Efficient tram lines, where to build the stops?

[Postlimit]

Hello! I need some advice regarding tram tracks.

Because there are no 2-way tram tracks (pak128, 2.0.0, v111.0), you often end up with the line going up in 1 road, and down again in a road 1 block further (see picture).


That's all fine when, like in the picture, the layout of the city cooperates. Then you can easily have the same stop on both sides (just build some stops in between to extend the stop, and remove those later)
But sometimes, the layout of the city just doesn't cooperate with the plans (see other picture below). Assuming that tearing down buildings is not an option, any advice for such a scenario?



The line you see there doesn't work efficiently. In the corners of the tram line, I have stops which are only for the northbound trams, but not for the southbound trams, and vice versa. Schematically, and simplified:
Start --> A --> B --> C --> End (= northbound)
End  <--  A <--    <-- C <-- Start (=southbound)
So, stop B exists only on the northbound tram tracks.

Logically, passengers for B on the southbound line should go to stop A, and switch to the northbound to get to stop B. But that's often a little too complicated, and the passengers instead choose to go all the way to the endpoint, and back up again to B... which means they take up space in my trams. And in some cases, when B is a big stop, this ruins the entire line.

So, what do you guys advice? Is there any way to use trams in this case, or should I just take trolleys instead?

p.s. sorry for the crappy pictures... 64k is not much for a limit for a picture.

[omikron]

My two cents:

I usually build the tramlines as circular lines and then add a busline in the opposite direction. That way obviously I don't get rid of the passengers travelling all the way around on the tram, but it still works quite well.

I can't see it on those pictures, but I hope you use plenty of signals to avoid trams having to wait too long.

But I am interested in which other tips are coming here 

omikron

[Markohs]

I just make circular lines, and demolish almost whatever it's necessary to make the ñlayout work.

if it's a city that I want to take max passenger profit, I just make 2-way tram avenues, so it scales correctly when the population grows. I also tried sometimes the reverse bus lines option omikron pointed out, but I don't personally like it because it needs extra micromanagement.

I posted some screenshots in the past here http://forum.simutrans.com/index.php?topic=8949.msg83404#msg83404

[Postlimit]

I have circular lines. The "northbound" connects to the "southbound", and together they are a circle.
(As you can see in the 1st picture, the two sides connect at the end of the line, in the city outskirts).

But I don't have a busline to go the other way to serve that "B" stop I mentioned before. That's definitely worth a try, although I wonder if it isn't cheaper to go all-trolley then...

p.s. Markohs, how come you can upload such large pictures? I seem to get an error message for all pics larger than 64k.

[Markohs]

p.s. Markohs, how come you can upload such large pictures? I seem to get an error message for all pics larger than 64k.

I just use dropbox.

[el_slapper]

I am currently experimenting with directions : longest direction for trams, shortest for trolleybuses.

tram lines are overlapping circular lines. something like that :
->->->
^      V
<-<-<-
V      ^
->->->
^      V
<-<-<-
V      ^
->->->

trolleybuses lines are simple, straight lines that go both directions(vertically on that design).

going in diagonal therefore requires one travel in trolleybus and one in tram. Always the shortest path. It is still not perfect for going "horizontally" backwards, but it works good enough. And, if one line is still not enough, I can add monorail or subway(obviously only on very big towns). Monorail preferably as a loop backwards the tram line.

It works overall, but I still have to refine the concept, I think.

[omikron]

I ought to add - I always play with timeline on, and my cities therefore develop over time. Creating a working intra-city pax network is always a challenge, especially when the bus- and then tramlines are getting crowded. Then it's time for a subway system, which obviously throws the entire network into turmoil.....

But that's what's fun - I love micromanagement.

omikron

edit: el_slapper: I like your layout idea. Except the monorail part - I have never reached so far in time....

[wlindley]

Another plan for dense cities is short counter-rotating tram loops (X=stops), connecting with underground or elevated trunks that stop on alternate streets:

Code Select Expand


          X
  +X--<--X+X-->--X+
  |       |       |
  v       ^       v
  |       |       |
==========X=========
  |       |       |
  v       ^       v
  |       |       |
  +X-->--X+X--<--X+
          X


with each tram serving just a few stops before connecting with the trunk, congestion is generally minimized without needing buses

[sdog]

i connect the stops of the eastbound with the westbound branch, it is just two bus stops in between. The stops on the perpendicular roads can be used for buses to connect and it's desirable to increase the capacity of tram stops anyways.

Code Select Expand


<---------+S-----<
          S
          S
>--------S+------>


That way you have a return route for pax and much more efficient service. When spacing the tram stops, bear in mind that you perhaps want to increase station tiles to two, thus keep a bit more space between stops.