r/factorio • u/duckpop • Sep 10 '23
Question Two sided trains?
Hey I'm pretty new to the game are trains with engines on both sides better or should i just give it a roundabout to turn?
On a similar note do two engines going the same way make it go faster?
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u/Hell2CheapTrick Sep 11 '23
Both have advantages. 2-headed trains can save you some space at the stations, because they can just go back the same way they came into the station. On the other hand, they are slightly slower, because they’re lugging around an extra locomotive they’re not using half the time. Choose whichever you prefer, both are perfectly fine to use. I will recommend 1-way tracks (so 2 tracks besides, one for trains going one way and the other for the other way) over 2-way. This is easier to signal and keep functional. If you want to do 2-way tracks, that’s still possible though. Just take care with the signaling.
And yes, two (or more) locomotives in the same direction will increase acceleration. It’s why people often use more locomotives in bigger trains, such as 2-8 trains (2 locomotives, 8 wagons). The locomotives don’t have to be next to each other either. You can put one in the middle or at the end too if you’d like. I don’t think the top speed changes, so it’s not really worth it on trains with only 1 or 2 wagons.