Rail Island

Build your own railway empire on an island

Shape the landscape, lay track, build bridges over rivers, cut tunnels through hills, and run your own trains across the island. Rail Island is a relaxed railway-building game you can play for free.

Runs through the free Roblox app on mobile, tablet, computer, console and Meta Quest.

A player-built Rail Island railway with passenger trains crossing an arched bridge over a river

Build the railway your island needs

Rail Island gives you simple tools for shaping terrain, laying track, building stations, and running trains. Start small, then expand the network as the island grows.

  • Shape the terrain

    Raise or lower the ground where the route needs it. Each island starts randomly generated, and you can adjust it as you build.

  • Lay track

    Place rails point by point with straight sections and curves, without being locked to a square grid. Connect them to existing track and add junctions or parallel sections when the route gets busier.

  • Build stations

    Place stations with one to six tracks, set the platform length, and choose a simple or roofed design.

  • Cross rivers and valleys

    Add bridges when the track needs to cross water, low ground, or a gap in the terrain.

  • Tunnel through hills

    Build tunnels with stone portals where going over the surface would make the route awkward.

  • Run trains on your routes

    Assemble trains from locomotives and cars, choose their stops, and add signals so a busy map can run with denser traffic.

  • Add settlements

    Place houses near stations to create towns and villages for your railway to connect.

  • Use the terrain map

    The minimap shows island height and your rail network, so you can plan routes without losing track of the layout.

Watch a player-built island in motion

Rail Island is a new game, and the first players are already building their own rail networks. This gameplay video shows one of those islands coming to life.

How to play

The new-island screen with Hills, Rivers and Map Size presets to choose from

New island

Choose how the island starts

Set the basic shape of a new map: flatter or hillier terrain, fewer or more rivers, and the island size you want to build on.

In-game terrain editor showing the material palette and a minimap of the island

Terrain tools

Plan routes through the landscape

Islands are generated with natural-looking coastlines, rivers and broad valleys where your railway can wind through the terrain. When you lay track, the ground can adjust automatically with cuttings and embankments so the line keeps a reasonable grade.

The Train Browser listing many locomotives and cars with a 3D preview of the selected train

Rolling stock

Put a train together

Choose from nearly 300 railway vehicles, mostly Czech and European: steam, diesel and electric locomotives, multiple units, coaches and freight cars. Preview vehicles in 3D before adding them to a train.

The Choose Bridge Type screen with the eight bridge styles and a 3D cantilever bridge preview

Bridges

Select a bridge type

Preview each bridge type in 3D, then choose one that fits the height above the terrain. You can build multi-track bridges too, for both straight and curved track.

  • Beam
  • Truss
  • Cantilever
  • Arch
  • Stone arch
  • Tied arch
  • Suspension
  • Cable-stayed

Optional Game Passes

The base game is free to play. Optional Game Passes add more save space or more content to choose from.

Island Slots Pack

A higher island save limit.

  • Increases the number of island save slots beyond the free limit.

Classic Bridges

More bridge types to choose from.

  • Adds additional bridge styles, including arch and cable-stayed designs.

More Trains

A wider vehicle catalogue.

  • Adds more locomotives, units, coaches and freight cars to use in your trains.

Game Passes are purchased in-experience on Roblox. Existing islands and trains always keep working.

Start building on your island

Choose a map, lay your first tracks, and send a train along them. Rail Island is free to play.

Rail Island is designed to play well on phones and tablets, with touch-friendly controls.

Roblox is the free app used to launch Rail Island. It is available on mobile, tablet, desktop, console and Meta Quest.