Transport Tycoon Forums

Hello!

I haven't been playing OpenTTD very long, but it has got me thinking about how to create flat junctions (i.e. no bridges/tunnels) that don't jam up. I came to the conclusion that such junctions would need new behaviour for existing signals - specifically, the area of track which a signal seems to inspect to determine its state should be reduced. Such junctions could also benefit from a new signal type (permanent red).

There's a lot to say, so it's all written up in a document "Reduced inspection area ... and new permanent-red signals ...", explaining in detail, and trying to justify the 'enhancements'. I shall continue to tinker with it as I notice flaws, or as people comment on it here. What do you think?

Thanks!

Sorry.
It's too long, I didn't read all

I like the idea, and I mostly like the time you took to write this sheet.

I'll read it again later

Signalling is set to change soon anyway (although not for 0.5). The idea is, as I understand it, to use the new pathfinder, YAPF, to calculate and reserve paths for every train on the network. This will allow multiple trains in one signal block (if their paths do not cross) and would also enable guaranteed green signals. Such a signal is red by default, and upon showing green is guaranteed to stay green until the train passes.

Other benefits are level crossings closing in good time, and the possibility of preventing the player removing track if a train is approaching.

Since your proposal requires that the pathfinder is called in order to determine which signals are inspected, I think you'll find that the route planned for OpenTTD by the dev team is to your liking anyway. Your proposal cannot be implemented until signals are rewritten to use the pathfinder in any case; without using the pathfinder, there's no way to tell if a given exit signal can be reached form a particular entrance.

Brianetta
This leads to train priority, doesn't it? An express train would be allowed to change signals on crossing non-express routes already reserved. Am I right?

I can't speak for the devs. It might or might not lead to priority, although it's possible that high priority trains could reserve a longer path.