To place a train signal in Transport Fever 3, open the Tracks menu (6 on PC), switch to the TOOLS tab and click on a track. Every signal is a path signal, so trains reserve the track up to the next signal, and you need signals wherever two trains should pass each other, such as both ends of a passing siding.
The biggest change from Transport Fever 2 is that trains now reserve track beyond their next stop, so signalling matters more. Here is how it all works, per Urban Games’ official manual page on railway signals.
How to Place a Signal
- Open the Tracks menu (6).
- Go to the TOOLS tab.
- Choose a signal and click on the track where you want it.
Signal styles change with the era: semaphore signals until 1950, and light signals after that.
How to Make a One-Way Signal
Select a placed signal and set its One-way drop-down to YES. The signal’s icon then shows one white and two black dots. One-way signals stop trains from entering a track in the wrong direction, which is how you build proper double-track lines where each track runs one way.
How Signals Work in Transport Fever 3
- All signals are path signals. A train reserves its whole path up to the end of that path.
- A path ends at the next signal, a tram lane or a stop where the train reverses.
- Stations don’t act as signals. A train doesn’t stop reserving just because it reached a platform.
- Trains reserve beyond their next stop, up to the next reversal or signal. Urban Games’ fifth developer blog adds: “Signals are now consistently required wherever trains are intended to pass each other.”
How to Build a Passing Siding
On a single-track line with two-way traffic, trains pass each other at sidings:
- Build the siding as a second track alongside the main line.
- Put signals at both ends of the siding, on both tracks. The manual warns that without them, trains deadlock.
- Leave a full train length after switches, so a waiting train doesn’t block the junction.
Line Priority and Terminals
- Line priority: set in the line’s window for train and tram lines, so important services get the track first.
- Alternative terminals: a train picks its platform at the last signal before the station, so put a signal before any station where you want trains to use any free platform.
- Waypoints: Shift+click in the Line Manager adds a waypoint, forcing a line along a particular route.
Common Signalling Mistakes
- No signals on a passing siding, which deadlocks trains coming from opposite directions.
- Signals too close to switches, so a waiting train sits across the junction.
- Two-way traffic on double track without one-way signals.
- Expecting a station to hold trains back. In Transport Fever 3 a station isn’t a signal.
Why Good Signals Make Money
Blocked trains earn nothing and still cost upkeep. Well-signalled lines keep trains moving, which our money guide shows is the key to profit. If you’re just starting out, our beginner tips cover your first train line, and our vehicle list shows which trains arrive in each era. Every guide is on our Transport Fever 3 hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you place signals in Transport Fever 3? Open the Tracks menu (6 on PC), go to the TOOLS tab, choose a signal and click on the track.
How do you make a one-way signal? Select the signal and set the One-way drop-down to YES.
Why are my trains stuck in Transport Fever 3? Usually a passing siding without signals at both ends, or a train waiting across a switch. Every place trains pass needs signals.
Do stations act as signals in Transport Fever 3? No. A train’s reserved path ends at the next signal, tram lane or reversal, not at a station.
Are Transport Fever 3 signals different from Transport Fever 2? Yes. Trains now reserve beyond their next stop, so signals are needed wherever trains pass each other.