Signalling help: multi track station at end of single track line

[RicBax]

I want to build a single track line something like this:



(Apologies for MS Paint rubbishness)

but I'm really unsure what signalling to use, or if this layout is even possible to get working on Simutrans.

Basically I want trains to come off a double track line onto a bi-directional single track line, which has multiple single platform stations on it. The station at the very end of the line (terminus) has two platforms. The conditions I want are:

1) I want trains to be able to use either platform of the terminus station (whichever is free).

2) I don't want trains to enter the single track section unless there's a clear path ahead to the terminus. If both platforms of the terminus are occupied, or there's a train coming the other way along the single track, I want the train to wait until the path is clear.

At the moment, on the double track section, I have a one way long block signal (marked LB) for trains entering the single track line, and a one way standard signal (marked S) for trains exiting the single track line. I've also tried putting a choose signal in the location marked to allow trains to use both terminus platforms, but this just seems to cause conflicts.

I think I could make this work fairly easily by putting a short 2 track section (with signals) immediately before the terminus, but I'd like to avoid this if possible.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or is this whole layout just a bad idea and a recipe for lockups? Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: Actually, I think my problem is a bit more fundamental than the above. I can't get the layout below to work either, with just a single platform terminus.



Seemingly, no matter what type of signal I put at the location marked , I can't stop trains from merrily piling one after another into the single track section, totally ignoring the fact that there's a train already in there. I thought the long block signal was meant to stop this, but it does not seem to.

[Lmallet]

In the second picture, a long block signal where the question marks are should work.  Which version of Simutrans are you playing?  There were some issues with long block signals not too long ago.

[RicBax]

Ah, OK! I was using an older version. I just tried again with Simutrans 110.0.1 (using pak64) and the 2nd picture, with a long block signal placed as you say, now works just fine! Thanks for your help with that.

Still can't find a way to get the 1st picture to work as shown though. I changed it by placing a short 2 track section just before the terminus, with a choose signal going into the station and a long block coming out, and that seems to work (although it's not my preferred layout) - see below.

[Vonjo]

Not sure if it will solve your problem
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hfvIrAHiWk

[RicBax]

Thanks for posting the link, Vonjo. I think it's a good demo of how choose signals work, but it doesn't show the situation of a single line branch with multiple platforms at the terminus.

In fact I'm unclear as to whether you can use choose signals on bi-directional single track lines at all. Every example I've seen uses a one way choose signal, with the train leaving the station on a different track than it came in on.

[Lmallet]

In fact I'm unclear as to whether you can use choose signals on bi-directional single track lines at all. Every example I've seen uses a one way choose signal, with the train leaving the station on a different track than it came in on.

That is my understanding as well.  Your third picture is how I would deal with this situation.

[prissi]

The third picture needs to have a large enough waiting area in front of the choose signal. Otherwise it would never work deadlock free. Or you need to have a schedule, where the terminus is first and then all stations in between. Then put the choose signal before single track section.

I am curious: How would one solve this in TTD?