Shunting

Shunting deliveries are those involving sorting trains before and after the freight haul deliveries.

Sorting trains before the freight haul starts by picking up empty cars from storage tracks that may be occupied by other trains, bringing them together to the cargo transfer track to load, and finally taking them loaded to the output track, ready for a freight haul delivery.

Sorting trains after the freight haul starts by taking the loaded train to the cargo transfer track to unload, then proceeding to drop off the cars at the storage tracks, where other trains may reside too.

Shunting orders may involve sharing tracks with other trains, but nevertheless the destination tracks are always guaranteed to have enough room for all the cars. Some nudging of the already present cars may be necessary within the same track, but they all fit.

Shunting deliveries can involve between one and three empty car pick-up or drop-off tracks, as indicated on the delivery order overview. This affects the complexity and payment of the order.

When the train is taken to the cargo transfer track the driver needs to use the cargo transfer machine to load or unload the train.

Shunting orders are of the most dangerous type, especially when dealing with HAZMAT cargo . This is because they involve a lot of contact between vehicles and switching within industries and cities that may obstruct the view, making them particularly sensitive to human error.

Depending on the type of a shunting order, completing it will create either a freight haul or a logistical haul order.

Some of the equipment that can notably help with the shunting process include the locomotive remote controller , switch setter , distance tracker , proximity sensor and flag markers.