Quick answer: Start by checking the requirements for your operating system, then resolve launch or performance problems before expanding your network. The supplied pages and gameplay highlight sticking points with cargo loading settings, warehouses, terminal assignments, railway signals, and vehicle access. Check the relevant part of the route before rebuilding it; the reported fixes do not cover every failure.
Quick facts
- Windows and Linux require AVX2 CPU support; the Mac specifications require Apple Silicon.
- All listed platforms require 90 GB of available space on an SSD.
- Cargo troubleshooting starts with destination settings, suitable storage, and the onward delivery chain.
- Performance and crash workarounds have mixed player-reported results.
- Gameplay coverage is partial; the large lighthouse remains unfinished when the footage ends.
Quick start
Check compatibility before starting
Compare your operating system, CPU, RAM, GPU, and drive with System Requirements and Can I Run It. On Windows and Linux, check AVX2 specifically; AVX support alone does not satisfy that requirement.
Get the game into a playable session
If Play returns to its starting state or no window opens, follow Game Not Launching. If the menu opens but map creation or tutorial play produces an error, use Internal Error and Crash Fixes and keep the exact failure stage and error text.
Check performance before growing the network
Use Low FPS and Stuttering Fixes to compare fullscreen and grass settings against the same camera movement. These helped some players, but results vary; the requirements page also explains how paused performance and simulation speed help distinguish graphics from CPU load.
Build and inspect the complete cargo chain
For water deliveries, follow Ships Not Unloading Cargo: inspect receiving storage, destination loading instructions, and the onward freight connection. For rail deliveries, use Trains Not Unloading Cargo to check warehouse coverage, the cargo main building, and the assigned platform as well.
- Beginner Tips and Walkthrough explains how to read passenger demand, build a first cargo chain, and check train platforms, signals, and maintenance before expanding.
Check whether your computer can run the game
- System Requirements and Can I Run It compares minimum and recommended specifications for Windows, Linux, and macOS, including CPU instruction support and SSD storage.
Known bugs and fixes
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Game Not Launching separates AVX2 compatibility failures from startup errors and describes a successful ReShade cleanup reported by one player.
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Low FPS and Stuttering Fixes covers reported fullscreen, grass, weather, graphics-detail, and frame-cap comparisons for slow or uneven play.
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Internal Error and Crash Fixes covers map-loading and in-game crash patterns, conditional workarounds, and the details to preserve when a failure repeats.
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Missing Deluxe Edition Items covers restarting Steam and completing extra downloads, while recovery of uncredited ownership remains unconfirmed.
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Find and Move the Mod Folder identifies the default Windows storage path and the download-folder setting, while reliable redirection and migration of existing mods remain unconfirmed.
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Find and Uninstall Mods explains how to find installed mods and unsubscribe through Mod Hub, while resolution of the greyed-out removal option remains unconfirmed.
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Set an FPS Limit explains reported NVIDIA driver-level steps to cap the game at 60 FPS, while an in-game limiter remains unconfirmed.
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Preorder Download Unavailable covers restarting Steam and clearing its download cache when a purchased copy remains unavailable to download, with reported successes but no guaranteed fix.
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Resolution and Fullscreen Fixes covers main-menu resolution changes, the player-confirmed Alt+Enter workaround, and manual window resizing when display controls are unavailable.
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Stuttering from Cargo and Vehicle Icons explains how hiding cargo and vehicle icons through the overlays menu relieved icon-related stuttering for affected players.
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Disable Floating Resource Icons shows where to hide floating resource icons in the Data Layers overlay panel.
Get cargo to its destination
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Ships Not Unloading Cargo checks receiving warehouses, fish and fuel selections, onward delivery, and harbor compatibility for large ships.
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Trains Not Unloading Cargo checks destination loading instructions, transfer storage, missing station buildings, platform assignments, and signals when trains cannot reach their stops.
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Transfer Cargo Between Transport Types explains warehouse coverage, stored cargo settings, and outgoing loading instructions for handoffs between ships, trains, and trucks.
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Connect Distant Resources and Industries covers supply and demand checks, subsidy commitments, warehouse transfers, and route costs for long supply chains.
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Passenger and Cargo on One Train covers combined stations, suitable wagons, terminal assignments, and loading settings, while handling both types during one station visit remains unconfirmed.
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Oil Cargo Loading and Compatibility checks crude-oil vehicle support, pickup settings, station coverage, and liquid storage selections when a ship will not load oil.
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Train Cannot Find a Route explains how to inspect connection warnings, assigned platforms, switches, and one-way signals to find an unreachable part of the route.
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Slow or Partial Cargo Unloading checks specialized platforms, vehicle loading-speed modifiers, district demand, and stop coverage for slow handling or partial deliveries.
Follow the supplied gameplay checkpoints
These are fixes observed in specific routes and maps, rather than a complete campaign walkthrough.
