Tod frowned. He immediately opened the upgrades menu. He needed a solution for his problems, and he needed the money, quickly.

So... the menu of upgrades made him sag. All of them cost so much, and may not really payoff.

Beginner Core Upgrades

Upgrades

Effects

Costs

Wider trains Level 1

Increase capacity by 20%. May not improve ridership.

$3,000,000 per train

Station Retail Outlets Level 1

Generates $0.20 per ridership

$200,000 per outlet

Maintenance Machinery Level 1

Replaces 1 employee

$400,000 per machine (max 5 on one line)

Automated ticketing system Level 1

Increases ridership by 5%. Only applies once per line. Interchanges with another line without automated ticketing will increase that interchange station's staff requirement by 3

$2,000,000 per line

Onsite Parking Charges & Structures Level 1

Creates 500 parking lots. Charges $5 per parking, per day. Occupancy depends on ridership numbers. Requires 1 employee, and utility costs of $40,000 per annum

$10,000,000 per parking structure.

Bus connection Level 1

Builds bus stop at station. Increase coverage area, and increases ridership by 5%. Bus company takes a fixed payment of $10,000 for every 30 days. ($100,000 annual cost)

$500,000 per station

Covered walkpaths Level 1

Builds covered walkpaths in the station vicinity. Increases coverage area, and increase ridership by 5%. Increases utility bill for that station by 10%

$1,000,000 per station

Station Advertising Rights Level 1

Earns $0.20 per ridership, per day. Increases utility by $10,000 per annum

$100,000 per station

Are there other options? Or are they locked because he’s still in the “Honeymoon” zone where he just gets access to the beginner level stuff?

CORE-UPGRADES

Description

REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE

Unlocks ability to buy land surrounding station to undertake real estate development projects such as condominiums, retail malls and plazas

$10,000,000 to unlock (one off)

FINANCIAL EXPERIENCE

Ability to participate in stock markets, debt markets, ability to borrow money and sell or dispose or list other non-core assets

$10,000,000 to unlock (one off)

POLITICAL EXPERIENCE

Ability to participate and influence local area politics, such that the local country provides incentives, grants and other form of legal benefits. Also used to run campaigns, awareness and marketing programmes and also counter negative legislation

$10,000,000 to unlock (one off)

Oh. Tod frowned.

He needed time to think. Maybe he should visit his own three stations for a change.