LineManager

The game

From the first track
to the last vehicle duty.

LineManager connects planning, infrastructure and operations. Here is what is in the game – and for every point, how far along it is.

Playable
part of the current full version
Simplified
available, but deliberately limited
In progress
in development, not yet checked in the game

Read the city

Real maps, real demand: before the first line runs, the map shows where people live, work and travel.

  • Playable Three real regions based on OpenStreetMap: Naumburg (Saale), Dortmund and Riga Central – all playable offline.
  • Playable Seven map modes from network to economy, with figures on hover and live, forecast and yesterday views.
  • Playable A mobility dashboard shows car, walking, cycling and rail traffic and rates measures with a before/after forecast.
  • Playable Surface and tunnel layers plus optional 3D landmarks whose shadows follow the time of day.
  • Simplified Demand comes from buildings, land use, residents, jobs and events; mode choice is deliberately kept simple.
  • In progress Portland (Oregon) as the first city outside Europe: a pilot map with streetcar, the elevated I-405 and American traffic lights.
  • In progress Calmer planning overlays and an overview of where waiting passengers want to go.
Gameplay capture of the Dortmund tram network with stops, tracks and signals.
Gameplay capture · Dortmund tram network · 27 August 2026

Build the network

Place stops, draw lines: buses and trams share one network and the same city.

  • Playable Bus stops snap to suitable streets; the preview shows residents and jobs in the catchment area.
  • Playable Tram stops from templates: side and island platforms, single stops, multi-track and tunnel stations – checked against vehicle length.
  • Playable Tram lines are created by clicking stops – as shuttle, loop or ring lines; problems are explained in plain words.
  • Playable Real-time departure boards and, on hover, the next departures and waiting passengers.
  • Simplified Bus lines follow the road network; an assistant places stops on the correct side of the street.
  • In progress Preferred and permitted alternative bays per line and direction.
Two buses at the Naumburg bus station; passengers board at the covered bay.
Gameplay capture · Bus station with passengers · Naumburg · 1 October 2026

Track and structures

You build the track yourself – from a simple junction to a depot with a workshop.

  • Playable Single and double track, street-running or on reserved track, freely aligned or along the road – with magnetic snapping and undo.
  • Playable Connections only via visible points; switching takes time and point failures can be simulated.
  • Playable Turnbacks, turning loops, shunting stops and buffer stops – a crossover alone is not a turning facility.
  • Playable Tram depots with track connection, calculated stabling positions, entry and exit routes and a workshop track.
  • Simplified Bus depots as areas along a street; visible depot runs so far only at the Naumburg depot.
  • Simplified Tunnels with portals and tunnel stations plus simplified viaducts; bridges over water are added automatically.
  • Simplified Level crossings can be placed and show their phases – but vehicles do not yet stop there automatically.
Track-building view of a large Dortmund depot with points, signals and many stabling tracks.
Gameplay capture · Building a depot · Dortmund · August 2026
Naumburg tram depot in the evening; a tramcar leaves across the points next to the stabling tracks and the Poststraße stop.
Gameplay capture · Depot in the evening · Naumburg · 1 October 2026 · Night view in progress

Signalling

If you like, signal your network like a real operator – if not, leave it to the automation.

  • Playable Main and tram signals with real aspects; passing a main signal at danger triggers an emergency brake.
  • Playable Blocks, overlaps and routes with flank protection – set automatically along the line or by hand.
  • Playable A track-diagram interlocking is derived from the network you build and shows live traffic.
  • Playable Five balise types, e.g. for requests, positioning and route release.
  • Playable Single-track protection with an assistant, plus 3D signals and a signal mast editor.
  • Simplified No full automatic route setting and no real braking curves.
  • In progress A tram's proceed aspect can hold road traffic lights at red.
Electronic interlocking with track diagram, set routes and occupied sections.
Gameplay capture · Track-diagram interlocking · Dortmund · August 2026
Tram line with main signals; the signal before the stop shows proceed.
Gameplay capture · Main signal showing proceed · Dortmund · August 2026

Shape the city

Streets, junctions and traffic lights are not scenery: they decide how punctual buses and trams are.

  • Playable Road editor with templates for residential and main streets, one-way streets and roundabouts; new roads are drivable right away.
  • Playable Junctions with right-of-way rules, traffic lights and turn bans; road signs affect buses and cars.
  • Playable Traffic light groups with their own programmes for normal, morning, evening and event traffic.
  • Playable A city kit with placeable objects, groups and street lamps.
  • Simplified Footpaths and visible passengers so far at selected stops.
  • Simplified Car parks as destinations for car traffic, with parking pressure and park-and-ride at the station.
  • In progress Day and night view, cycle lanes, local street widths and more city models.
Street grid in the northwest of the Portland pilot map with two streetcars, cars and parking lots.
Gameplay capture · Northwest Portland with traffic · 3 October 2026 · Pilot map in progress · arranged scene

Run the operation

A timetable is only as good as the day it is run.

  • Playable Timetables with operating hours, 2 to 120-minute frequencies, extra-service windows and short workings.
  • Playable Vehicle duty planning as a daily chart: move or cancel trips and assign vehicles.
  • Playable Accidents and closures in the bus network lead to detours or short turns.
  • Playable Game speed from pause to 8× and a control centre with automatic, assisted and manual modes.
  • Simplified Driving school for new tram drivers – training runs are real vehicles on the network.
  • Simplified Visible accidents with ambulance and police response in Naumburg.
  • In progress Planned closures with rail replacement services and fast forward at 16× and 32×.
LineManager following the historic tram car 38 on Naumburg tram line 4.
Gameplay capture · Car 38 on line 4 · Naumburg · September 2026

Company and politics

A network costs money, earns fares – and needs support in the city council.

  • Playable A city council with 41 seats, elections every 28 game days and decisions on subsidy, fare caps and trade tax.
  • Playable Staff with hiring, holidays and sickness – without enough staff, trips are cancelled.
  • Playable An optional AI neighbour operator with five personalities builds its own bus lines.
  • Playable Goals such as population coverage, city contracts and a mobility programme – all optional.
  • Simplified Income from fares and subsidies, ticket prices and inspections; balancing is still in progress.
  • Simplified Costs, forecast, break-even and a seven-day report; construction costs are not yet complete.
  • Simplified Tax and pay profile so far only for Dortmund.
Economy view with daily finances, operating result and line figures next to the map.
Gameplay capture · Economy and operations · Dortmund · August 2026

Normal view and technical view

Same spot, two perspectives: play with a clear overview or see every technical detail.

  • Playable One switch toggles between the calm normal view and the technical view; your choice is saved.
  • Playable Technical IDs, point indicators and diagnostic colours only appear in the technical view.
  • Playable Start without signalling knowledge: automatic control centre, pre-set balises and stop templates.
  • Playable Control centre, driving school, workshop and single-track protection each automatic, assisted or manual.
Normal view with line, stops, finances and network overview.
Gameplay capture · Normal view · Dortmund · August 2026
Technical view of the same spot with signals, route, balises and interlocking settings.
Gameplay capture · Technical view · Dortmund · August 2026

Deliberately not included yet

These things are missing from the current build. Whatever comes next will appear in the devlog once it is confirmed.

  • Multiplayer, user accounts, cloud saves, leaderboards and Steam Workshop
  • Music and sound – so far there are only short point sounds
  • Loans, insurance and monthly or annual accounts
  • Crew rosters and shifts, maintenance and wear, coupling in service
  • Your own mainline rail operation – regional trains run as background traffic
  • Mods in the game: data mods are validated but not yet loaded

Your city needs a network that works.

Play the free demo on Steam