Thanks for downloading the Bienvenüe collection. This manual will help to explain what the Bienvenüe collection is, how to use it, and any known limitations.

• What the various networks and props do,
  
• How to use the different types of tracks in different settings, including examples,
  
• A few general notes on usage and known issues,
  
• FAQs for the most common questions.

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(BVU) is a custom metro network collection with its own station track replacer mod. Users are familiar with this system from RWY; and it operates the same way. BVU takes its name from Fulgence Bienvenüe - the man responsible for the Paris metro network - who was known as 'the Father of the Metro'. BVU aims to provide RWY-level quality to metro system.


BVU is built upon two main principles:

1. Provide a visual alternative for metro networks by creating networks based around different cities of the world.
   
2. The use of the vanilla metro AI and system that was possible after Sunset Harbor update, and a network-based solution for tracks that requires no special mod or UI to function.

These principles reduce the chance that BVU could cause save games to break upon the release of any potential future DLC or game updates.

Based on these principles, Bienvenüe will provide:

• A collection of high-quality custom assets for advanced, detail-oriented players who want to build a proper surface and elevated metro rail network for their cities (underground support is currently under development),
  
• Nodeless tracks which enable the creation of complex junctions and railyards,
  
• Props and decorative networks that can be used independently from the track networks for further customisation and added realism,
  
• A framework for other creators to develop their own custom network packages that are compatible with the RWY/BVU family

Because BVU is built on the foundations of RWY, the collection is dynamic. Different networks, styles and props can be mixed and matched according to a player’s preferences or requirements.

BVU is part of the RWY family, so everything is compatible with the existing RWY collection (including the Railway Replacer mod).

These are the bare minimum mods required to use BVU and RWY. You will not be able to follow the guide or effectively use BVU without them.

• Fine Road Anarchy: necessary to effectively lay tracks without error messages or the destruction of existing track,
  
• Move It: allows the player to make fine adjustments to the location of nodes and the curvature of segments,
  
• Fine Road Tool: necessary to adjust the height of tracks during construction and to switch between ground, elevated and bridge network types,
  
• Loading Screen Mod: BVU and RWY tracks share many textures, LSM allows these to be shared, reducing overall RAM usage and loading time considerably,
  
• Metro Replacer: required in order to change the station tracks when a station is 'plopped' and enables global prop replacement for BVU tracks.

The following mods and assets are used by the networks in BVU. Not having them will not break your game, but it will limit the use of certain features.

• Network Tiling: used on BVU networks to optimize texture use.
  
• BVU Network Props: All BVU networks share same basic props, such as fishplates, beams and crossings.

This mod is used to replace vanilla station tracks with station tracks from BVU, and to customise props across the entire map.

Any metro station that is using vanilla metro station tracks is supported. Metro Replacer is also replacing train stations into metro stations.

The base game has a limit on how long station tracks can be. Therefore, some creators of larger stations use standard tracks in order to get around this. These can’t be replaced by the mod. Use Touch This and Move It to remove these tracks and manually replace them with the station tracks provided.

The mod also allows you to customise props used on all tracks.

For example, the buffers used in the Wired style can be changed using the prop UI. The props that will be used are determined by the style that is selected.

The collection contains basic single and double track networks, and their respective nodeless variants, for ground and elevated network elevations.

The collection includes a set of additional, decorative, third rail-only networks that can be used to add additional detail in complex railyard settings, junctions or to decorate existing RWY bridges. Included so far:

• Munich,
  
• Hamburg,
  
• Vienna,
  
• London Docklands (DLR).

These are optional and you only need to subscribe to what you want to use.

Prop packages used in specific network collections and decorative networks.

If you are already familiar with the use of RWY, there is nothing special about using BVU, and may wish to skip this section. If you are new to RWY and/or BVU, read on.

Use as any other track. They should be the base of your network.

Nodeless tracks are networks that can be used to create complex junctions without causing texture glitches and other unexpected behaviour. Each network includes a nodeless variation.

Decorative networks are separate third rail-only networks based on specific cities.

You can also place track props independently. Using the Find It mod, and the keywords indicated in the prop packs to find and place specific track props (signal boxes, power boxes, sensors etc.) anywhere you want.

1. Select the station you want to use from the menu.
   
2. The Metro Replacer mod UI will open.
   
3. Select the track you want to use, then ‘plop’ the station.

1. Select the station you want to use from the menu.
   
2. The Metro Replacer mod UI will open, along with Railway Replacer menu.
   
3. You have the option to use metro or train station tracks on-the-go. Select your station track from either UI and plop the station.

If you do not select a BVU/RWY track for your station, the transition between the station and your tracks will have a blue void underneath. You must replace vanilla station tracks with RWY tracks to avoid this.

You cannot update existing stations. If you make a mistake or forget to change the track type, you must re-plop the station.

1. Select the station you want to use from the menu.
   
2. The Metro Replacer mod UI will open.
   
3. Select the track you want to use, then ‘plop’ the station.

4.1 Laying standard tracks

Nothing complicated – just lay down tracks like any other train track.

