Sid Meier's Railroads! on track

Sid Meier is at it again - this time with a new PC game that will allow you to build your very own rail network, laying tracks, deciding routes and even designing trains.

The game, which is titled Sid Meier's Railroads!, uses a simple click-and-drag system to make track laying easy - with bridges, tunnels, stations and switches automatically popping up as needed.

As your rail network grows, so will the cities and industries around it, so you'll need to organise cargo transport and provide passenger routes for commuters. You'll also need to keep an eye on the business side of things, watching out for market booms and busts and rival rail tycoons.

The game will feature more than 30 trains, from the classic 0-4-0 Planet and the powerful 4-6-6-4 Challenger, if those mean anything to you, to super fast bullet trains. You can also design your own steam engine, customising everything from colour schemes to logos.

Plus you can design your own maps and scenarios, and construct your dream layout in train table mode. You can also challenge historical figures such as Cornelius Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan in single player scenarios. The multiplayer mode will offer LAN or online play, both competitive and co-operative.

"We're thrilled to have the opportunity to bring this game back home," said Sid Meier himself.

"Railroads is near and dear to our hearts and we're looking forward to delivering the endlessly fun gameplay experience fans of our games have come to expect."

Sid Meier's Railroads! is down for an October release - see how it's shaping up so far by taking a look at these screenshots.