Construction

Build your subway network by placing blueprint tracks and then building those tracks. Construction costs are calculated dynamically based on multiple interacting factors like elevation, track type, train type, and placement.

Construction Elements

Tracks

Tracks form the basic infrastructure of the transit network. Players can construct:

• Standard tracks - Basic directional line segments connecting stations
• Parallel tracks - Bidirectional pairs typically spaced 3.81 meters apart
• Quad track - Four parallel tracks where tracks 1 & 2 run in one direction and tracks 3 & 4 run in the opposite direction.
• Scissors crossovers - Special track junctions allowing trains to switch between parallel tracks

Crossovers have a fixed cost while standard and parallel track costs can vary based on elevation.

Construction techniques

Parallel tracks are configured for right-hand running, this is important when laying out bi-directional loops as you will need to select the station platforms on the correct track for the trains to operate.

When laying single-track it is important to note that the track will be laid assuming the same direction of travel that you are laying, so to join two dual-track segments with single track, you will need to lay one track in one direction and the other track in the opposite direction. This also means that you cannot create a single track spur line with the expectation that a single train can shuttle back and forth: it can only go in the direction the single track was laid.

Joining two dual-track lines into quad-track will require connecting one line directly to the inner tracks of the quad-track and one line, using single-track segments, to the outer tracks.

Stations

Different types of stations allow for single-direction, bi-direction, or express stopping patterns.

• Single track stations have only one platform and are useful for single-directional loop or a terminus station.
• Parallel track stations have two platforms and are the typical station used if there are no special requirements.
• Quad track stations have four platforms and, unlike the other stations are not speed limited to 47Km/h. They are designed to allow an express stopping pattern where local services stop and long-distance services continue through the station at full speed without stopping.

Note that the cost of a Quad track station is more that the cost of a Parallel track station with two single track lines built on either side of the two platforms. Careful engineering can therefore save around 27% of the construction cost of each station on a quadruplicated line.

Track Elevations

Elevation is the most significant factor in construction costs, with multipliers ranging from 0.3× to 4.5× the baseline cut-and-cover cost.

Elevation Type	Relative Cost	Elevation Range (meters)	Can Intersect Roads	Requires Building Destruction
Deep Bore Tunnel	4.5×	Below −24 m	✓	Depends on building foundation depth
Standard Tunnel	2.0×	−24 m to −11 m	✓	Depends on building foundation depth
Cut-and-Cover	1.0×	−10 m to −5 m	✓	✓
At-Grade	0.3×	−4 m to 4 m	✗	✓
Elevated	0.8×	Above 5 m	✓	✓

Intersections

Tracks can intersect at-grade if they are at the same elevation (within 0.1 meters). If the tracks are crossing at different elevations, there needs to be at least 4 meters of clearance between them.

Strategy

At-grade construction (0.3×) offers the lowest cost but cannot intersect roads, making it viable only in dedicated rights-of-way or areas without road crossings. Building your tracks around existing right-of-ways to reduce the need for elevated/underground rail and building demolition is the cheapest way to expand.

Cost Calculation

Base Formula

Construction costs are calculated using this formula:

Final Cost = Base Cost × Elevation Multiplier × Configuration Multiplier

Track Configuration Multipliers

The number of parallel tracks affects tunnel and construction width:

Configuration	Multiplier	Use Case
Single Track	0.75×	Terminus tracks, yards, emergency crossovers
Double Track	1.0× (baseline)	Standard bidirectional operation
Quad Track	1.5×	Express/local service, high-capacity corridors

Station Cost Calculation

Stations use the same elevation and configuration multipliers as tracks but start from higher base costs ($75M for heavy metro, $50M for light metro).