OpenTTD: Build signals correctly - that's how it works

At the latest when you have built up a large and successful transport network in OpenTTD, you have to build signals. Since there is no tutorial for this at OpenTTD, this matter can be quite complicated. We have therefore put together the basics for you here.

Build signals in OpenTTD

1. In the menu bar at the top, go to the "Lay tracks" menu (the eighth from the right) and then into the signal selection menu (the fifth from the right).
2. Click on the signal you want to build (see below in the picture).
3. Select the section of track on which you want to build the signal. A signal cannot be built on intersections. If you create a signal on a field on which two tracks run in parallel, you must make sure to choose the right track.
4. Click once on the track section to build the signal. It now applies to both directions. Click the track section again to apply it to one direction only. One more time and it applies to the opposite direction
5. To clear a signal, select a track type and then the yellow bulldozer from the "Lay Track" menu. Then click on the place where the signal to be deleted was built.

Lead the trains in OpenTTD with block signals

The signal selection menu consists of 14 elements. The two on the far right are tools that you can use to process signals. The signals in the top row differ only in optics from those directly below. So it is a matter of taste which signal type you want to use. If you hold the mouse over a signal type longer in the signal selection menu, the name of the signal appears. The simplest are block signals.

• A block signal shows red when the route to the next signal is occupied (see screenshot).
• Block signals are only observed by trains in the direction in which they point.
• You can use block signals particularly well at train stations, which has two tracks, but is approached by trains that come from the same track. With double-track block signals on a turnout, however, trains always choose the route that shows a green block signal - regardless of whether this is the shortest as long as it leads to the destination.

Build efficient stations with warning signals

Distant signals are more efficient than block signals. There are two types of distant signals: Entry and exit signals (the second and third from the left in the signal selection menu).

• The entry signal only shows green if at least one subsequent exit signal also shows green.
• A train will only approach a multi-track station if at least one track is free, provided that there is at least one entry signal at the beginning and one exit signal in front of the tracks (see screenshot).
• Exit signals behave like block signals.

OpenTTD version 1.3.0 was used. The Official OpenTTD Wiki has detailed instructions for each signal type.