Red Dead Online Robbing Trains - Is it Possible?

Trains are a means of transportation in Red Dead Redemption 2 Online. They can help you cross the map more quickly than riding a horse can, and they’re a different kind of fun. In the singleplayer part of the game, they could be robbed for a solid profit, which is why a lot of people are asking can you rob trains in Red Dead Online. This guide will show you exactly what you can and cannot do with trains in RDR2 Online, so you won’t have to wonder anymore.

Can you rob trains in RDR2 Online?

In singleplayer, trains were first and foremost a mode of fast travel. You could buy a train ticket at one of the many stations across the map, wait for the iron snake to slither to the platform, then take a seat and enjoy the view while it takes you wherever you’re heading. It was more costly than simply riding a horse, but it was considerably faster, and you couldn’t be attacked by bandits or wild animals. That part of the equation is no longer. Trains can’t be used as fast travel in RDR2 Online, which means you’ll have to ride a whole lot. It’s going to help you save money, but you’ll spend a fair bit longer getting from place to place.

When playing as Arthur, you could also steal a train and drive it yourself. Whenever you saw one, you could jump on it, beat up the driver and take his place. This is still possible, except this time, the driver won’t be an NPC, but another player. The only trains we’ve seen in Red Dead Online were stationary. If you open up the map and flip through the filters, you’ll quickly find a train icon. It will point you towards any trains in your instance. Even if it’s parked, you can still board a train and take the proverbial wheel.

However, the most important aspect of trains in singleplayer were the robberies. They allowed you to earn a quick buck by jumping a passanger train, dealing with the two or three guards, then demolishing the safe and grabbing whatever’s inside. There was also the option to steal valuables from the passangers by threatning them with violence. It was quick, easy and satisfying. You could always summon another train by buying a ticket at any of the stations, and there was a way to rob a train without getting bounty. It was perfect.

Sadly, you won’t be doing none of that in Red Dead Redemption 2 Online, since you can’t rob trains. There’s a very simple reason for this – we’ve tried reloading instances several times, and all the trains we saw were freight trains. There wasn’t a single passanger train. They did contain a few items here and there – a tonic or a handful of bullets – but there was no safe, no valuable items to be stolen and no people to be robbed at gunpoint.

Hopefully this is something that’s coming in a future update, something Rockstar is saving for later because they think there’s enough stuff to do in the game for now. Based on our experience with the online beta, though, the developers don’t want to make it easy to earn money. They want players to struggle and make every dollar count, and so all of the most profitable activities from the singleplayer have been removed. If that is the case, then don’t expect to see any of those any time soon – you’ll have to grind your way from the bottom if you want that money.

If you end up getting stuck at another point, you might want to check out some of the other guides we have. We've written about mysteries like the missing person Gavin, the Rhodes Gunsmith prisoner, the locked door at Valentine doctor. We also have instructional guides that show how to rob stores without getting bounty or where to sell jewelry and gold bars. If it's collectibles or key items you're after, we've found all the Penny Dreadful comic books, Chick's treasure map location, or that famous pipe for Dutch. Finally, if you don't care to explore the map yourself, you could take a look at our Watson's Cabin and Catfish Jackson's Homestead locations guides. In the latest Red Dead Online Moonshiners Update you'll have a chance to find Navy Revolver and Best Shack Locations.