Factorio Forums

If you ever played Locomotion, you know that this game has almost identical rail systems as Factorio.
Identical rail tracks to build on the grid, identical rail signaling system, very similar train routes planning etc.
There is only one big difference: Locomotion has S-shaped tracks!

It allows building the very compact railway layouts like on this picture:


In Factorio this simple crossing from track-to-track consumes a lot of space between rails. We really need the S-shaped rails!

Two turns make s-shape. You just have to place rails with 2-rail-width space between them.

Yes, two rail space. Too much.
It prevents all these clever and compact layouts as on the screens above.

I've read somewhere this is devs' design decision. Rails are not meant to be compact.

Adds complexity without new gameplay and in my eyes it is very problematic to place rails side by side, cause it disables placing signals. It would change dramatically, if rail-laying is fully automated (we need no special rails, only straight rails).

And for completeness, see this fine related thread: https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =33&t=5726

Also related:
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... f=6&t=7720
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... 9&start=50

Another thing you should note is that in OTTD, the track only takes the space of the middle 1/3 of a tile, in Factorio, the track and train take 2 full tiles.
The fact that in Factorio it takes a gap of 2 rail spaces between tracks to make the S shape puts the Factorio S shape and the OTTD S shape in the same size ratio.

Besides, I like the 4 tile gap anyways, it gives me space to put things like power poles and roboports between the tracks. And things like laser turret outposts, so when biters start chasing trains, they get shot at.

I agree, and one learns very fast that the optimal distribution is the 2 rail segment distance between the tracks. Allows anything to be ran inside, from robotports to electricity.

For the record I never liked the 4 tile gap, so I just started building them next to each other when vertical or horizontal. When placing diagonals I leave a two tile gap between them. My signals and poles go on the outside and I'm quite happy with the look. I do wish I had an S-track 8 tiles by 4 tiles wide though.