diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 656a27f42..9eaeb3845 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,6 +2,17 @@
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+**Most PRs no longer pay for a solo paid screen before the merge train runs the same cases.** `gstack-ship-queue ready` used to recommend `--screen` whenever a diff touched a skill's own cases, which is almost every PR, and the screens (16 to 19 a day at about $32 each) cost more than the train gates that rerun all 137 cases a few hours later. Of 41 full screens between Oct 20 and 29, the 3 that caught a real bug all came from diffs the selector can't narrow (an unknown dependency or a shared runtime input). The recommendation is now `--screen` only in that case; every other PR rides unscreened and the train gate's full census covers it. Because most PRs now ride unscreened, a train also stopped holding them back: unscreened PRs fill the seats a screened PR leaves.
+
+### Changed
+- **Screen recommendation** (`lib/ship-queue-train-ready.ts`): `--screen` when the paid selector's mode is `full-fallback` or the selector cannot select; otherwise `--no-screen`. The `SCREEN:` lines name the selector's mode and reason.
+- **Slot order** (`lib/ship-queue-train.ts` `orderSlots`): screened PRs first, then unscreened PRs fill the remaining seats in READY order. The rule that built a screened-only train and held every unscreened PR once `max_size` of them waited is gone, along with its `HELD: … (unscreened PRs form their own train)` line. `--order` still overrides.
+- **Train replay model** (`lib/gate-cost-history.ts` `pickTrain`) seats trains the same way.
+- **Not in this change:** a focused paid run of a no-screen PR's own cases, bound to its READY receipt, needs a new `screen_policy: own` route in evals.yml (GSTA-165 1b, deferred).
+
+### Tests
+- `test/ship-queue-train-logic.test.ts`: one screened plus five unscreened at size 5 seats five; a full unscreened pool at size 3 seats three; a skill-template diff recommends `--no-screen`; a `bun.lock` diff recommends `--screen` with its full-fallback reason. `test/ship-queue-train.test.ts` and `test/gate-cost.test.ts` change their ordering expectations on purpose. These tests failed before the change.
+
 **A PR screen no longer runs the whole paid gate just because a changed file sits on every case's import path.** Editing a file like `lib/restamp.ts` reached all 113 gate cases through the derived-reference closure, so 19 of the 41 full screens between Oct 20 and 29 ran the full $33 gate for that reason alone. A narrow screen (`gstack-ship-queue ready --screen`, and `bun run eval:bg:pr`) now leaves such a file's cases to the train gate's full census, which runs every case before anything merges. Replayed on those 41 screens with today's maps, this saves about $457 a week, and the screens that caught real PR-caused reds (#3434, #3453) still run the full gate.
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/docs/ship-policy.md b/docs/ship-policy.md
index b2987dffa..1475e1d7b 100644
--- a/docs/ship-policy.md
+++ b/docs/ship-policy.md
@@ -406,9 +406,12 @@ gstack-ship-queue ready --pr 42 --screen [--broad] # dispatches one paid screen
 ```
 
 Without a choice it prints the `SCREEN:` selection (with
-`screen_selection: gstack-paid`, the skill's own cases and `recommend
---screen` or `--no-screen`: `--screen` when the screen selects a skill's own
-cases) and refuses with `READY_SCREEN_CHOICE_REQUIRED`. The price line says
+`screen_selection: gstack-paid`, the skill's own cases, the selector's mode and
+`recommend --screen` or `--no-screen`: `--screen` only when the selector's
+mode is `full-fallback`, an unknown dependency or a shared runtime input that
+restores every case, or when it cannot select at all; every other PR rides
+unscreened, and the train gate's full census runs its cases on the tree that
+merges) and refuses with `READY_SCREEN_CHOICE_REQUIRED`. The price line says
 the dollar figure is pending the cost replay; until it lands, `SCREEN:` shows
 case counts and the recommendation only. A lane that already ran focused
 local cases says so in the READY block and may pass `--no-screen`. `--screen`
@@ -458,8 +461,8 @@ gstack-ship-queue train build --prs 41@<sha>,42@<sha>,43@<sha>
 ```
 
 It prints `ORDER:` (the slot order to announce: screened PRs first in READY
-order, then unscreened; when `max_size` or more unscreened PRs wait they form
-their own train and `HELD:` lists them; `--order <pr>,<pr>,...` naming every
+order, then unscreened PRs fill the remaining seats, and `HELD:` lists the PRs
+over `max_size`; `--order <pr>,<pr>,...` naming every
 pinned PR once replaces that rule, for a PR that must merge before another,
 and the train's later `NEXT:` rebuilds keep it), one `PREFIX: T<i> <commit>
 tree=<tree>` per prefix and one `SLOT:` per PR. `--dry-run` adds the
diff --git a/lib/gate-cost-history.ts b/lib/gate-cost-history.ts
index f6f4b668e..b379de9f3 100644
--- a/lib/gate-cost-history.ts
+++ b/lib/gate-cost-history.ts
@@ -317,22 +317,16 @@ export interface ArrivalTrainResult {
 interface Waiting { pr: number; readyMs: number; enqueuedMs: number; screened: boolean; defect: boolean }
 
 /**
- * The next train, or null to keep waiting: five or more waiting screened (or
- * unscreened) PRs dispatch a full train of their own; otherwise a full mixed
- * train, screened first; otherwise everything waiting, screened first, once
- * the oldest has waited the fill limit. The train with the oldest PR goes first.
