Hello, dispatchers! Angel here, back on the tracks with another weekly Rail Log. We’re chugging along at full speed on the development express, and we’ve got some exciting updates to share. So, grab your favorite cup of station coffee, and let’s dive into the world of Rail Route!

Staging Success: All Aboard the Progress Train 🚂

Our staging version is shaping up like a well-tuned locomotive. We’ve been busy resolving all feedback and fine-tuning the last bits of new features – regional trains and focus view mainly. The unstable version will be available on Tuesday evening for all our Discord members. It’s like a surprise party, but with more trains and fewer balloons.

The Journey Ahead: Future Adjustments 🛠️

The scope of Rail Route is as vast as the Union Pacific Railroad, and we can’t bundle everything together. So, expect final touches in everything we’re delivering. The first thing to expect are additional buildings and sensors that enable the regional trains automation and will replace the current Coach Yards, moving them as an Upgrades towards later in the game. It’s like giving our game a whole new set of tracks to explore.

The Future of Rail Route: Post Update 12 🚀

As we look beyond the upcoming Update 12, we’re excited to share some of the new features and improvements we’re planning, mainly targeted at automating regional trains. These changes are designed to enhance the gameplay experience and introduce new challenges for our players. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming:

Shunting Track: Laying the Foundation 🏗️

We’re adding a new element that can be built on plain track, without any switches – the shunting track. This will have routing functionality and can execute the next command in a train’s shunting queue. It’s like giving our tracks a mind of their own!

Shunting Path: The Road Less Traveled 🛤️

We’re introducing the concept of a shunting path, a defined route leading to a set of shunting tracks. It’s like a secret passage for our trains, making their journeys more efficient.

Train Shunting: Trains with a Brain 🚂

Our trains are getting an upgrade! They’ll soon be able to enter “shunting” mode between schedule legs or while waiting for the next leg. This will allow them to have a wait time, a defined next station, and a shunting queue for storing shunting commands. It’s like giving our trains a degree in logistics!

Stabling Sensor: The Watchful Eye on the Tracks 👁️

The stabling sensor will be a new addition that can be built on a platform or track. It will monitor trains that are “in shunting” mode and execute commands based on the train’s next station and wait time. The commands include routing the train through the shunting path, setting the wait time until the next leg, sending the train back to the platform, and switching the train to the next schedule. It’s like having a personal assistant for each train, ensuring everything runs on time – or at least as close to on time as we can get in the world of train dispatching.

Routing Sensor and Auto/Shunting Signal: Simplified and Efficient 🚦

We’re simplifying the routing sensor and enhancing the auto/shunting signal to execute commands from the shunting queue if a train is “in shunting”. It’s like giving our signals a promotion from traffic cop to traffic controller!

Looking Ahead: Continuous Development 🛣️

These additions and changes will enable full regional train automation and preparethe game for future possible shunting traffic of the freights. We aim for smaller and more frequent releases during the summer. We’ll see how gradually we’ll bring these elements to the game, but we’re optimistic!

Now, you might have noticed a distinct lack of images in this post. I’d love to say it’s because I wanted to let the words paint a picture, but the truth is, I’ve been a bit lazy. So, apologies for the lack of visual aids – I promise to make it up to you in the next post!

As we pull into the station for this week’s Rail Log, we want to hear from you! Got thoughts on the new features? Feedback on the shunting mode? Or just want to share your experience with the staging version? We’re all ears! 🐰

Hop aboard the discussion train on our community Discord. Your input is invaluable to us, and we’re excited to hear what you have to say. Until next week, keep those signals green, and remember – a delayed train is just an opportunity for a longer coffee break. Angel signing off. 🚦

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