Factorio Forums

Posted: **Tue Feb 06, 2024 5:17 pm**

Introduction

Hello everyone and thanks to Google Translator.

The developers are busy improving trains and stations (Train 2.0), and while we wait, I decided to share my implementation of a logistics train network system in vanilla.

System: Vanilla Train Network
Goal: The system simplifies the setup of trains and stations, as well as further interaction with them.
Author: PMAP
Version: 1.01

Book of blueprints

Posted on the website https://factorioprints.com/view/-NpzR-KqhdlJUYW2BcH7
Contains the system itself in the form of a constructor.
Additionally contains a simple railway as an example of organizing a global network and connecting stations to it (the test scenario is built on it).

Test scenario

You can see this system in action by downloading the test scenario. Unpack it into your scenarios folder. There you can see the station settings and try something out.
Using the console command "/c game.player.create_character()" you can display the character.
Using the console command "/c game.speed=X" you can speed up the game, 1 - normal speed, 2 - x2, 3 - x3 and so on.

Megabase

In addition to the test scenario, you can look at the operation of VTN in a megabase.

The benefits of this system

No mods required, built on the vanilla game.
Can be used at the beginning of the game, you only need trains, stations and combinators.
Unified for any train length.
Completely eliminates the need for the player to set up train schedules.
Any station can work with several resources.
The logic of each station is self-sufficient, there is no need to deploy anything else (such as a smart depot, central server, etc.).
There is no need to come up with names for the requester (unloading) stations, they are all the same.
Convenience in understanding the work (very close to drone chests - requests and provides).
Allows you to completely copy any production with stations and trains, without needing to change anything.
You can use any train in the system, at any time, for your own purposes, and then send it to a provider or refueling station (via a schedule), and this will not interfere with the system in any way.

Disadvantages of this system

Near each station there is a “pack” of combinators intertwined with all kinds of wires, it doesn’t look “very good” and can “hurt the eye.” But this is at first, and over time you get used to it.
Setting up a station without the help of drones is labor-intensive.
The need to combine all stations into one network (red and green wires).

Details

Global and local networks

System shutdown

Refueling station

Regular provider station

Specialized provider station

Regular requester station

Specialized requester station

Player Requester Station Section

Recommendations

Do not place large stackers at requester stations, otherwise they will take over the trains that are unnecessary for them when others do not have enough.
It is better not to supply more than one liquid by one train, this can cause difficulties and inconsistencies during unloading, since the game does not have a filter for liquids.
It is advisable to indicate to the supply station the minimum resources for sending as much as the train can accommodate.
At requester stations, be sure to use filters (manipulators and switching conditions in pumps).
You should not request more resources than the station can accept (chests/tanks), otherwise this station will endlessly idle trains.
Also, you should not request as much resource as the maximum the station can handle; this may delay the train at the station if the chests are full and the train has not yet been unloaded.
It's best to request 2 or 3 full lineups.
Balancing will work for multiple resources only if each resource has the same number of chests/tanks (otherwise it is better to turn it off).
Boxes/tanks in the loading and unloading areas are connected by wires in parallel, so unnecessary ones can be safely removed (don’t forget to adjust the number of boxes for the balancer).
At the provider station, for better operation of the manipulators when loading into boxes, you can adjust the balancer by indicating the value 4 in the combinator marked "DISABLE BALANCER", instead of a large number, and turn on the combinator itself.
You may need to replace steel chests with drone chests, and to avoid missing wires, install them directly on top of the steel ones, the game will replace them, leaving the wires in place.
Manipulators can be replaced in the same way.
It’s better not to load the trains of regular suppliers with different resources, and if you want to, then load each car equally, so as not to experience problems at requester stations.
It is better to place several groups of refueling stations on different sides of the base, so that trains do not crowd in one place.

Repath of train destination

How to place a provider station

How to place a requester station

Conclusion

I hope this system is useful to someone.
Leave your questions here, I will try to answer them.

Posted: **Wed Aug 14, 2024 6:47 pm**

Can you put a high level explanation how how this whole thing works?

Posted: **Mon Sep 16, 2024 3:33 am**

DarkShadow44 wrote: ↑
Wed Aug 14, 2024 6:47 pm
Can you put a high level explanation how how this whole thing works?

I don't want to describe each combinator. But I will describe the algorithm embedded in them, maybe it will help.

Let's skip some preliminary moments and imagine that all supply stations are ready to send their trains, and some request station suddenly needs resource Z.

1. The request station informs the global network about its lack of resource Z.
2. The supply station of resource Z reacts to this and declares its desire to send a train.
3. All other stations in the system fall silent, the communication channel is blocked.
4. Several applicants may apply at the same time.
5. In this case, the supply stations start a game of more/less for elimination based on train identifiers and priorities.
6. The winner is the one with the smallest number.
7. As soon as the winner is determined, he begins to ask the stations requesting resource Z to open, in turn, from the most to the least priority.
8. Any opened station reports this, and at the same moment the train departs, and the game itself chooses which one it will go to.
9. The station that sent the train calms down and unblocks the communication channel.

All these processes occur in several game ticks, and the opening of the station and the start of the train generally in one game tick.