What “transfer-free” means for Connect Towns
The official subsidy manual gives two conditions: a line serves both towns, and at least one passenger travels between them without changing services. “Free” here means free of a transfer, not a free fare or free construction.
For example, Town A → Town B on Line 1 is the direct arrangement to check. Town A → Hub on Line 1, then Hub → Town B on Line 2 involves a transfer. A larger network may be useful for ordinary passenger travel, but it is not equivalent to the direct journey required by this subsidy.
Always match your particular offer's town names and displayed deadline.
Set up the direct service
- Read the offer first. Note both named towns. Check whether you have accepted the subsidy and how much time remains; an unaccepted offer is not an active contract.
- Use passenger stops that people can reach. Select the stations and inspect their catchment. Nearby buildings alone are not enough if passengers have no valid walking route.
- Create one line containing stops in both towns. A simple neighboring-town bus route is the official manual's suggested starting point. If your line has extra stops, keep the relevant intercity journey on that same service.
- Assign a suitable passenger vehicle. Check that it can reach the line from its depot and that the route preview has no connection warnings.
- Observe a completed passenger journey. A vehicle running empty only proves that it can drive the route. Look for passengers traveling from one named town to the other, then check the subsidy progress.
This order is an editorial checklist assembled from the official line, station and subsidy rules. It does not promise a completion time or an optimal fare.
Why the objective may still be incomplete
| What you see | First thing to check |
|---|---|
| Both towns have stations, but no progress | Do those stations belong to the same operating passenger line? |
| Two lines meet at a hub | That is a change of service; test the required journey on one line. |
| Vehicles are moving but empty | Passenger access, vehicle compatibility and actual origins/destinations. |
| Passengers ride within one town | Observe a journey between the two named towns, not just local ridership. |
| The line has a warning | Read the affected segment or terminal warning before adding vehicles. |
| The deadline has passed | Read the contract's current state; rebuilding a route does not undo an expired offer. |
If the line is physically valid but no one uses it, follow the passenger connection diagnosis. For a broader starting sequence, use the beginner guide.
Does every intercity route have to be direct?
No: this page addresses the Connect Towns subsidy condition. The official starting tips also describe local feeder services for wider coverage. Keep those two questions separate: how to build a useful passenger network, and how to satisfy a particular contract.
Sources and version
Checked October 5, 2026: Subsidies, Lines and Vehicles, Stations and Depots, and Tips and Tricks. Source-led; no first-hand playtest is claimed.
