How to Play Train Rush

About Train Rush, from BoardGameGeek:

Long ago, the Great State of Ravenshire sent geologists to find new resources. Nardir Badger went to no-man's land, an unfriendly, desolate land, where in the near mountains he discovered a new valuable resource that in the future, was about to change the world as it allowed for rapid technological development. That resource was coal. In his honor the land was named Nardir. News of the discovery rapidly reached the nearby nations of Calestia and Awhar. All three nations created a few settlements around the mountain, and as time passed, they grew into large cities. New mining technologies emerged thanks to the cooperation of Ravenshire and Awhar allowing for rapid economic growth and development. Calestia was not pleased with such a turn of events and wanted to take over the resources for themselves. Under General Marcus Zaini's command, it attacked the Brukas settlement. Only thanks to joint defense was the attack pushed back, this is how multiple years of the Great War began. Through the mutual effort of Ravenshire and Awhar under the command of Sybilla Hawk and Sebastian Harriden, Calestia was defeated. After the war was over, Ravenshire, Awhar, and Calestia decided to cooperate to secure further development and prosperity. In this world of difficult negotiations and politics, in striving for peace and setting the terms of the covenant, a major role was played by barons of four factions: the Steambridges, the Iron Horses, the Skycarriers, and the Clockworks. One of their ideas for further development, and exploitation was to build a railroad that would connect three nations, this would allow them to trade, exchange goods, resources, and technologies, and states would not interfere with their affairs. Today, as a descendant of one of the Barons fight for influence by transporting required resources and quietly lobbying clerks in state positions. Faction that will have the most influence on the economy - will dominate the market and win – will it be you? -description from the publisher