A-Train 8

A-Train 8 puts you in charge of a new railway company, with the goal of earning one trillion dollars. You manage train schedules, develop railways, construct buildings and trade stocks while balancing the needs of your company with those of the city: citizens provide revenue, and the city depends on the railway to function and grow.

Manage the railway

Time passes continuously, and changing weather—including rain and snow—affects train and construction schedules. Terrain also shapes your plans: some areas are unsuitable for development, and laying track over water is expensive. You plan each route carefully, since tracks cost money and inefficient or inadequate networks can slow the city’s growth and reduce commuter numbers.

You can review your company’s balance sheet, railroad statistics, city trends, and stock and real-estate reports, which update throughout the simulation. Equity and debt financing can fund expansion; you can buy and sell stocks, take out loans and sell real estate. A Schedule Wizard helps you plan services, while each train’s speed, cost, maintenance and capacity factor into your choices. Decisions take effect immediately: suitable buildings can attract commuters and encourage development, while poor scheduling and overextension can drive commuters away and hurt the company’s finances.

Scenarios and maps

The game includes ten default scenarios, each presenting a city with a major challenge, such as difficult terrain, underdeveloped infrastructure or poor management. You can also use the in-depth map editor to create an area from scratch and then manage your company there in Game Mode.

In Map Construction Mode, you shape the elevation and water across a large area of flat land. Construction in this mode costs no money or materials, so you can build a city before beginning the simulation. You can also set the starting funds, from a developed town with a nearly bankrupt railway company to a minimal map with ample funds.

Trains and buildings

Eleven trains are available by default, including commuter trains, freighters and high-speed magnetic trains. You can build dozens of hotels, factories, high-rises and residential buildings, as well as 60-story skyscrapers, parks, airports and amusement parks. The city can also feature landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben and the Colosseum.