It gets kind of boring to use the timetable mode as there is almost always green light driving from start to the end. Why not add random delays of other trains to get some variety? speed restrictions, red lights delayed departures because of delayed connection trains possible reroutes to other tracks and plattforms To get more randomness there could be broken signals and slow passing with dispatcher advise.
I like that idea. Faulty switches Broken overhead wire Collision on level crossing Etc. It has to be random. The player doesn't know what's coming.
Track maintenance, derailed trains, broken-down trains, weather conditions, broken couplers, hot boxes
This isn't even possible unless DTG completely reworks the way their dispatcher system and timetable generation work.
Yes, so long as the signaller AI can’t deal with dynamic rerouting or replatforming even, anything other than the most minimal delay is likely to lead to unrecoverable stand offs. Particularly on busy routes such as BML where platform occupancy at Victoria is probably 95% for most of the day.
I would love this - I posted a thread about it a while ago. IIRC something like this featured on one of DTG's surveys, so it is on their radar
It would be cool and add variety and realism, but i highly doubt DTG would even be able to get a mere mention of the this suggestion with railroad companies when obtaining a license. If DTGs hand's are tied with mere day-to-day dirt and grim accumulating on freight trains since everyone says railroads generally want their trains depicted in pristine conditions, imagine suggesting to train operators that their trains may be depicted: - Running late (impacting potential passenger and public perception as to the reliability of their operations and punctuality) - Sudden track maintenance requirements (Scheduled is fine, but random and sudden? Although it is reality, what if that track warped, or buckled, or fell out of usable condition rather right when a train was zooming over it at 200kmh? Company is depicted as unsafe for passengers). - Train vs Car at crossings (a touchy topic for any railroad/railroader even if it was the choice of the motorist to get hit by a train that day 100% of the time - No company would want to be depicted slamming into cars at crossings, even if they already do because of the buggy crossings in game already) - Train vs Pedestrian (same thing, 10x worse - even though that already happens from time to time due to bugs) - Derailments, even if minor (Way out of the question - again safety is called into question) In a way delays somehow seem to happen on their own from time to time in timetable mode already. How? I'm not 100% certain. But on routes like SBL, maybe because the human factor, there are services where I find myself questioning, "How in the world am I supposed to get to LA on time when I'm sitting at this red light for possibly the next 10 minutes, and I was due at the next station 3 minutes ago?" I feel like these kinds of sudden delays happen since we can and will arrive on occasion 1-3 minutes later than expected so the AI dispatcher lets other trains go when it was supposed to be us, for example.
Some scenarios use late running trains. Besides, what's stopping me not departing on time and instead delaying my train on purpose? I even arrive late at stations on some routes. Its a game, train companies won't care if someone playing a game driving trains as a hobby runs late, nor would they expect players to always arrive on time or even drive like a real driver. A car could be randomly scripted to collide with a level crossing before the player reaches it. An easy workaround. For example, say I'm 7 miles out from a level crossing, suddenly start seeing yellow signals and eventually a red. All thats needed then is a simple HUD message explaining whats happened. Well, like you said it already happens, and has been doing for a few years.
I think the idea is great. You could even bring in defective signals. Or signals with a cross (at least in Germany).
