Setting up a commuter train

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• Setting up a commuter train

This chapter is based on block side routes. An example for classic routes can be found below.

Commuter trains are trains allowed to change their running direction situation-related. Generally these are trains which can drive in any direction without requiring locomotive shunting.

Trains exclusively running between Terminal Stations, however, do not necessarily need to be defined as commuter trains provided option Stop Non-Commuter Trains in Terminal in the Rocrail properties is deactivated.

In order to run a train as a commuter train the following conditions have to be met:

• option Commuter Train has to be activated in the loco properties,
• option Force Same Direction has to be deactivated,
• each block the train should be able to access must allow commuter trains,
• each block the train should be allowed to change direction within must either allow direction changes or has to be defined as a terminal station .

Trains shuttling between stopover blocks, i. e. blocks not representing end blocks of a line, are sometimes referred to as yo-yo trains. This type of train is achieved if one or more stopover blocks allow direction changes.

Even then trains do only change their direction if

• the train has to wait in a block due to the waiting properties of this block - in this case the exit side of the block is set by random choice - or
• if Rocrail is not able to find a destination opposite to the block enter side (i. e. in driving direction) because the following block
  • does not allow commuter trains or
  • is occupied or
  • is out of operation or
  • can not be accessed due to other reasons like, e. g., block permissions

In these cases routes leaving the block enter side - if any - are evaluated, too. In case a route is found the placing of the loco and the block enter side will be swapped allowing the train to leave the block in opposite direction.

Download the plan-file: pendelzug.zip

In this example loco 1016 is defined as commuter train. The loco may

• enter blocks B3, B4, B5 and B6 because commuter trains are allowed in these blocks
• not enter blocks B1, B2 and B7 because commuter trains are not allowed in these blocks
• change its running direction in blocks B3, B4, B5 and B6 because block properties allow for

The loco will change its running direction

• in B3 sometimes (at random) due to the waiting properties of this particular block
• in B4 only if it cannot drive to neither B6 nor B5 or, in opposite direction, it cannot drive to B3
• in B5 only if it cannot drive to B3 or, in opposite direction, it cannot drive to B4
• always in B6 because it can leave the block only in the direction it came from

A commuter train setup will be realized between the blocks G and C in the following track plan:

There is something special in this trackplan: The route G to E crosses block B.

The blocks G, E and C have to be enabled for commuter trains.

If you would define in this dialog, that the block can only be used by commuter trains, then it will be locked automatically for the usage of locomotives in automatic mode, which are not defined as commuter trains.

In addition the following routes have to be defined.

Now the locomotive (in this case BR215) has to be defined as a commuter train and the destination direction has to be specified.

Finally you can switch to automatic mode and start the locomotive in block G as a commuter train.