+ * The next train, or null to keep waiting, as orderSlots and fillDue seat it:
+ * screened PRs first, then unscreened PRs fill the remaining seats, each by
+ * age; a full train dispatches at once, a smaller one once its oldest PR has
+ * waited the fill limit.
  */
 export function pickTrain<T extends { enqueuedMs: number; screened: boolean }>(pool: T[], nowMs: number, size: number, fillMs: number): T[] | null {
   const byAge = (a: T, b: T) => a.enqueuedMs - b.enqueuedMs;
-  const screened = pool.filter(x => x.screened).sort(byAge), unscreened = pool.filter(x => !x.screened).sort(byAge);
-  const options = [screened, unscreened].filter(list => list.length >= size).map(list => list.slice(0, size));
-  if (!options.length) {
-    const mixed = [...screened, ...unscreened];
-    if (mixed.length >= size) options.push(mixed.slice(0, size));
-    else if (mixed.length && nowMs - Math.min(...mixed.map(x => x.enqueuedMs)) >= fillMs) options.push(mixed);
-  }
-  const oldest = (train: T[]) => Math.min(...train.map(x => x.enqueuedMs));
-  return options.sort((a, b) => oldest(a) - oldest(b))[0] ?? null;
+  const mixed = [...pool.filter(x => x.screened).sort(byAge), ...pool.filter(x => !x.screened).sort(byAge)];
+  if (mixed.length >= size) return mixed.slice(0, size);
+  return mixed.length && nowMs - Math.min(...mixed.map(x => x.enqueuedMs)) >= fillMs ? mixed : null;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/ship-queue-train-ready.ts b/lib/ship-queue-train-ready.ts
index 5a04ec381..32a318742 100644
--- a/lib/ship-queue-train-ready.ts
+++ b/lib/ship-queue-train-ready.ts
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
  * `ready --pr <n> --screen | --no-screen` under a ship policy with a `train`
  * block (docs/ship-policy.md#run-a-merge-train; plan GSTA-49 T1). The
  * READY block is today's (lib/ship-queue.ts ready()); this adds the screen
- * selection and the default recommendation (screen when the screen
- * selects a skill's own cases), requires an explicit choice
+ * selection and the default recommendation (screen only when the selector
+ * restores every case or cannot select), requires an explicit choice
  * (READY_SCREEN_CHOICE_REQUIRED), dispatches a chosen screen through
  * eval-bg's nonce with its purpose and policy in the key, and records the
  * choice as a READY receipt (local state and refs/notes/gstack-trains) that
@@ -49,28 +49,41 @@ export function skillOwnCases(selected: readonly string[], touchfiles: Record<st
   return selected.filter(id => (touchfiles[id] ?? []).some(glob => skills.some(s => glob.startsWith(`${s}/`)))).sort();
 }
 
-/** gstack's paid selector over a diff, as a narrow screen (`--screen` without `--broad`) plans it, loaded only when the policy asks for it. */
+/**
+ * gstack's paid selector over a diff, as a narrow screen (`--screen` without `--broad`) plans it, loaded only when the
+ * policy asks for it. The recommendation is --screen only when the selector restores every case (its `full-fallback`
+ * mode: an unknown dependency or a shared runtime input) or cannot select at all; every other PR rides the train
+ * unscreened, where the full gate census runs every case on the tree that merges (GSTA-165).
