Sooner or later, your various production lines will be spread across the entire map. Moving these only with conveyor belts or manually can take quite a lot of time. This is where trains come in, which you unlock in Tier 6 (Satisfactory Tier 6 Guide: Trains, Computers, Monorail and Pipeline Mk. 2) . They are used to carry large loads over long distances and run on a separate system. At first they can be overwhelming, so we’ll look at all the components and simple rail lines in detail. Afterwards, you should be able to deploy your own trains and configure them to move items from A to B.
Satisfactory trains: advantages for fast long‑distance transport
Trains can look very complicated at first glance. But once you grasp a few basics, they are a real boon for far‑flung factories. They are especially handy when you want to move things from one side of the map to the other. They run faster and more efficiently than vehicles such as trucks. And conveyor belts can’t really compete either, even though you can also cover long distances with them.
A major advantage is that trains only require power, not fuel. That makes them far more flexible, as you don’t have to keep topping them up. By this tier, scaling your power supply should be straightforward.
Satisfactory train line: components from locomotive to signals
With Tier 6 you unlock most of the key components for a rail system. Get familiar with them first to understand the basics and use the parts correctly later.
- Tracks: The routes your trains run on. Think of them as larger conveyor belts.
- Locomotive: The electric locomotive provides the pulling power. One loco can pull up to four cars without slowing down. For heavier consists you’ll need more locos or additional trains.
- Freight car: Cars must be pulled by a locomotive and, depending on configuration, can transport solids, liquids, or gases. They can be loaded and unloaded automatically.
- Train Station: Stations are the places where a train can stop. Attach a Freight Platform to load and unload cars. Stations also supply power to the entire rail system.
- Signals: Signals are the road signs for your trains. They ensure trains don’t collide.
Setting up Satisfactory trains: transporting items and fluids
Once you’ve understood and unlocked the building blocks for trains in Satisfactory, you can start on your first rail system. We’ll show you step by step how to move your cars from one station to another smoothly and without complications.
Laying tracks and building stations in Satisfactory
The first step is to lay tracks and place your chosen stations. To begin with, focus on closed systems. We recommend either a loop or a point‑to‑point shuttle that runs back and forth. For the latter you’ll need two locomotives, one at each end.
You can build tracks in segments of 100 metres. We recommend using foundations as a base so the route stays straight. You can also build up and down, but only with 2‑metre foundations. To lay tidy tracks, use the tooltips at the bottom of the screen to your advantage. For curves or uneven sections, it helps to place the start and end first and then snap them together automatically.
You should also incorporate your desired stations. In most cases you’ll have one station for loading and one for unloading. Add the appropriate Freight Platform to connect your resources to the rail system. Stations are given their own names, and you can rename them to keep things clear.
Autopilot and schedule: setting up automatic train routes
Once your route is finished, place a loco with the required number of cars on the track. Without further input nothing will happen. You can drive the train yourself, which is of course inefficient. Instead, set up automatic routes, similar to trucks.
Open the train menu with Q and configure the schedule. There you choose which stations the train should visit. They are processed one after another and then repeat. This is where it helps to give distinctive names to stations so you can find them in the list. Trains stop only at stations that are on their schedule.
Once you’ve set everything up, switch the train to Autopilot. It will then visit the stations using the shortest route. Afterwards (or beforehand) configure what should happen at each Freight Platform. Open the station’s menu and set whether a stopping train should be loaded or unloaded. The process then runs automatically once the settings are in place and the train is on autopilot.
Satisfactory signals: using Block Signals and Path Signals correctly
Signals are probably the aspect that makes the rail system seem so confusing. Broadly speaking, you don’t need any signals if you’re running only one train on a network, because signals exist to ensure two or more trains don’t collide.
Primarily, on networks with multiple trains you can focus on the Block Signal. It ensures the following section of track is cleared before a train may enter. Train length also affects how much of a block is occupied. Block Signals also enforce one‑way flow, preventing trains from entering a block from the opposite direction. When placing signals, blocks are shown in different colours. You should always have at least one more block than trains, so they don’t get stuck.
Path Signals are only for truly complex systems, where multiple track sections and loops interlock. They subdivide blocks into routes and clear those independently. Use these signals at junctions so trains can be prioritised.
Conclusion: Satisfactory trains connect factories efficiently
Trains are one of the most important ways to transport items in the world of Satisfactory. Since you can’t produce every component in one place and conveyor belts eventually become impractical, you’ll need rail lines. Even though it can feel overwhelming at first, simple routes are actually easy to build. As long as you keep networks separate, you won’t need to deal with complicated signalling.
To use trains effectively, rent one of our servers for Satisfactory and continue expanding your factory empire. Playing with friends is even more fun, and everyone can take care of different sections of the network.
