Answers.Body: <p>It is all a matter of cost versus demand. For tens of years LEGO had a separate train theme, with transformers, special metal rails, lights, switches and individual train cars and full sets. But the cost of maintaining and developing these components did not weigh up against the limited demand there was for these sets. Not many kids (90% of LEGO’s demographic) will want to splurge on all these sets (a single complete set plus some extra track is often enough for them), and the adult audience is loud, but not large enough to make such a complete line profitable.</p>
  
  <p>That is why LEGO scaled back and just releases a few full train sets every few years, plus rails and switches made with a very simple design (involving only cheap plastic). AFOLs can and will design their own train cars/waggons anyway, so that is an avenue you can explore with your son.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-01-02T16:56:05.123Z
Answers.Text: It is amazing what the fan community has done with trains in LEGO.  https://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/10271/6174
Answers.UserDisplayName: chicks
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2019-01-01T06:21:56.900Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2019-01-01T06:21:56.900Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Phil B.
Body: <p>My son is getting to the age where he is ready for the Lego trains. I looked through the City and Train sets. It seems that Lego really recycles the Fire and Police themes over and over again, while the single train segments are still from 1991-1993, making me bid for them on eBay.</p>
  
  <p>Why don't they sell single segment railcars anymore for $20-30? Would love to see the 45xx series refreshed and expanded.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-01-01T02:44:24.467Z
Comments.Text: Jason, welcome to Bricks.SE.  Many of us sympathize with your frustration, but we don't work for The LEGO Group so we don't have any insider knowledge.  Sending a note to customer service usually gets a response.  https://www.lego.com/en-us/service
Comments.UserDisplayName: chicks
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2019-01-01T02:50:50.273Z
Comments.Text: Thought you guys follow it so closely that some one had an explanation of why. Or some theories to why.
Comments.UserDisplayName: jason
Tags: <trains>
Title: why isn't lego updating the 9V train sets to the current system?
UserDisplayName: jason
ThreadText: # why isn't lego updating the 9V train sets to the current system?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-01)
  
  My son is getting to the age where he is ready for the Lego trains. I looked through the City and Train sets. It seems that Lego really recycles the Fire and Police themes over and over again, while the single train segments are still from 1991-1993, making me bid for them on eBay.
  
  Why don't they sell single segment railcars anymore for $20-30? Would love to see the 45xx series refreshed and expanded.
  
  **Tags:** trains
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Jason, welcome to Bricks.SE.  Many of us sympathize with your frustration, but we don't work for The LEGO Group so we don't have any insider knowledge.  Sending a note to customer service usually gets a response.  https://www.lego.com/en-us/service  
  > **username_0**: Thought you guys follow it so closely that some one had an explanation of why. Or some theories to why.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2019-01-01. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  It is all a matter of cost versus demand. For tens of years LEGO had a separate train theme, with transformers, special metal rails, lights, switches and individual train cars and full sets. But the cost of maintaining and developing these components did not weigh up against the limited demand there was for these sets. Not many kids (90% of LEGO’s demographic) will want to splurge on all these sets (a single complete set plus some extra track is often enough for them), and the adult audience is loud, but not large enough to make such a complete line profitable.
  
  That is why LEGO scaled back and just releases a few full train sets every few years, plus rails and switches made with a very simple design (involving only cheap plastic). AFOLs can and will design their own train cars/waggons anyway, so that is an avenue you can explore with your son.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: It is amazing what the fan community has done with trains in LEGO.  https://bricks.stackexchange.com/a/10271/6174  
  
  ---
  
  