Cargo can only be distributed at a station across different lines , where it will be divided according to demand and possibly some other criteria . Once on a line , it will be consumed at the first opportunity . If you run a cargo distribution line through multiple cities , the only way to get cargo to the second city is if the first city ' s demand is fully covered . You ' ll need multiple lines each going to its own city . As long as you have the money to buy more trains , it would actually be more efficient to run three trains that would then be empty half the time , rather than one train empty half the time plus partially empty a lot of the rest . If one train is all you have , just drop all the cargo in the first city and be done with it .