Starting a service in a portal

[deltic009]

To save myself a lot of work and to fake AI performing run-round procedures, I wanted to make several AI services on the SVR start at portals just before they will interact with the player service. The problem I am having is quite complex so I shall try and explaining each element.

1. Scenario starts at 09:15 - loco 1 gets fuel, goes to Kidderminster and joins stock - loads passengers and departs to Bridgnorth at 09:30.
2. 09:23 light loco, loco 2 approaches from Bewdley to Kidderminster and adjoins stock on the adjacent line. Awaits departure time and follows player service to Bridgnorth.
3. On arrival at Bridgnorth player train encounters first AI train to pass, loco 3. Loco 3 leaves as planned into portal outside Bridgnorth to be seen later.
4. Player uncouples and performs run round before rejoining before the arrival of the AI service described above in point 2.
5. AI service arrives from Kidderminster and terminates fine.
6. Player departs back toward Kidderminster, a few minutes later loco 2 takes it's train to terminate in a portal in Bridgnorth.

Now if I place a second instance of loco 2 service with the loco on the other end and put it in a portal north of Bewdley ready to pass the player train going Kidderminster to Bridgnorth, despite not emerging until 13:10, this service in the portal is considered "occupying section" and none of the earlier intsructions on the first 2 services described above an get to Arley until this Ai service comes out of the portal and clears the line.

Is there anyway around this, other than to lay an invisible track siding with a portal (and not correct point rendering or lever) so that it is out of the way when sitting in the portal??

Thanks in advance.

[Auscgu]

The issue is that the portal is in the same block as the other trains
If you move the portal or create more block sections with signals will this resolve the problem
I see the same issue when working with yards
One loco can tie up the entire yard and running lines
When the routes are created block section need to be added for realistic operations

On the mainline move the service or portal behind signals
Yards need hidden signals to create blocks or a line break to allow multiple blocks
Like on a model railway where you need many power feeds to allow many locos to operate

In reality the yard is one block but multiple movements are possible
Train Sim only allows one service and then you have to work with priority
Constant frustration to create realism with out conflict

The simple AI service create the most frustration
Some help to find a solution would be great looking forward to the suggested answers

Cheers Ausc

[Auscgu]

Portal Problem
Another issue is if you place a service in a portal before your player loco it affects the timing and stops you completing tasks
The service is a following train and the start timing has been adjusted until after the player loco passes
You can see the error on the Hud with the projected time to next station is showing a later time than you are running
The task after the portal cannot be completed even is you arrive on time as its locked by the portal service
Use following portals as the sim route is calculated on simple AI concepts
Cheers Ausc

[deltic009]

Thanks for all the info, with this mind I've abandoned what I did have planned for the scenario and I shall split the day into various chunks instead.