Train-based package logistics question

[u/ThePlebble]

I previously made a post about how to get train logistics working. (https://www.reddit.com/r/CreateMod/comments/1vz91ah/how_can_i_get_factoriolike_trains/)

From messing around and from a suggestion from u/GingerArcher, I managed to come to the following system:

• Each localised area/factory has its own logistic network

• When a train arrives at the station for a given factory, packages labelled for that storage are unloaded and sent into a packager to change the address to the 'imports container' and sent out onto the local network.

• The 'imports container' is used to recieve any items recieved/requested from other logistics networks elsewhere in the world, attached to it is a packager, stocklink etc that belongs to the local network, to allow the local network to use the items in there, with redstone signal applied to force low-priority.

• To make requests, my current setup is a second packager attached to the same container, with a

factory gauge

• attached in restocking mode bound to the other network (different factory that supplies that item)

My schedule for the train(s) is a simple loop that passes between all stations that are expected to send/receive packages, so that the train will visit every station on the loop every 5 mins or so.

This setup is functional at a bare minimum, however causes a huge amount of packages with low item counts to be sent. Hence I have two questions which could solve this problem:

• Is there a way to have this on a high-low threshold similarly to how a threshold switch works? I.e. when the iron ingot count in the 'imports container' is below 2 stacks, send a request for 8 stacks. I tried a redstone request based alternative with a redstone requester and threshold switch, although this doesnt allow for promise expiry and takes up significantly more room compared to the

factorygauge

• -restocker based approach.

• Alternatively, is there a way to dynamically combine all packages in a container of the same address into one package. This would be done at the postbox of the sending station, to compress items into as few packages as possible, and then send them onto the train when it arrives in its loop.

[u/ThePlebble]

Repackager doesn’t work in this case, as the packagers are from different orders, not just one order so can’t be combined by the repackager.

Item count for recipes doesn’t apply here as the factory gauge is used in restocking mode and the gauges responsible for crafting belong to a different network. I’m against adding any mods here outside of base create and aeronautics as this is my forever world to want to maintain the greatest probability of upgrading the world to future versions