+ */
 export async function gstackPaidSelection(repoRoot: string, baseSha: string, changed: string[], hasTemplate: (dir: string) => boolean): Promise<ScreenSelection> {
   const { computePaidCaseSelection } = await import('../scripts/lib/paid-select');
   const { E2E_TOUCHFILES, LLM_JUDGE_TOUCHFILES } = await import('../test/helpers/touchfiles');
   const skills = touchedSkills(changed, hasTemplate);
   let e2e: string[]; let judges: number; let note = "the narrow screen's selection; --broad adds the dependents of files whose references reach every gate case";
+  let why: string;
+  let everyCase = false;
   try {
-    const s = computePaidCaseSelection({ profile: 'pr', rootDir: repoRoot, changedFiles: changed, env: { ...process.env, EVALS_BASE: baseSha, EVALS_ALL: '', EVALS_SCREEN_POLICY: 'narrow' } }).selection;
-    e2e = s.e2e ?? Object.keys(E2E_TOUCHFILES);
-    judges = s.judges ? s.judges.length : Object.keys(LLM_JUDGE_TOUCHFILES).length;
+    const r = computePaidCaseSelection({ profile: 'pr', rootDir: repoRoot, changedFiles: changed, env: { ...process.env, EVALS_BASE: baseSha, EVALS_ALL: '', EVALS_SCREEN_POLICY: 'narrow' } });
+    e2e = r.selection.e2e ?? Object.keys(E2E_TOUCHFILES);
+    judges = r.selection.judges ? r.selection.judges.length : Object.keys(LLM_JUDGE_TOUCHFILES).length;
+    const mode = r.coverage?.mode ?? 'unknown';
+    everyCase = mode === 'full-fallback';
+    why = everyCase ? `selector mode full-fallback (${r.reason.slice(0, 200)})` : `selector mode ${mode}: the train gate's full census covers these cases`;
   } catch (error) {
     e2e = Object.keys(E2E_TOUCHFILES);
     judges = Object.keys(LLM_JUDGE_TOUCHFILES).length;
     note = `the PR profile needs full validation (${error instanceof Error ? error.message.slice(0, 160) : String(error)}): the screen is the full gate selection`;
+    everyCase = true;
+    why = 'the selector could not select';
   }
   const own = skillOwnCases(e2e, E2E_TOUCHFILES, skills);
-  const recommend = own.length ? 'screen' : 'no-screen';
+  const recommend = everyCase ? 'screen' : 'no-screen';
   return {
     recommend,
     lines: [
       `SCREEN: selection ${e2e.length} e2e case(s) + ${judges} judge(s) (${note})`,
-      `SCREEN: skill's own cases ${own.length ? own.slice(0, 12).join(',') + (own.length > 12 ? ` (+${own.length - 12})` : '') : 'none'} → recommend --${recommend}`,
+      `SCREEN: skill's own cases ${own.length ? own.slice(0, 12).join(',') + (own.length > 12 ? ` (+${own.length - 12})` : '') : 'none'}`,
+      `SCREEN: ${why} → recommend --${recommend}`,
     ],
   };
 }
diff --git a/lib/ship-queue-train.ts b/lib/ship-queue-train.ts
index e44c46a5b..ed86d522e 100644
--- a/lib/ship-queue-train.ts
+++ b/lib/ship-queue-train.ts
@@ -100,22 +100,22 @@ export const pinList = (slots: Array<{ pr: string; head: string }>) => slots.map
 export const prsArgs = (slots: Array<{ pr: string; head: string }>, explicit?: boolean) => `--prs ${pinList(slots)}${explicit ? ` --order ${slots.map(s => s.pr).join(',')}` : ''}`;
 
 /**
- * Slot order: screened PRs first, then unscreened, each in READY order;
- * enough unscreened PRs form their own train. An explicit order (`--order`,
+ * Slot order: screened PRs first, then unscreened PRs fill the remaining
+ * seats, each in READY order (GSTA-165: most PRs ride unscreened, so a
+ * screened-only train would hold the pool). An explicit order (`--order`,
  * every admitted PR once) replaces that rule: slots follow it, the first
  * `max` ride and the rest are held.
