Question regarding Train Pathing Logic

[Khalysto]

!!Greetings Programs!!

I recently finished the campaign and am 5 hours into my first free play adventure. Now that I've finished researching railways I'm trying to establish an off-site copper outpost. Problem is, when my train is automated it takes the wrong path around the loop I've created and I don't understand why.

Scenario / Question:
- I have two loops (1 @ main base + 1 @ copper outpost) to allow bi-directional travel for my locomotive
- When driving manually my train drives directly into the station as it should, then I take the loop around to get back onto the main track heading back toward my copper out post (or vise-versa)
- When automated travel is enabled the train routes along the loop and ends up pulling into the station from the wrong direction

With train pathing logic, does it take shortest route to the train stop when it's automated? How does the train decide which way to go on a switch?

=Khalysto=

[Khalysto]

Silly me, I figured it out. Sorry to disturb.

=Khalysto=

[eZek0]

Why would you do this?

[syneris]

Signals on the wrong side of the track?

[Khalysto]

Why would you do this?

That was so goddamned hilarious!

My discovery was realizing the Train Stop controls the train approach direction based on which side of the track you place it on. As you're placing it, the arrows that appear will tell you the train's approach vector. From there, it will take the shortest route to reach said train stop from the correct vector.

While I was at it I figured out how signals work too (had a tough time with them for a while). This was very helpful; https://imgur.com/a/zG13U#0.

[ssilk]

This is, why it is linked from here https://forums.factorio.com/wiki/inde ... ay_network