A major new gameplay feature is here: manual wagon coupling and uncoupling! This update brings deeper control, new waypoint tools, new locomotives, and dozens of improvements and fixes.
🔩 New Features & Mechanics
- Coupling and Uncoupling of Wagons - trains can now uncouple and re-couple wagons at designated waypoints. Coupling is only possible with wagons that were previously uncoupled. Includes new sounds, a tutorial, and error handling for uncoupled locomotives.
- Trains Without Wagons or Locomotives Remain on Tracks - wagons without locomotives stay on the rails, and locomotive-only trains can move independently
- Movement in Reverse - available at waypoints where a train changes direction (signals and passenger stations). Enables more advanced route setups.
- Coupling & Uncoupling Tutorial - a step-by-step guide that walks players through how to manage this new mechanic.
🚦 Waypoint System Updates
- Priority Load - when enabled, a train will prioritize loading cargo/passengers specifically for the selected connection.
- Wait for Full Train - train waits until fully loaded (based on selected percentage or amount) with any available cargo/passengers.
- Waypoint UI - updated Waypoint Settings Interface and new icons for active options like “Full train”. Now waypoint settings can be edited without entering route edit mode
🚆 New Locomotives
- 0-8-0 USRA (2nd Era Steam)
- SDP40F (3rd Era Diesel)
⚙️ Gameplay Improvements
- Updated steam engine stats (power, speed, and price now reflect historical data)
- Adjusted one-time contract cargo amounts and rewards
- Population growth tuning (affects production)
- Adjusted production rates for Aluminum and Machines industries
- Optimized CPU and memory usage in train simulation
- Large train list display performance significantly improved
- Added UI scaling setting
🎨 Visual & UI Updates
- Updated loading screen backgrounds
- Updated brick tunnel entrance model
- Fixed missing shadows in cities
- Adjusted shadow distance parameters
- Updated general UI style
- Time labels added to “Full Load” and “Wait for Connection”
- Labels added to the age graph in "Replace" and "Inventory" panels
🧰 Fixes
- Resolved issue with trains getting stuck at stations with specific waypoint configurations
- Fixed “Mastering the Research Tree” tutorial
- Resolved game hang on failed save file load
- Fixed train stopping abruptly at signals
- Train jumping when editing active routes
- Trains no longer stop on signal waypoints when load conditions are already met
- Incorrect cargo/passenger display after removing trains
- Fixed long locomotives hanging off rails
- Fixed display issues with stations, depots, signals, and contract connections
- Corrected one-time contract cargo amount display
- Resolved incorrect wait time calculations for full train/connection options
- Max wait time for auto-wait and full load set to 90 minutes
- Resolved flipped values in the “Targets and Statistics” panel
- Fixed game freezing on save files with corrupted rails
- Train display and payments are now correctly handled
- Fixed UI waypoint button error
- Fixed freight priority logic
- Fixed rail placement for locomotives
- Trains now properly resume movement after signal wait with fulfilled load condition
- Various language fixes
🛤️ This first implementation of wagon coupling/uncoupling lays the foundation for more interesting features. Stay tuned for future updates!
💬 Let me know how you’re using coupling in your networks!
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