British Rails

Form the companies

Two to six companies build across Great Britain. Each starts with GBP 60 million and takes two building turns before any train runs. The first company to hold GBP 250 million and join London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow on one network wins — but the round is always played out, so every company gets the same number of turns.

How it works

The map

Great Britain is covered with mileposts. A plain dot is open country and costs GBP 1M to build to. An outlined triangle is hill country at GBP 2M, a filled triangle is a summit at GBP 5M. Towns and cities cost GBP 3M, the four major cities GBP 5M. Crossing a river adds GBP 2M and crossing an estuary or firth adds GBP 3M.

A turn

Run your train first, then lay track. You may spend up to GBP 20M on track each turn, and new track cannot be used until your next turn. Track must join your own network; your very first line starts at a major city.

Freight

You hold three consignment notes, each listing three deliveries. Load at any city that produces the goods, deliver to the city that wants them, take the money, discard the note and draw another.

Other companies

Only one company may own an ordinary line, though every company may build into a major city. Running over a rival's metals costs GBP 4M, paid to them, and buys you their whole network for the rest of the turn.

Engines

Freight, then Fast Freight or Heavy Freight, then Superfreight. An engine costs GBP 20M and takes the whole of your building turn.

Winning

GBP 250 million in hand and all four major cities on one network. Equal turns: the round is played out before the result stands.

Controls

Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom. When running, click any milepost within reach and the train goes there. When building, click a milepost to select it and a neighbour to lay one segment, or click further off and the line runs as far as this turn's money allows.