Satisfactory Trains Setup Guide: Creating an Efficient Rail Network

<p>Trains in Satisfactory revolutionize gameplay. They are essential for transporting vast quantities of resources over long distances, alleviating the burden of complex conveyor belt setups you may have been struggling with.

Once you unlock the train feature, it significantly enhances your production capabilities and gives your factory a sophisticated industrial feel. However, be advised – setting them up can pose some challenges.

How to Unlock Trains

To dive into the world of trains, you first need to unlock the Monorail Train Technology Milestone, which is located in Tier 6. Gather resources such as beams and pipes, and upon reaching this milestone, the train system will be at your disposal.

Powering Up Your Trains

Satisfactory power train — Coffee Stain Studios

Power comes from the station.

Building tracks may seem straightforward, but there are some tips to ensure everything runs seamlessly.

Rails curve automatically to conform to the terrain, which is useful unless you prefer perfectly straight paths. In that case, construct your tracks on foundations.
Placing rails is akin to placing conveyor belts; however, you can only connect rail lines at the junctions of two segments.
If you need to create an intersection mid-track, you’ll first need to split the line into two sections.
For 90-degree turns, extend three foundations outwards and three sideways, and you’ll be good to go.

Best Locomotive and Freight Car Composition

Train composition Satisfactory — Coffee Stain Studios

Avoid overly long trains.

When constructing your train, achieving balance is critical. For every four freight cars, incorporate one locomotive. If you add more than four freight cars per locomotive, expect your train to struggle, particularly on inclines.

As a general guideline, shorter trains tend to be faster and more efficient, so resist the urge to create one giant train. Instead, opt for smaller, more frequent trains to ensure smooth operations.

Setting Up Train Stations and Additional Train Settings

Stations satisfactory — Coffee Stain Studios

Clearly label your stations.

Creating your train stations is relatively easy, but ensure that the station faces the correct direction – the curved side is the front.

Next, decide whether you need a freight platform for solid items, a fluid freight platform for liquids, or empty platforms. Adjust the station inputs and outputs based on your belts or pipes’ configuration.

Always remember to name your stations. Press E while hovering over a station to change its name, which will simplify navigation when establishing routes.

How to Avoid Train Crashes with Block Signals

Setting up railways in Satisfactory — Coffee Stain Studios

Maintain clarity on the rails.

Now for the less enjoyable aspect: preventing train collisions. If multiple trains share the same tracks, you’ll need block signals.

Block signals divide your track into distinct sections, or “blocks,” thereby preventing trains from entering an already occupied block.

Install block signals at both the beginning and end of each station to establish separate blocks, ensuring that your blocks are longer than your trains. For intersections, utilize path signals at the entry points and block signals at the exits.

Powering Up Your Trains

Transporting Cargo in Satisfactory — Coffee Stain Studios

The best way to transport cargo.

Here’s a useful tip: rails transmit power! As long as your primary station is connected to a power source, the entire rail network will receive power, including any buildings along the route.

Additionally, this feature allows you to use your hover pack anywhere near your tracks without depleting your power.

With these foundational concepts understood, you’re now ready to create a functional and collision-free train network in Satisfactory. Now that you can transport your resources much more efficiently, consider focusing on identifying the best Pure Nodes and searching for all hard drives.

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