one, than drag the tunnel across both, 90 degrees are possible underground)

[choco1 4]

Oh, Great idea Murakumon! I never use the monorail in simcity, because basically it looks bad, and unrealistic! And there isn't many uses for a monorail in most cities. But this would be a fantastic replacement!

I would definately use this if you can do it! Good luck!

Cheers mate.

[Murakumon 1]

maybe it's possible...

Does anyone know if it's possible to convert the monorail system ( which is one tile wide ) into a two tile wide system?
( like aves and highways... )

that's my only concern as to why it can't be 2 tiles wide..
oh and thanks for the constructive criticisim storms

I know I showed all my pictures with two rails... but i imagined that as merely two networks side by side...

[LP 1]

Although it would end up being 3 tiles wide, you could center the actual transit part on one tile, while allowing the lower area w/ what in my option is more of walls to prevent people and animals from walking onto the track, hang out 1/2 a tile. Like how you have certain lots, that the actual building itself extends out past the actual lot footprint. So why not apply this to a transit network?

However, the origonally intended 4 track system sparks my interest. I currently have two rails running parallel between two cities, with one station in the larger city, and two in the smaller. With a new train skin, and teh electification props, I have altered it into a high-speed rail line, basically made high speed becase of the fact that it only has to stop one, or two times durring the entire trip, one witch is the destination. But i had to add an extra rail becase, its an extremely popular and highly used form of transportation, and so is the bullet train in Japan. Having 4 rails, 2 in each direction, provides a higher capacity, and the freedom to divert trains if one rail gets blocked.

So theres my... *counts* $2.15... tell me what ya think.

[darste 3]

Date: 2/24/2006 11:54:04 PM Author: Defenceman

I would prefer to see the HSRP take 2 tiles, I think that it would actually be a better balance to the game, and even not being able to tunnel would be a acceptable cost.  It makes sense too, High Speed Tracks require special considerations, curves cannot be as sharp, etc., so having to sacrifice 2 tiles of development instead of one is a sensable and acceptable cost.  (I also think Highspeed Trains should be VERY expensive).  As for a subway connection, I am not a fan of Modes of Transportation changes, sure this limits us to straight tunnels, or none at all, but I think that a 2 wide highspeed tile is better than subway connections (plus we could make 2 puzzle pieces that do the sub->HS Rail, a left and right one, than drag the tunnel across both, 90 degrees are possible underground)

quote>

Although I haven't posted on this topic before, (this is my own personal opinion) I really think the HSRP should be a 1 tiler, with the reason being that most people might be short of space in their fast-growing cities, taking into consideration that the 2 tiler does look good yet it lacks realism... here in South Africa, we just started the planning of the new Hi-Speed Gautrain (named after the province Gauteng in South Africa). The reason for the train itself is for the 2010 Soccer World Cup here, the train is meant to have a top speed of app. 310 KPH and maintain that speed until the next station... acceleration-wise... well, I personally don't really know about the 0-200 KPH stats but it's sure to be a bruiser... stay tuned to this topic to see the proposed look and branding for it... Oh, and one more thing... the in-game train, what speed is it going to reach compared to a normal passenger train? Depending on speed, the faster the train goes and the more people commute via it, it might be possible to drastically reduce commute times... I really do think the whole HSRP could be great inner-city, cross-city and trans-regional travel as this could open more doors to big business oppurtunities. I will be so surprised if you, and the team that you wish to assemble, can pull this off, and if you do... well... I will most certainly take my hat off to you...

[3ddz 17]

I really would like to have it 2 tiles wide if thats possible.

That would take care of the fact that such rail lines in reality are expensive and take up a lot of space.

With the subway connection, i would prefer normal tunnels with changed entrances if that could be done.

Thats more realistic than going to subway wich on the other hand would make the whole system more flexible.

Perhaps this all could be done with puzzle pieces so we can make it two tiles wide.

The needed pieces would be:

 

2x Straight ground Tiles (1 tile long and for instance 5 tiles long)

2x Corner Pieces

1x Subway transistion

3x Overpasses (road, avenue, highway over high speed rail)

1x Station

 

I not so familiar with the technical aspact of making it 2 tiles wide, perhaps its even possible to change

the monorail to 2 tile keeping it dragable with ability to build bridges and tunnels.

 

Perhaps we should really do it without the walls, if you all dont like the idea.

 

[Murakumon 1]

thanks darste, It's very easy to change the speed of the passenger trains in sim city today and turn them into hi-speed trains but im also trying to get the appearance as well. I think It might take a bit more modding though... maybe making the game tolerate commutes between cities a little better than it does today... I'll do some experimenting with speeds tonight...

But inter-city commuting would add so much realism to the game, and what better way to commute than with hi-speed rail? Thank you for your insight and encouragement darste

[darste 3]

I have a good idea, well, at least in my opinion... why don't we start a new topic for BATters and MODders WANTED FOR HIGH SPEED RAIL PROJECT URGENTLY!!! How does that sound??? Oh, and 3DDZ posted something about sound barriers... unecessary... you just don't need it, the fact being that sims can't get on the rails already so it sounded like a good idea at first, but now that I come to think of it... I dunno, eh? But listen Murakumon's in charge of this, so we'll leave it  to him... Thanks.

[vester_DK 477]

Nice to see some progress on this project. Great guys

darste: I think that is already happening.

[Murakumon 1]

I Can See It As Both 2 tiles and single tile. But I think both subway connections and tunnels should be availble.

And thanks darste, I've seen some people willing to help on this fourm already. I don't think im in charge, im just jump starting it. and I support everyones Ideas, Which leads me to...

Please Take The HSRP SURVEY

So Everyone's opinions counts. And we can see where to go from here.... Thank you guys

[3ddz 17]

So now i can finally post an image of a 1 tile wide track ive done the last days,
to see what you all think about it.
Unfotunately im away from my pc the next two days.

[trainboy2004 0]

Some extra info about French Highspeed Lines.

Click me!!!!!!!!!

[Moshi 61]

ST has been down for several days and so has the ability to post

Anyway, I personally think there should not be a transition to subway and there should be a transition to regular rail. Since the HSR will be used in dense urban areas as well as suburban and rural, I am thinking about elevated and ground shinkansen rail. Here's a link:

http://tec.supertrain.net/index-e.html

and some pics:

Hope this helps

P.S. My avatar will be updated soon

[bat 6]

The work here looks really very nice! And it's a nice idea.

bat

[winonanick 0]

I like the idea of the 2 tile wide variety, and elevated. I am not so convinced about the subway transistion. Tunnels great, but I don't like the idea of this being able to transition to any system. My 2 pennies.

I like the intial elevated pics on page one and the draft 3ddz came up with.

p.s. is there really a survey? doesn't work...

[Sultanat 0]

wow is great idea!

I hope you pluged in the next time

[darste 3]

Hi guys, I'm back!!!!! (applause) no, please, really, thanks, thanks very much

OK, so now looking at how this thing is organised, we should probably look at making a team, how does that sound?

Am looking forward to your response...

[DavidBrown 0]

Is there any chance that the high-speed rail could be made so it can go over rivers? You can't place the road/avenue/rail etc puzzle pieces over water, which I would quite like to do.