Gems

Overview
Gems are a premium currency used in TrainStation. They allow you to purchase particular items, and provide a number of benefits:
 * 1) Some items may only be purchased with Gems, and are usually better than their "free" equivalents at that level.
 * 2) Certain items can be purchased for Gems at an earlier level than with coins or materials, meaning that you can expand your station earlier on!
 * 3) Using Gems to purchase items saves time and resources for buildings, decorations or extensions. This allows you to purchase items much sooner after unlocking them.
 * 4) Most Gem items are cosmetically superior; they look much nicer than regular items!
 * 5) You can speed up trains with Gems.

Acquisition

 * Gems can be acquired in a number of ways, although they can be purchased for real money:


 * Gems can be acquired via certain contracts, a full list of contracts can be found Here.

Gems can also be acquired via the Gem Train; an express train which randomly occurs once a day, although there have been several reports of receiving multiple Gem Trains within hours of each other, depending on your level. The number of Gems received by the Gem Train is randomised (1 - 10 ), and isn't affected by player level.



On special occations the Gem train is modified in appearence and opperation. For example during Christmas 2012 it was Santa's sleigh and gave one additional gem every day up to 9 gems (day 1 - 1, day 2 - 2 . . . day 9 - 9)




 * Gems are also awarded for levelling up (in multiples of 5).


 * Playing the TrainStation minigame on the official site can also grant you Gems, although it is not guaranteed. This game can only be played once a day.


 * On rare occasions, gem packages are sent to all players when new features are being tested, these do not occur often, however.

Extensions
When it comes to extensions, it is useful for a player to have constructed the Stock Exchange, which reduces extension prices by 20%. This means that it costs less Gems to buy extensions, making it more efficient for the player.

Gifts
With the December 12th Game Updates a new ability was added to send Gems as gifts.
 * Players cand send gift each other gem items (except for extensions, themes and mystery depot)
 * Sending of gem gifts only works for players who have purchased gems at least once (this is not to force plyers to pay! instead, this is to prevent multi-accounters from transferring their free gems through gem items between their multiple accounts)
 * One player is able to pick gem items via special shop screen and send them as a gift (sender pays with gems as in shop; discounts as in shop do apply)
 * Receiving player gets the gem-gift items through an automatic accept screen in gift box
 * Receiving player cannot exceed item's buy limits
 * If receiving player should receive a gift that would exceed item's buy limits, the excess items are fully refunded to the gift sender
 * Buy XP for gifts are also granted to the gift receiver (not to the sender)
 * To be able to buy an item and send it to a friend, both players have to meet the item's requirements (except for buy limit, only receiving player has to meet buy limit of an item)