Yaroslavl: boards, reputation, and trams
For boards delivery, select the cargo terminal and boards cargo. The streamer uses terminal 2 and restores that assignment after rebuilding the station. If the route still uses the passenger terminal, reopen and correct its settings.
When demolition and road changes damage reputation enough to block work, stop making changes and wait. The streamer later observes the demolition penalty improving over time.
To convert the bus route to trams, lay tracks and connect a tram depot. The streamer rebuilds the central station with tram tracks and then the required electrical option, restores the boards line to terminal 2, and replaces a mistakenly purchased Soviet freight tram with Milan passenger trams.
Todmorden: platform access and stopped grain trains
After rebuilding approach tracks, open the original line, select Todmorden Station East, choose Move Stop, and click platform 2. This corrects that layout's unreachable stop and leaves platform 1 for the new grain service.
The added grain train stops because the connected railway is one block without signals. Pause and add signals to separate the inbound and outbound station tracks; allow both directions on the shared section. The streamer identifies double tracking as a later improvement. See the train delivery checks to distinguish access problems from cargo that remains aboard after arrival.
Leipzig and Dresden: passenger services and depot access
The streamer splits Leipzig–Chemnitz–Rostock into Leipzig–Chemnitz and Chemnitz–Rostock services, with passengers changing at Chemnitz. Leipzig's overloaded buses are replaced with tram services in opposite directions; correct the vehicle assignments when both tram sets initially enter the same line. Satisfaction rises afterward, which the streamer attributes mainly to the earlier long train journey.
For Dresden's new passenger line, connect the railway to the existing train depot and reopen Manage Line. Buy Vehicles then becomes available.
Rostock: lighthouse supplies and ship compatibility
The large lighthouse unlocks at expert rank and is placed on water near Rostock. Its stated requirements are 200 fuel and 1,200 stones. The streamer adds liquid storage, enables fuel loading, and sends ships through Zwickau harbor to the lighthouse; stones travel from the quarry by truck to harbor storage, then by ship.
Deliveries work, but construction remains unfinished. The explanation for the conflicting fuel counters is not confirmed yet. When the Terranova cannot use the small harbor, the streamer sells it and uses a cutter that accepts the line; the ship troubleshooting page separates this compatibility problem from unloading failure.
Optional exploration: Urban Games balloon
Use the reported sighting to identify the nearby town. Separate supplied maps report balloons near Tomsk and Dresden, and the streamer finds the balloon near Dresden. A universal fixed location is not confirmed yet.
Set up your game and stations
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Set Starting Money explains how to activate the built-in Sandbox Mode mod and edit the bank balance to a chosen amount, with achievement limitations to consider.
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Move Stations and Buildings covers station-module reconfiguration and the demolition-and-rebuild workaround for changing a building's location, while whole-building relocation remains unconfirmed.
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Preview Roads and Railways explains how to enable Drag and Confirm Construction mode from the main menu and reload a save to preview construction before confirming it.
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Find the Unlocked Vehicle List shows how to open the Vehicle Store through Line Manager, browse purchase entries for the relevant transport type, and inspect vehicle details.
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Filter Vehicles by Region explains how to use Vehicle Origins Filter to hide unwanted vehicle origins while retaining shared freight equipment and keeping owned vehicles running.
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Transport Fever 3 Achievements lists all 41 achievements, the mods and settings that switch them off, and the star and medal goals for every campaign mission.
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Achievements Not Unlocking shows how to check a save's mods and gameplay settings and start a save where achievements count.
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Modern Equipment in Historical Starts explains why 1900 industries show modern equipment and how the Industry Era Details mod hides it until later years.
Check company finances and loans
- Bankruptcy Despite Profitable Lines explains how to inspect company finances, upkeep, investments, and loan repayments when profitable lines coexist with falling cash.
FAQ
Compare every requirement for your operating system, including CPU, graphics, memory, and storage. All listed platforms require 90 GB available on an SSD; use System Requirements and Can I Run It for the complete tables.
On Windows or Linux, check Steam → Help → System Information for AVX2 support first. That button behavior alone does not identify the cause, so continue with Game Not Launching if AVX2 is supported.
Compare fullscreen and grass off against the same troublesome view, then try the weather and graphics checks in Low FPS and Stuttering Fixes. These are reported workarounds with mixed results; a universal fix is not confirmed yet.
Record whether it happened during loading or a particular action. Try the reported minimum-graphics, driver, restart, and overlay checks, and preserve the error and crash files if it repeats; see Internal Error and Crash Fixes.
Check receiving storage and the destination's loading instruction. Reported corrections select fish at the fishing ground and unselect it, or set its amount to 0%, at the receiving port; follow Ships Not Unloading Cargo for the onward delivery checks.
Check that the destination is not set to load the arriving cargo, then inspect warehouse type and coverage and the cargo main building. Force Unload has not solved every reported case; follow Trains Not Unloading Cargo for the remaining checks.