Problem with rail signals

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VimiZap
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Problem with rail signals

Post by VimiZap »

Hi! I'm having some issues with the rail chain signals. When a train enters my intersections, all the rain chain signals becomes red, even though there are open paths for other trains from other directions to enter and drive through at the same time. Why is this happening? I thought the rail chain signals made it possible for several trains to enter an intersection at the same time if their destinations were different? In the 4-way intersection I had many trains stop because they couldn't drive through even tho their path were open, but another train was inside the intersection.

I am running the latest experimental version of the game.
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Loewchen
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Re: Problem with rail signals

Post by Loewchen »

Only one train can enter a block at a time, chain signals do not change that. The only additional mechanic of chain signals compared to rail signals is, that they prohibit a train from entering an UNOCCUPIED block after the chain signal if the chosen exit of this block is not free.
If you want to enable more than one train to enter your junction, then you need to make it big enough so you can separate it into blocks.
Zanthra
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Re: Problem with rail signals

Post by Zanthra »

If you are holding a rail signal, you should see colored lines indicating what block those rails are part of. A piece of track crossing two other rail lines will join the blocks together. Chain signals are more restrictive than standard signals. Any conditions where a standard signal would turn red will turn a chain signal red as well, but there are additional conditions under which chain signals can be red. Chain signals can be used to make sure that trains crossing other tracks will stop and wait before the crossing if there is something occupying the far side. I would reccomend you look at the trains section of the show your creations forum where people have well designed efficient intersections that you can study. They use a lot of signals to break each part of the intersection apart from others in order to keep as many options open as possible for other trains while one is passing through.
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Impatient
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Re: Problem with rail signals

Post by Impatient »

In your case the intersection is one block. And the train occupies it. All signals (normal and chain) going to red is as it is supposed to be. Judging by your problem and your question I recommend to revisit a tutorial on rail blocks. Eg this one

https://wiki.factorio.com/Tutorial:Rail ... l/Tutorial

or just google around.

But I have to admit, there are not any very good rail signal tutorials around. Especially none which cover multiple train crossings.
quyxkh
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Re: Problem with rail signals

Post by quyxkh »

I think the in-game "advanced rail signals" tutorial is plenty good, it walks you through increasingly-complex intersections with a straight four-track crossing as one of the earlier exercises.
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