How do you build good train stations in OpenTTD?

[matheusc4574]

Hi, I’ve tried building a few different stations, but my trains always end up getting lost or going the wrong way. I also don’t really understand how to use signals properly. Any tips on how to build a good station and place signals?

[skc]

Master Hellish has a few excellent YouTube videos on the basics of building railways in OpenTTD.

[matheusc4574]

I'll take a look, thanks!

[MagicBuzz]

Most of the time, trains get stuck mostly because of the signals, not the station or junctions layout themselves.

You should enable and use "path signals" only : they are more reliable than block signals and allow better layouts.
Next, you may only use one way signals, this avoid trains heading face to face and being stuck.
At last, you must enable "disable train reverse at signals". This is a standard feature of TTD that is made to reduce traffic jam, but it actually get them worse, and with one way signals and block signal can result in a lot of accidents.

For the station itself, a "good layout" actyally resides in you goal : a nice, "photo realistic" network, or a tuned efficient network.
It depends also if you yave dead-end stations or pass-though stations.

So there is not universal station.

You may post a screenshot of a station you made with a savegame, and the description of "what you think is bad", so we can suggest you how to fix it.