diff --git a/src/core/execution/TrainExecution.ts b/src/core/execution/TrainExecution.ts
index 6b100a559..61437743a 100644
--- a/src/core/execution/TrainExecution.ts
+++ b/src/core/execution/TrainExecution.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,8 @@ export class TrainExecution implements Execution {
 
   private enterRailroad(railroad: OrientedRailroad) {
     const rail = railroad.getRailroad();
-    rail.incrementTrainCount();
+    const ticks = this.mg ? this.mg.ticks() : 0;
+    rail.incrementTrainCount(ticks);
     const fare = rail.getFare();
     const tiles = railroad.getTiles();
     const midTile =
@@ -124,7 +125,12 @@ export class TrainExecution implements Execution {
       return;
     }
     const rail = this.currentRailroad.getRailroad();
-    rail.decrementTrainCount();
+    const ticks = this.mg ? this.mg.ticks() : 0;
+    rail.decrementTrainCount(ticks);
+    // Update client-side coloring when fare changes significantly
+    if (this.mg !== null) {
+      rail.updateFare(this.mg);
+    }
   }
 
   init(mg: Game, ticks: number): void {
diff --git a/src/core/game/Railroad.ts b/src/core/game/Railroad.ts
index 37a8ef13c..2851f56eb 100644
--- a/src/core/game/Railroad.ts
+++ b/src/core/game/Railroad.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,18 @@
-import { Game } from "./Game";
+import { Game, Tick } from "./Game";
 import { TileRef } from "./GameMap";
 import { GameUpdateType, RailTile, RailType } from "./GameUpdates";
 import { TrainStation } from "./TrainStation";
 
+const CONGESTION_EMA_ALPHA = 0.2;
+
 export class Railroad {
   private trainCount: number = 0;
+  private congestionEma: number = 0;
+  private lastCongestionTick: Tick | null = null;
+  // Geometry of this railroad once construction is computed
+  private railTiles: RailTile[] | null = null;
+  // Last fare used for client-side coloring
+  private lastFare: bigint | null = null;
 
   constructor(
     public from: TrainStation,
@@ -26,12 +34,39 @@ export class Railroad {
     this.to.removeRailroad(this);
   }
 
-  incrementTrainCount(): void {
+  incrementTrainCount(currentTick: Tick): void {
     this.trainCount++;
+    this.updateCongestionEma(currentTick);
   }
 
-  decrementTrainCount(): void {
+  decrementTrainCount(currentTick: Tick): void {
     this.trainCount = Math.max(0, this.trainCount - 1);
+    this.updateCongestionEma(currentTick);
+  }
+
+  private updateCongestionEma(currentTick: Tick): void {
+    if (this.lastCongestionTick === null) {
+      this.lastCongestionTick = currentTick;
+      this.congestionEma = this.trainCount;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const deltaTicks = currentTick - this.lastCongestionTick;
+    this.lastCongestionTick = currentTick;
+
+    if (deltaTicks <= 0) {
+      // Fallback to single-step EMA if ticks didn't advance
+      const alpha = CONGESTION_EMA_ALPHA;
+      this.congestionEma =
+        alpha * this.trainCount + (1 - alpha) * this.congestionEma;
+      return;
+    }
+
+    const base = 1 - CONGESTION_EMA_ALPHA;
+    const decay = Math.pow(base, deltaTicks);
+    const alpha = 1 - decay;
+
+    this.congestionEma = alpha * this.trainCount + decay * this.congestionEma;
   }
 
   getLength(): number {
@@ -39,10 +74,13 @@ export class Railroad {
   }
 
   getFare(): bigint {
-    const lengthFare = BigInt(this.getLength() * 100); // Base fare proportional to length
+    const baseLengthFare = 10;
+    const baseCongestionFare = BigInt(1000);
+    const lengthFare = BigInt(this.getLength() * baseLengthFare); // Base fare proportional to length
     // Busy railroads should be more expensive: each train adds a congestion premium
-    const congestionFactor = BigInt(1 + this.trainCount); // 1,2,3,...
-    const congestionFare = (lengthFare * congestionFactor) / 10n;
+    const effectiveCongestion = Math.max(0, Math.round(this.congestionEma));
+    const congestionFactor = BigInt(1 + effectiveCongestion); // 1,2,3,...
+    const congestionFare = baseCongestionFare * congestionFactor;
     return lengthFare + congestionFare;
   }
 }