To move objects in Voidtrain, equip your hammer tool, target the structure or station you want to reposition, and press the relocate key (default G or interacting via the hammer wheel). You do not need to demolish your benches or empty out your storage containers to rearrange your train car layout.
Demolishing a structure refunds only 50% of the materials used to build it. Relocating, by contrast, preserves your station entirely and keeps container contents intact.
Quick Keybinds and Tools for Moving Objects
Reorganizing your train requires toggling between your construction utilities and tool modes.
- Equip the Hammer: Hold
Tto open the utility wheel, select the hammer, or tapTto pull it out directly. - Relocate Mode: Point your reticle at a built object using the hammer and look for the relocate prompt (mapped to
Gby default, or accessible via clicking the part). - Rotate Object: Press
Rwhile positioning the ghost blueprint to rotate the object to your preferred orientation. - Build Mode: Press
Bto open the construction book when placing new flooring, walls, or newly researched structures.
If you cannot move a specific piece with your hammer out, check whether a selection filter is active in your building interface, or verify that your character has a direct line of sight to the object's base.
Relocating Workbenches, Furniture, and Containers
Early in the void, deck space on your starter trolley is minimal. As you unlock the research table, smelting furnace, water condenser, kitchen, and armory, your deck will rapidly become overcrowded.
Moving Crafting Benches and Stations
Stations such as the Smelting Furnace, Lab, Kitchen, and Weapons Bench can be relocated freely without deconstruction. Simply highlight them with the hammer, initiate the relocation, and set them onto an existing wooden or armor-plated floor tile.
Container Rules and Upgrades
Containers and container racks hold all of your collected wood, scrap metal, chemicals, and loot.
- Preserved Contents: Moving a container or container stand does not destroy or spill the items stored inside. When moving container stands, the individual boxes may temporarily disappear from the preview graphic, but their inventory remains intact once placed.
- Upgrades Over Rebuilding: When you unlock higher-tier containers, you can upgrade an existing container directly in place rather than crafting a new one from scratch. For example, upgrading Container I to Container II costs raw metal bars instead of requiring you to refine bars into bolts first.
Floors and Structural Requirements
Most interior machines and decorative objects require a floor beneath them or a wall behind them. If train floors take damage from void hazards and break, you can repair them using your hammer (each hammer strike repairs 50% health) or replace missing tiles for 1 wood. Structures resting on top of a destroyed floor tile do not vanish when the floor breaks.
Moving Train Wagons, Engines, and Controls at the Depot
Structural train elements—including wagons, engine frames, and drive levers—cannot be rearranged freely while cruising through the open void. These major modifications must be performed at a Depot.
| Component Type | Relocation Location | Resource Cost | Special Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crafting Benches & Furniture | Anywhere (Void or Depot) | Free via Relocate (G) | Requires valid floor or wall space |
| Storage Containers & Stands | Anywhere (Void or Depot) | Free via Relocate (G) | Chest contents remain intact |
| Drive Levers & Trolley Handles | Depot Building Console | Free to move / reposition | Accessed under Machinery tab |
| Locomotive Engine | Depot Building Console | Free via the engine's pin | Needs required wagon segments cleared |
| Train Wagons | Depot Building Console | Free to reposition | Applies to standard wagons behind the engine |
Steps to Rearrange Locomotive Engines and Wagons
- Clear the Outpost: Stop your train at a depot station and eliminate any enemy soldiers guarding the area to safely access the consoles.
- Open the Depot Console: Approach the building terminal on the platform to view your train layout.
- Select Machinery: Switch to the machinery tab (hammer icon) or wagon construction options.
- Reposition Wagons and Controls: Regular wagons behind the engine can be shifted without penalty. Built engines can also be moved to newly added front segments using the engine's pin interface at no resource cost.
- Clear Obstructions: If the console refuses to place a large module like the steam engine, ensure you have cleared out benches, gardens, or containers that block the multi-segment footprint.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose resources if I dismantle an object instead of moving it?
Yes. If you choose to disassemble or demolish a workstation instead of relocating it, the game refunds only 50% of the crafting components used. Always use the relocate option (G while wielding the hammer) to avoid losing materials.
Can I move my train controls while driving in the void?
No. Trolley handles, direction switches, and engine control levers must be repositioned at a depot using the platform's building terminal under the machinery menu.
Why won't the game let me place a relocated workstation?
Workstations require valid flooring. If a floor tile has dropped below 0% durability or has not been built on a new wagon expansion, the placement preview will show as blocked until you lay down flooring using wood.
