Efficient 4-Platform Compact RoRo-style Terminus Station

[BWJM]

In my current game, I needed a station that met the following requirements:
- High capacity
- Small footprint
- Terminus layout (end of the line)

I started with three platforms with RoRo traffic flow and returning trains using the fourth row, but this did not give enough capacity. So I buried the return line in a tunnel and added a fourth platform. This worked well, but returning trains were backing up due to the tunnel causing long train spacing. So next I added a second tunnel for parallel travel which eliminated the delay problem.

LDRoRo.png (204.8 KiB) Viewed 2664 times

I am currently using this station layout at four stations. Two stations use five of these layouts in parallel (for 20 platforms each), and the other two stations use three layouts (for 12 platforms each). Each pair of four platforms are connected by independent double track.

I would appreciate your feedback on this pattern from signalling, efficiency, scalability and other perspectives including any suggestions for improvement. Thanks!

[RBC]

due to the sharp turns it might be better to use a real terminus station. I found this type quite effective:

(see section double entrance on http://wiki.openttd.org/Railway_station#Double_entrance)

if this layout still has too low capacity AND you have no space for a Ro-Ro (which is the best in terms of capacity) you can extend the double entrance type to something like this:

Prunwell Transport, 20th Jan 2052.png (35.56 KiB) Viewed 9222 times

[BWJM]

The sharp turns don't seem to have much effect on the trains. I've also tried normal terminus stations but they just don't get the same efficiency rates. I often saw backups and empty platforms, even with a variety of lead track configurations.

My actual use of this pattern is in trains up to 14 units long. Your second example looks interesting, but would take up a huge amount of space with such long stations and lead tracks.

[RBC]

then my only hint is to use 2 exit tracks until the tunnel:

Wenfingbourne Transport, 10th Dec 2052.png (36.86 KiB) Viewed 9210 times

this is the only way i can see an improvement using a 4 tile width corridor and using maglev. (note: for normal railway tracks the cornering speed is too low for this layout)

btw your signaling is fine. Maybe use a PBS signal in front of the junction ahead of the tunnels. So you can delete the Presignals in front of the tunnels and save 1 tile of split tracks.

[BWJM]

Perhaps a stupid question, but how do I get attached images to display in the message as images instead of just links?

[kamnet]

Perhaps a stupid question, but how do I get attached images to display in the message as images instead of just links?

For images uploaded to tt-forums, image must be no wider than 800px or higher than 600px. If it meets the requirements, the forum will automatically embed the image.

Another option is to upload the image to another site, and include the URL to it using the [img] bbcode tag. However, uploading the image here is the preferred method.

[Transportman]

due to the sharp turns it might be better to use a real terminus station. I found this type quite effective:

(see section double entrance on http://wiki.openttd.org/Railway_station#Double_entrance)

Except that it misses exits.

Ro-Ro (which is the best in terms of capacity)

A good designed terminus is almost the same in terms of capacity as Ro-Ros.

The sharp turns don't seem to have much effect on the trains.

Maybe you are using the original acceleration model, then sharp turns are not really penalized, but hills are.

[V453000 :)]

- as said above, terminus stations can be completely fine if you dont build one big PBS cross in front of them
- the curves behind your stations are probably ok mainly due to terrible train acceleration - the curves allow 177km/h, the trains probably barely go that speed so soon after the exit
- IF you are having problems with STATION throughput, it would definitely help to be using rail (like SH40), or at least Lev3 instead of Lev4 (for better acceleration -> higher train density on the line)
- for any test just make the station used a lot and you can see the results yourself

for examples how to build properly see www.openttdcoop.org

like http://wiki.openttdcoop.org/PublicServer:Archive
or http://wiki.openttdcoop.org/Junctionary

[RBC]

Except that it misses exits.

stupid me. And I wondered why that station design was two times in the wiki...