Being fair to arriving trains

[JasonC]

I'm having an issue with a train station I'm working on. I did read the big train/deadlock thread but it doesn't cover my case.

So in the image below, there are 5 unloading stations. Each station has the same name, so the trains will pick a free one when arriving. The entrance and exit are at the top left. Trains arrive on the left track and depart on the right:



The station functions correctly with no deadlock. The problem I'm having is that arriving trains wait at the signal while other trains are leaving, even though there are open paths to clear stations. In the image above, the arriving train is waiting for all departing trains to clear, but I want it to go to one of the free stations on the bottom, and only wait if there are no paths to open stations:



Is there any signal configuration that can accomplish this? I've mostly been trying random things and getting flashing signals.

It's not a major issue, it's not preventing the station from functioning, but it is limiting drop-off rates since arriving trains essentially wait until all stations are clear (unless I set the stop times really long to provide some "windows" to arriving trains) instead of jumping on an available one.

[JasonC]

In this attempt I just removed the first signal from the arriving track in the top left. The issue is even more apparent:



The train has a clear path to the station it's trying to go to, but my signals are undesirably preventing it from entering that block.

[sillyfly]

Your problem is the right vertical track between the entrances - it links all entrances, so if one train is leaving a station no other can enter/leave. You should put signals on this track between exits/entrances, but I think you can't fit them now, and you'll have to space your stations further apart.

[Adil]

Image

My guess would be that the rail section before the arriving train is not free of trains. I've outlined it with ochre on the pic. The current setup is impervious to a complete disentangling, but I believe you could get the train to the bottom station, if you put additional traffic light at the blue circle position.

[JasonC]

Thanks.

Your problem is the right vertical track between the entrances - it links all entrances, so if one train is leaving a station no other can enter/leave. You should put signals on this track between exits/entrances, but I think you can't fit them now, and you'll have to space your stations further apart.

I spaced out the stations and tried a few signal placements, but I'm still having some trouble with this (mostly a lot flashing signals). I'm redesigning the station to have less crossing tracks and more space, then I'm going to read the big deadlock thread one or two more times and experiment some more. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. In the mean time I'm focused on another question about this station.