With the 24995 you can make a contact track with a length of 94 mm without using the 74030 centre-rail insulators and without the need to clip the connections between outer rails. When you need a longer contact track, you have to clip the connections for the tracks you insert.

With the 24995 you do not have to clip the rails and you do not have to use the 74030 insulators. The centre-rail sliders of the trains make momentary contacts when they pass over the circuit track - and they even indicate the direction of travel.

Make a test layout with as short a run as you want - does not even have to be a loop - and test both on it. Do not even have to run a loco on it. Any ac car can activate a contact track and you can activate a circuit track with a finger. They are not too complicated but it appears that you are like me and need to learn by putting hands on.

I use circuit tracks. Easy to set up and work well. You can have them working in one direction or both directions. Locos and coaches go over them without any bother.

Both wires go to the S88. No insulators or clipping of rails. You just need to make a note of which direction is indicated by each wire. The contact on the side of the track is the direction the train is moving away from.

Hi Mark

I use the Marklin 24994 Circuit Tracks connected to a s88Link connected to my CS2.
If you have a CS3+, then the process will be similar.

There are 2 blue wires which come with the Circuit tracks.
1. Connect these 2 blue wires to the underside of the circuit tracks where the trigger mechanism is using the spade connectors on the wires, and connect the other side of the blue wire to your s88Link, for example in slot 1 and slot 2.
2. Connect a brown wire from your "O" track (ground rail) using a spade connector to the upside side down "T" on your s88Link.
3. Connect the power supply from the s88Link to your mains in order to power the device.
4. You need to set up your Circuit Tracks as Accessories on your CS3+, noting that these are 'momentary contacts' and not 'switchable'.
5. On your CS3+, you will need to create an Event, such as changing a signal or a turnout, or performing a locomotive function, eg, speed adjustment or light switch
6. On the left hand side of the Event screen, it will indicate Manual mode. You need to drag the Circuit track accessory into the Manual mode setting, and it will then indicate that it will be switched by the Circuit Track.

Hope this helps !
I don't have a CS3+ so I cannot remember exactly all of the steps, but this should get you on your way.

Regards
John