4.2 Junctions

High Angle Switch (left) vs. Low Angle Switch (right)

This is a junction with a high crossing angle (the angle between merging tracks and the main tracks).

As the game can handle this kind of junction without issue, there is nothing special about this type of crossing. The third rail is disabled on all crossovers and junctions to prevent visual nuisance.

To add third rails to crossings and junctions, use any of the supplied decorative networks. It is normal for a train set to contact the third rail at multiple points along the track, so you do not need the third rail to cover every part of the junction.

Where a junction merges with two tracks that are parallel, it creates a low crossing angle. The base game cannot handle this, so it will very likely create visual glitches. To create low angle switches, you should use nodeless tracks and the Move It mod.

1. Create the junction as required.
   
2. If and there are glitches, upgrade the main line to either BVU or RWY nodeless track using the vanilla 'upgrade road' tool.
   
3. Then use BVU or RWY noded tracks for branching line.
   
4. Refine the look by using Move It to edit the curvature and node positions if necessary.
   
5. Finish the junction by adding decorative third rail support if desired.

Final result.


Trains can share tracks that combine different traction systems

There is no combined third rail and overhead catenary support for the BVU Munich style, however support will be added as part of the forthcoming BVU Osaka style.

For now, you can still achieve this by using any RWY track with overhead catenary and combining it with one of the decorative third rail networks.

In order to do this:

1. Activate Road Anarchy and disable node snapping,
   
2. Disable all vanilla road snapping options,
   
3. Add the third rail by centring on the starting node and dragging.
   
4. The position of the third rail depends which direction you drag the network:
   
   • Outer third rail: Drag the decorative network in the direction of travel,
     
   • Inner third rail: Drag the decorative network against the direction of travel.

If the tracks you’re adding the third rail to have different heights, use Move It to align third rail node height with the corresponding track node. To apply this to an entire segment, align the start and end third rail nodes with the track nodes, and use the Move It slope tool for all nodes in between.

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Same as any other train track. Use the in-game road upgrade tool.

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Follow the same steps outlined in 4.3 Combined Transport.

You may receive a "duplicate pillar" notice in LSM when loading a city with RWY or BVU enabled. This is normal, since the game treats different elevations that share common assets in a complicated way. This is not an error and will not impact on the performance of your game.

It's reported that the keyboard shortcut for Railway Replacer mod may also open the Prop It Up menu. Either change the shortcut of Prop It Up via that mod’s settings or close its window whenever it pops up.

All rails and sleepers are shared among all networks. Packs that have same "style" will share the same textures. This means that the impact on RAM is relatively small.

As certain elements are also shared with RWY assets, if you are already subscribed to RWY, BVU will require less incremental RAM to run.

It may be incompatible with Metro Overhaul Mod, as both BVU and MOM is doing the same thing. Use one of the mods for your convenience.

Not relevant to BVU, but its presence will not break anything. Since RWY and BVU can have wired or wireless tracks, and because catenary style can now be customised with Railway Replacer mod’s UI, Catenary Replacer should now be considered obsolete.

No. BVU is a project of its own, that is focusing on elevated systems, rather underground. There is no plan to provide any eyecandy upgrade for underground networks.

BVU also aims to be a modular package based on the proven, high quality of RWY and encourages players and creators to combine other mods and custom assets to make a realistic system. Thus, BVU is not intended to replace MOM, but rather intends to provide simple but rich content that is usable with minimum effort and technical issues.

Q: What's the difference between noded tracks and nodeless tracks ?
A: Answered in 3.2 Using Nodeless Tracks and 4.2 Junctions.

Q: I connected RWY or BVU tracks to my station and now I have blue holes in the ground ?
A: Answered in 3.5 Placing New Stations and 3.6 Upgrading Existing Stations.

Q: I subscribed everything but I can't open the prop customisation menu ?
A: Activate the Metro Replacer mod in the game’s Content Manager.

Q: I subscribed everything and I activated the mod, but every time I drag tracks there aren’t any props.
A: Because you are using a type of track that doesn’t have anything to replace.

Q: I have MOM and I see both MOM and Railway/BVU UI when I select a station.
A: If you’ve selected a station which includes both Train platforms and Metro platforms, you will see both UIs so you can replace each type of station track accordingly.

Q: I have a junction problem on custom bridges - the rails do not merge.
A: Bridges do not have any transition nodes, because... they are bridges and bridges do not merge. Extend the track with elevated segment or ground segment with same style and do your junctions on the ground or elevated section.

Q: Crossovers are not created at the end of stations when RWY tracks are connected.
A: Same as above, you're using bridge networks. Answer remains the same.

Q: Can I connect RWY or BVU networks to vanilla tracks?
A: Yes, but it will look terrible. Only do this when transitioning to Outside Connections. Outside Connections must use vanilla tracks.

Q: The Railway Replacer mod doesn’t provide a visual indication of which track I’ve selected for my station?
A: There is no indication in the UI as typically a station will only have a single type of tracks, which means you only need to make a single selection.

Q: I can't seem to "trigger" a bridge when dragging out track, it's only ever elevated.
A: Be a smart lad and use Fine Road Tool to force the elevation type.

Q: Woah this pack is too large.
A: That's what she said.