Support Single Signal Across Multiple Yard Rails for FFF 377

[empAvatar]

TL;DR
Allow a single rail signal to connect across multiple parallel rails (e.g., in yard/stacker layouts) so they share the same signal block logic.

This would make the multi-lane layouts shown in Friday Facts #377 – New new rails fully usable.
Currently, these new rail designs look amazing — but don’t function as intended for stackers, because each rail acts as a separate block.


(Blueprint ghost layout – visually clear, but signals don't link blocks together)

New way to use the rails

Rail signals 20250726084239_1.jpg (1021.02 KiB) Viewed 184 times

(In-game version of new curved rail layout inspired by FFF #377)

New way to use the rails

Rail signals 20250726084239_1.jpg (1021.02 KiB) Viewed 184 times

What?
I’m suggesting that when building rail yards or stackers using the new 2.0 curved rails:

• A single rail signal placed before the fan-out section (on the main line) can be configured to apply to all parallel rails in the block.
• The block highlight would appear across all connected lanes.
• Trains would treat all these lanes as one shared block.
• If all lanes are occupied or blocked, the signal would turn red — just like normal.

This would enable cleaner and more blueprintable yard/stacker systems, without needing per-lane signaling logic.

Why?
The new rails shown in FFF #377 are excellent visually and were clearly intended for rail yard aesthetics.
But functionally, they behave as separate blocks per lane, making them:

• Unusable for unified signaling.
• Tedious to blueprint or automate.
• More cosmetic than practical.

Having a signal or setting that lets you define these rails as linked/shared blocks would:

• Let stackers and yards behave properly.
• Avoid complex signal micro-managing.
• Let us use the beautiful rail fan-outs as intended.

It could be done by:

• A new "shared signal" entity.
• A toggle on signals for multi-lane mode.
• Or automatically linking lanes built in parallel (if safe).

Thanks for reading – this would be a huge quality-of-life boost for rail designers!

[Sad_Brother]

A single rail signal placed before the fan-out section (on the main line) can be configured to apply to all parallel rails in the block.
The block highlight would appear across all connected lanes.
Trains would treat all these lanes as one shared block.
If all lanes are occupied or blocked, the signal would turn red — just like normal.

Without proper per line indicator it would be a mess, sorry.
It would be better to find a way to place signals between those lines. Only devs can say for sure.

[empAvatar]

Maybe a special rail with a signal integrated or the mechanics of it, or like Captain on Industry does a away with the signals and you specify regions on the rail (only for the specific yards)

[KillingTimeItself]

having some sort of inline rail signal would really complete the new rail mechanics honestly. There are so many places where either train stations or rail signals get in the way of building something interesting. The stations at least make sense, it's pretty obvious. But being able to 2x the density of rail stackers would be a huge benefit.

It'd also be nice if you could mirror train stations tbh. I understand why you can't currently, but it is kind of annoying sometimes being forced to place train stations on the right hand side of the rails.