The latest update to Astroneer gives players the chance to create their own rail system. With this update, players get a whole host of new items that they can research and build. From stations to individual rail pieces, the new rail system in Astroneer can be a challenging thing to get accustomed to.
The catalog of items in Astroneer now boasts over 7,000 of bytes worth of rail items for players to invest in their world. Getting all of these items, the materials they require, and the printers that create them can all be a lot for players to take in. For those looking to get accustomed to the new aspect of Astroneer, this guide is here to help.
What Are the Rail Items in Astroneer?
The list of new items starts off with a Rail Station which functions as it sounds and allows players to load and unload resources from their trains. Those trains can include Rail Engines, which function as personal transportation and increase the speed of cars they are attached to, and Rail Cars, which are used for carrying resources such as malachite, the material used for Copper in Astroneer. A specialized rail engine, known as C.O.L.E., functions as a quicker version of the Rail Engine.
The station and rail cars all function by connecting to Rail Posts, the foundation of railways that are capable of channeling power and oxygen between bases, and Tall Rail Posts. The last rail-related item are Rail Junctions which split rail lines down multiple paths.
|
Name |
Unlock Cost |
Recipe |
Printed On |
|
Rail Station |
2,500 Bytes |
2 Titanium, 1 Copper, 1 Quartz |
Large Printer |
|
C.O.L.E. |
Traveling Companion Mission Reward |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Rail Engine |
1,000 Bytes |
1 Resin, 1 Aluminum, 1 Copper |
Medium Printer |
|
Rail Car |
1,500 Bytes |
2 Resin, 1 Aluminum |
Medium Printer |
|
Rail Post |
750 Bytes |
1 Resin, 1 Aluminum |
Small Printer |
|
Tall Rail Post |
750 Bytes |
1 Resin, 1 Aluminum |
Small Printer |
|
Rail Junction |
1,000 Bytes |
2 Aluminum |
Medium Printer |
How to Use the Railways in Astroneer?
With these items unlocked, players can begin to build their own rail lines. In general, these items are a rapid form of transportation, especially for moving resources across great distances. Resource gathering can be limited by a player's backpack and, considering the size of the planets in Astroneer, transporting resources can become challenging. Players can now establish bases in resource-rich areas and run tracks to and from these areas.
Placing one Resin and one Aluminum in a Small Printer will create either a Rail Post Bundle or a Tall Rail Post Bundle which both hold 10 individual posts. Once in a player's possession, either one of these types of posts can be placed on any terrain (including walls and ceilings) and a colored dial on the base will indicate the quality of the placement. White means the placement is valid but suboptimal, blue means the placement is optimal length, and pink means an invalid placement. Fortunately, Astroneer allows players to rotate these while holding them.
With rail lines placed, players can invest in a Rail Station. While this isn't completely necessary, a Rail Station can automate the loading and unloading process of materials as well as automate the movement of cars. Because of this automation function and their energy cost, it is important to lay out bases well in Astroneer before incorporating a Rail Station.
In general, Rail Cars can function without engines but operate much slower. Either way, players can attach cars and engines together until they reach six in a single train. Getting to that number would require a significant investment in Laterite, Astroneer's resource for making Aluminum. It should be noted, however, that Rail Cars (1 Power per second), Rail Engines (3 Power per second), and C.O.L.E. (3 Power per second) cost energy to operate and these requirements stack.
Astroneer is available on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.