BigVern

MSTS had a couple and Trainz had an active Swedish contingent at one point. But most of the stuff in Trainz is nearly 20 years old and showing its age, old cabs and aliases to the default Alco or GM sounds, coaches with no visible (opaque windows) interiors etc. Some of the stuff requires a dependency hunt for items not on the DLS (never could get the Y7 railcars to work).

Anticipation building here but still no official confirmation when (or even if) SP will be unlocked this evening. My smart money would be on the usual Steam release time of 1800 GMT/UTC and if so hopefully most of the files are already pre-loaded so it's just a quick unlock.

Start by reviewing the keyboard commands, they will give an idea of the processes. But frankly if the OP has never touched a train sim, even something like TSW which does have tutorials, why sign up for a playtest? It's not an arcade game and sitting on a train or in a signalbox in multiplayer with no clue what you're doing, is exactly why we have been getting some of the problems encountered.

This would be the equivalent of the "Control" in the UK, specifically Network Rail Train Running Controllers (as I used to be). We had no direct means of working signals and indeed were not qualified to do so, however took an overview of the train service and interceded as necessary to instruct signallers about the order of trains or any other service alterations. For example a train operator (also at Control level) might require a train to call additionally at a station where it's not normally platformed. We would advise the signaller accordingly. Likewise the TRC would take the lead when major disruption occurred due to one of many reasons, co-ordinate with the train operators which contingency plan would be implemented or any bespoke amendments. It could be a very busy job especially on the Thames Valley section out of Paddington, where trains were (are) often running on two minute headways as far as Heathrow Airport Junction. Even a "minor" incident such as a track circuit failure could lead to trains queuing up, so you had to act quickly and decisively. The West Country desk encompassed Penzance to about 20 miles from Birmingham, an overview area of some 280 miles (not including various offshoots). Not such an intensive service but one minute you could be dealing with something in the Bristol area, the next West Cornwall - or both at the same time!

AI trains at least need to stop and challenge the route. Player a bit different as you might not know to query it, unlike in the real world.

I would still say a minimum of two minutes on the panel - the route might be blocked so train waiting for you to call the signal etc.

As I just mentioned in another topic, I wonder if we will get 10 days of testing SP only then the third and final test will be SP and MP running alongside each other? I'm also wondering how the SP test will be enabled. Will it be an update to the current playtest or will that have to be uninstalled and a complete new beta version downloaded?

Same here, well I guess they are now busy getting the SP game ready but some acknowledgement of the concerns would be appreciated. If MP does disappear from the playtest in favour of SP then we will probably have to wait until 13th Jan to see if it's toned down or removed. Or they may of course have a third playtest with both SP and MP active.

As discussed in General but worth flagging here. As driver the message is popping up when the train is stopped for a genuine reason (station) or in motion but no control input for a minute or so. (I run with the vigilance off). This is contrary to the original intention of intervening when trains have been stopped at a red signal then get a proceed aspect but don't move. Signallers/dispatchers are also getting the inactivity message but there are gaps between trains when no actions are required. Certainly thr first instance seems a bug or the system not working as intended and the over zealous implementation also needs to be reviewed.

Yes the message is popping up when driving along but not having made any input for a minute or two (vigilance etc. isolated) when the original implementation was supposed to be stopped at a clear signal. Not really acceptable guys, needs to be taken out or you will kill your MP game.

I have to agree - in addition to the over zealous implementation there is the fact that sometimes you do need to step away from the PC for a moment or two - go to the loo, answer the door, see what the wife's nagging about etc. etc. Also strange when planning the MP game, surely the devs already gave thought to the possibilities that are now arising and shouldn't be shoehorning in imperfect solutions three weeks before release? It needs to be taken out for a rethink and something less intrusive adapted for the final build.

Read about this for drivers and have to say a minute is maybe not enough time to allow a player to move off - maybe double to two minutes? I am also now getting the warning message flash up in Lazy LC signalbox. No activity because there are no trains about at the moment. This definitely needs to be modified, very invasive and distracting.

It will be interesting to see once SP goes "live" how the numbers in MP change.

SimRail gets better and better! Bring on the pre-order - my Steam Wallet funds are straining at the leash...

This is where SimRail does it right, unlike TSW where you are driving your Class 45 or Class 47 loco hauled train across the Pennines but absurdly have to "operate" the doors at stations. On old style slam door coaching stock without central locking, passengers opened and closed the doors themselves with the station staff or guard assisting with closure before departure. Not the driver's job.

One of the reasons I rarely ventured outside single player in ED, except when I was up at Beagle Point where only the most hardy and dedicated players ventured (a virtual 65K light years from the populated "Bubble"). I think the griefing even made mainstream news, there was some sort of special event laid on for a player who was terminally ill and the evil element made it their purpose to try and interrupt or even destroy the mission. The sad thing about ED is that David Braben and the other devs at Frontier turned a blind eye and even semi condoned the anti social activity as "emergent" gameplay. Hopefully (to stay on topic) SimRail won't demonstrate the same mindset.

As I mentioned in another thread, think there should be an option to switch off the alerter which is a PITA but keep the signalling system active.

Funnily enough was thinking about this last night. If implemented might need an on screen countdown similar to what we get for signal distances now.

I must admit to getting a bit confused between the Line (route?) number and the actual track number which I believe is prefixed by "Tor".

I know there are some very good and scenic narrow gauge routes in Poland, would be great to see one or more of these come to SimRail eventually. The low traffic levels and simpler track layouts would be ideal for a more relaxing MP or dispatcher environment. Narrow gauge, if feasible, would also increase the scope for user created routes.

Especially are we getting any diesels?

Paying for the game didn't stop the griefing in Elite Dangerous.

That looks like one of my Trainz routes... 🤯

Agree Sean. Had my first go at Lazy earlier this evening and delayed a couple of AI services while I established how things work, including diverting a train onto an alternate line (in the correct direction) as I hadn't realised you needed to clear the block with the train departed button. Would be easy for someone to report that as a frivolous re-routing when in fact there was no ill intent. What does need clamping down on (possibly) is cases where players are setting up races or deliberately sending trains on a collision course.

Verify files in Steam maybe?