A previous poster requested some shots of complicated junctions, and I am only too happy to oblige.
These are taken from my current game, featuring the excellent Serbian train set, new stations, Serbian trams, Dutch catenary, OpenGFX, Slovenian town names (not enough Serbian names for a 512 x 512 map with lots of towns, unfortunately!) and quite a few others.
I will have more to show from this game in the coming weeks, but for now, let us see how Podveza South Junction developed over the decades to handle growing rail traffic.
1. Podveza South Junction, 1941
Things start innocently enough. In the 1940s, just one line is present through Podveza. At Podveza South Junction, the 2 track railway becomes a 4 track one. Fast trains go on the southernmost tracks and slow trains on the northernmost ones. This is because slow trains terminate at Dolga Vas (just off picture to the northeast) and call at Podveza, thus consuming track capacity. The provision of 2 extra tracks helps to keep both fast and slow trains moving nicely.
2. Podveza South Junction, 1976
By the 1970s, things had become rather more complicated. A new line, added in the 1960s, joins the layout from the south, conveying both freight and passenger services. Although the 4 track section on the original line was extended westwards, and additional crossovers provided to help trains negotiate the layout (note also the change from lines paired by speed to lines paired by direction on the 2 four track sections), the layout was becoming increasingly inadequate, congested and delay-producing for modern traffic levels, as this screenshot shows.
3. Podveza South Junction, 2002
By the late 1970s, increasing congestion, lack of capacity for additional traffic and ageing steam and diesel rolling stock led the railway authority to develop a bold plan. Wholesale route modernisation was proposed for the busy Pecice - Podveza - Dolga Vas - Skofja Loka rail corridor.
In addition to platform lenghening, four tracking and electrification of the core route, it was clear that a comprehensive remodelling of Podveza South Junction would be required to reap the benefits of the investment.
With land space at a premium, due to the presence of 2 towns, careful planning was required to produce the best solution.
The screenshot below shows the final result. Commissioned in 1980, this image shows a typical day in 2002. By this time, 100mph intercity trains mingle with 75mph freight and passenger services.
The junction has the following features, compared to its predecessor:
- Full grade separation of all lines, using bridges and tunnels
- Electrification of fast and slow lines on the main line
- Provision of 2 extra tracks and platforms on the slow lines, to the north of the layout
- Four tracking of the main line to the west
- An effective solution for how to incorporate the 2 four track lines which merge here in to 6 tracks
The layout works well, but nevertheless still has problems. Just off picture to the north-east is the booming city of Dolga Vas. Here, delays occur due to a long tunnel beneath the city (if only OTTD would allow signals in the middle of tunnels: one day, maybe!!), a station permanently flooded with passengers and only 3 platforms on the station; this leads to delays to freight trains and a degree of queueing of trains on the fast lines.
An expensive solution is being looked at, which would require significant demolition works through Podveza and Dolga Vas, but would involve provision of 2 extra tracks on the fast lines, an additional platform at Dolga Vas and a fourth tunnel bore.
