Reducing rail crossing congestion in SimCity 3000

Contributor/author(s): Mikkel Paulson

Rail lines are a nice combination of low cost and high capacity (the maximum for one train station is 877 passengers per day). However, when they cross roads they generate congestion. I have developed four methods to avoid rail crossing congestion.

Prices do not include bulldozing existing structures, but they do include construction of road and rails within the bulldozed area. The price of Method 3 does not include constructing the rail line, since it doesn't have to be bulldozed in the first place.

Dimensions (such as 3x5) are measured along the tracks, then across them. So in this example, three tiles of track and five of road will be bulldozed, along with any buildings within that square. The number shown in brackets is the size of the overpass once completed. If no numbers are shown in the brackets that means that the finished area is the same as that which needs to be bulldozed. The old crossing is always in the very center of the bulldozed area.

Coordinate pairs, such as (3,2), refer to specific tiles. The first number refers to the tile's location along the tracks, while the second number pinpoints a tile's location along the road (perpendicular to the tracks). The location where the tracks and road intersect is expressed as (0,0). To find (3,2), count along the tracks three tiles, then two tiles in the other direction. Since all of the methods are symmetrical both along the tracks and along the road, it doesn't matter which direction you count.

I'd recommend that you create a new city to practice constructing these overpasses so that if you screw up you won't waste your simoleons trying to fix it.

One final note: if you have trouble creating your road tunnels, try this tip. Construct a one-square rail line at the top of the ridge, on the very end (right beside where you're trying to build your tunnel). Then try dragging the Road tool like this:

Method 1 Cost: §3280
Size: 3x5

The cheapest and most compact option, this method is unfortunately not very realistic.

Raise a tile at (0,1) by four clicks. Use the Level Terrain tool to create a ridge to the same point on the other side of the tracks (the ridge will be three tiles in length, without the sloping sides). Build a road tunnel through the ridge. Lower square (0,0) by two clicks. Finally, construct your rail line over the hill.

Method 2 Cost: §5544
Size: 7x7 (5x7)

This method is much bigger and more expensive than Method 1, but looks nicer.

Raise a tile at (0,2) by four clicks. With the Level Terrain tool, make a ridge to the same spot across the tracks (this ridge is five tiles in length). Build a road tunnel through the ridge. Click with the Lower Terrain tool on (0,1), (0,0) and (0,-1). The order doesn't matter. Click the Raise Terrain tool at (2,0) and (-2,0). Using the Level Terrain tool, click and drag from (4,0) to (3,0) and from (-4,0) to (-3,0). Construct the rail line over the hill.

Method 3 Cost: §3430
Size: 13x3 (11x3)

This method, while realistic, is slightly more expensive then Method 1 and much more cumbersome. It can also only be used where the elevation is at least 65m. An advantage of this method is that the rail line does not need to be bulldozed.

Lower a tile at (0,3) by four clicks. Do the same at (0,-3). Lower a tile at (0,5) by two clicks. Do the same at (0,-5). Click and drag with the Level Terrain tool from (0,7) to (0,6) and from (0,-7) to (0,-6). Construct a road from (0,7) to (0,3) and from (0,-7) to (0,-3). Construct a tunnel under the tracks.

Method 4
Cost: §3335
Size: 9x5

This version of Method 3 is also realistic and only needs an elevation of 39m.

Click once with the Raise Terrain tool at (1,0), (0,0) and (-1,0). Construct a rail line over the hump. Click and drag with the Level Terrain tool from (0,0) to (0,1) and from (0,0) to (0,-1). Lower (0,3) and (0,-3) by two clicks each. Construct a road into the depression and a tunnel under the tracks.

You'll notice that I always run the road through the tunnel rather than the rail line. This is actually the opposite of what is usually done in the real world. This is because when my cities have stopped growing there isn't much for me to do, I watch the toy trains (partly to admire my mass transit system). When trains head into a tunnel, they don't come out again. This is naturally quite upsetting.

See also
Reducing number of junctions: less traffic
Avoiding congested subways
Control your transportation flow