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Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 00:53
by cicero
Hello,

I searched the forum and the wiki, so I hope this wasn't answered before...

Situation: I have a crowded city with a bank which recently opened. There was just enough space to build a tiny railstation and a one-way track to an airport (A) there, so the valuables are transferred to this airport. From this airport, they're flown to another airport (B) which directly accepts valuable goods (Is that the correct term? I'm using the German version). This works fine, by using the transfer option.

But how can I transfer valuables back from the other bank at airport B to the originating bank? It hurts my eyes to see both, the train and the plane, returning empty. I have tried every transfer option, it doesn't work. It can even lead to a deadlock, where the plane just flies around fully loaded with goods from airport B and never unloads it. The same counts for the train.

Does anyone know a good solution, because using two trains isn't really an option due to the limited space and it just feels stupid ;)

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 01:16
by Yexo
Not possible with the current order system. Only solution is to build two airports at the first city (with the train line). Drop the valuables at airport 1, let a plain pick them up, load the plane with valuables and let it unload at airport 2, then it goes to airport 1, loads, etc.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 04:32
by Conditional Zenith
The cargodest branch makes this possible, but it is still in development.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 09:08
by justMara
I've tried the Cargodest with a bit more complex scheme (bank A -> truck -> airport A -> airport B -> truck -> bank B) and it failed. Shows 'unknown route'.
Airplanes set up to "transfer and pick up" and really transfer some cargo, and earn money for transfer. But trucks randomly picks up valuables from airport-attached station. And sometimes do transfer, sometimes just bring it back to bank.. And when transfer - truck gets money for it, but valuables shown on station, attached to bank B as "en-route from 'bank-station A'". So only transfer affected, not final delivery. What am I doing wrong?

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 09:24
by FooBar
When using cargodest, you shouldn't set transfer orders. In fact, don't set load/unload in orders at all. The cargo itself will figure out where it want's to go and what routes it needs to get there.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 09:43
by justMara
Ohh. I see it working now. Valuables tranfered. But now some magic:
Bank A:
truck picks cargo, brings it to airport A and gets "transfer" money.
then picks up cargo (from bank B), brings to bank A and gets "income" money for finalizing transfer.

Bank B:
truck picks cargo, brings it to airport B and does NOT get any money. just silently unloads.
then picks up cargo (from bank A, showing "transfer credits ~4k"), brings to bank B and shows "COSTS" money for finalizing transfer, so I only lose money on that truck.

wtf?

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 09:56
by Conditional Zenith
The last bit is because the last leg moved the valuables closer to their origin, so the last leg essentially made the delivery less valuable, which is shown as the virtual cost you see in red and on that truck's profit (which is countered by the plane having a higher profit cause it takes the valuables "past" their destination). When the cargo is delivered to the final destination, you still get paid as though it happened in one single trip.

I don't know what's up with the silent unload though.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 10:05
by justMara
W8 a second. Valuables transfered in both directions using exactly same scheme.
But on one side I see double income (transfer + finalize) and on the other one only the expenses. I still don't understand what's the difference.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 10:27
by Conditional Zenith
You are confusing sides and directions. Each direction has a profitable truck leg, and an unprofitable one (the profitable ones are both on the same side, and the unprofitable ones are on the other side). I'll try and break it down for you.

Truck from bank A to airport A: Start of direction A->B, moves valuables away from source, gets a credit.
Plane takes it from airport A to airport B. As above it moves valuables away from the source.
Truck from airport B to bank B: Final leg of A->B, the truck moves the valuables back towards the source, in effect reducing the value of the delivery. This is the cost you see. When they are finally delivered, you actually get paid as though the valuables were taken directly from A->B

Truck from bank B to airport B: I don't get this one, as I already said. We would need a save to try and work it out. At a guess, I would say you are moving the valuables away from their destination.
...
Truck from airport A to bank A: Final leg of B->A, the truck has moved the valuables further from the source and thus gets a credit.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 10:48
by justMara
I've played around with different load/unload/transfer options but still confused. If you want to check it - here is the save attached. Banks are on diametrical sides of map (left and right corners) - Wrenbury and Seborough.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 11:28
by Conditional Zenith
It's nothing to do with the orders, it's all about the locations of the intermediate stations. One of the airports (the one at the end where you see losses) is further away from the starting bank than the truckstation is. That is the cause of what you see.

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 14:42
by cicero
A pity, but thanks for the quick answers.

So I may assume that there isn't a good solution for 2 types of freight on one train either (e.g. coal from one dest. to another and passengers for both directions)?

Re: Problem with more complex transport

Posted: 29 Jan 2009 15:05
by Conditional Zenith
I'm confused by your question.

You can put different kinds of wagons on the train, but there is no solution for changing which wagons are in a consist automatically. You can also use refit orders.