Light Rail

About this board game

Light Rail is a strategic rail-building board game for 2–4 players, with games lasting about 20 minutes. In a high-tech metropolis, competing companies work together to create a modern commuter train network while trying to claim the most credit for its success.

Each player has a personal, color-coded deck of Rail Cards. Every card shows two lines, two terminals, and six possible outlets with different connections and dead ends. It also features two buildings, selected from five different building types and positioned along the lines.

On a turn, place one card adjacent to the existing city map. Cards must follow a distinctive brick pattern: cards joined along their short sides form a straight line, while cards joined along their long sides are offset. A single card can have as many as six neighboring cards, making each placement important.

The city has fixed limits based on the number of players, but there is no predefined board showing its center. Instead, the city grows and shifts as cards are played. Managing its shape and the logic of its connections is a central part of the strategy.

• Complete a route by capping both ends with terminals or by forming a loop.
• Score credit for the different building types included on your completed routes.
• Pursue secret objectives that can award extra credit for specific city configurations.

Because players are building one shared network, every card affects the developing city and the opportunities available to others. In Light Rail, careful route planning, spatial awareness, and well-timed objectives combine in a compact game of urban network construction.