Factorio Forums

Add a train track repair bot that patrols all your tracks and repairs and replaces broken track, lights and stops as it goes. Ideally it should fix all things it has in stock in it's cargo. This bot would also have to be able to go to all parts of your rail network and all stops even if they have been destroyed already. Ideally this bot would follow rail tracks but not actually use them. It would be a land based (non-track) based vehicle. The reason for this, is that although it would make sense to have this bot on the rail tracks, it's possible that the tracks in front of a train get destroyed and a train gets stuck. If the bot now comes along on the tracks, it won't be able to pass the stuck train and fix the track. If it goes along side the track, then this wouldn't be an issue. Ie. you could make it a bot that has skinny legs and stands above the height of trains so it can pass over them. Another option is that the bot just leans out on one side of the rail and is only attached to one side of the rail. The key is to let it pass over or around other trains.

Either do the above or make all rail entities indestructible even by area of affect damage from all sources, especially biters.

I think the best and coolest option that is in line with factorio is the first option to have a track patroling bot that can pass over trains.

Also keep in mind that these things exist in the real world. They have vehicles that go on the tracks and detect damaged track before the trains go through.

factoriouzr wrote: Also keep in mind that these things exist in the real world. They have vehicles that go on the tracks and detect damaged track before the trains go through.

Usually, a pickup truck modified to ride on the tracks as well as the roads. Pretty standard MOW vehicle. Track damage is also detected electrically- the well known Track Circuit that sends a signal through the rails and can set a signal red if there is an interruption.

Like so the maintenance of way crew drives the truck on roads to a crossing, then turns parallel to the track. The rail wheels are then lowered hydraulically to take a portion of the truck's weight, and the truck then propels itself using the road wheels on the ties while the rail wheels take over its steering.

They don't have to 'step over' a stopped train, rather they'll disengage themselves from the rails at the nearest crossing to the mishap and drive on the maintenance road to where the damage is.

Rail repair equipment to go with the MOW trucks usually is part of a special track maintenance consist. The train that is unable to proceed is removed using another locomotive if its own can no longer operate, and in cases where a derailment took place heavy lifting equipment is brought in to salvage what is left back onto the rails or onto flatbeds to be taken by road to the scrapyard.

For the most part, Factorio track is only destroyed by player error anyway. While the biters can damage it if they want to, it is not a pollution source nor is it a threat- so their AI generally ignores it.