  */
-export function orderSlots(slots: TrainSlot[], max: number, explicit?: readonly string[]): { train: TrainSlot[]; held: TrainSlot[]; split: boolean } {
+export function orderSlots(slots: TrainSlot[], max: number, explicit?: readonly string[]): { train: TrainSlot[]; held: TrainSlot[] } {
   if (explicit) {
     const all = explicit.map(pr => slots.find(s => s.pr === pr)!);
-    return { train: all.slice(0, max), held: all.slice(max), split: false };
+    return { train: all.slice(0, max), held: all.slice(max) };
   }
   const byReady = (a: TrainSlot, b: TrainSlot) => a.ready_at.localeCompare(b.ready_at) || Number(a.pr) - Number(b.pr);
   const screened = slots.filter(s => s.screen.choice === 'screen').sort(byReady);
   const unscreened = slots.filter(s => s.screen.choice !== 'screen').sort(byReady);
-  if (screened.length && unscreened.length >= max) return { train: screened.slice(0, max), held: [...screened.slice(max), ...unscreened], split: true };
   const all = [...screened, ...unscreened];
-  return { train: all.slice(0, max), held: all.slice(max), split: false };
+  return { train: all.slice(0, max), held: all.slice(max) };
 }
 
 /** When a train under its size may dispatch: its oldest READY plus the fill time; null when it may dispatch now. */
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ async function newTrain(env: TrainEnv, o: BuildOptions): Promise<{ t: TrainRecor
   const lines = [
     ...admitted.lines,
     `ORDER: ${order.train.map((s, i) => `${i + 1}:#${s.pr}(${s.screen.choice === 'screen' ? 'screened' : 'unscreened'})`).join(' ')}${explicit ? ' (explicit --order)' : ''}`,
-    ...(order.held.length ? [`HELD: ${order.held.map(s => '#' + s.pr).join(',')} (${order.split ? 'unscreened PRs form their own train' : `over the train size ${env.train.max_size}`})`] : []),
+    ...(order.held.length ? [`HELD: ${order.held.map(s => '#' + s.pr).join(',')} (over the train size ${env.train.max_size})`] : []),
   ];
   const baseSha = git(env.ctx.repoRoot, ['rev-parse', `${env.remote}/${env.ctx.base}`]).out;
   const key = sha256(JSON.stringify({ base: baseSha, slots: order.train.map(s => `${s.pr}@${s.head}`) }));
diff --git a/test/gate-cost.test.ts b/test/gate-cost.test.ts
index 155a94bfd..b73a1cd53 100644
--- a/test/gate-cost.test.ts
+++ b/test/gate-cost.test.ts
@@ -344,10 +344,10 @@ describe('READY arrivals and trains', () => {
     expect([percentile([5, 1, 3, 2, 4], 0.5), percentile([5, 1, 3, 2, 4], 0.9), percentile([], 0.5)]).toEqual([3, 5, 0]);
   });
 
-  test('train composition: unscreened PRs form their own train at five, else screened first, else the fill limit', () => {
+  test('train composition: screened first, unscreened fill the remaining seats, else the fill limit', () => {
     const item = (enqueuedMs: number, screened: boolean) => ({ enqueuedMs, screened });
     const pool = [item(0, true), item(1, true), ...[2, 3, 4, 5, 6].map(t => item(t, false))];
-    expect(pickTrain(pool, 10, 5, 100)).toEqual(pool.slice(2));
+    expect(pickTrain(pool, 10, 5, 100)).toEqual(pool.slice(0, 5));
     const mixed = [item(5, false), item(0, true), item(1, false), item(2, true), item(3, true)];
     expect(pickTrain(mixed, 10, 5, 100)?.map(x => x.screened)).toEqual([true, true, true, false, false]);
     expect(pickTrain([item(0, false), item(1, true)], 99, 5, 100)).toBeNull();
diff --git a/test/ship-queue-train-logic.test.ts b/test/ship-queue-train-logic.test.ts
index 15bae88b2..d5cedc971 100644
--- a/test/ship-queue-train-logic.test.ts
+++ b/test/ship-queue-train-logic.test.ts
@@ -28,17 +28,17 @@ describe('ordering and fill', () => {
     const o = orderSlots([slot('4', false, '2026-10-18T01:00:00Z'), slot('3', true, '2026-10-18T03:00:00Z'), slot('2', false, '2026-10-18T00:00:00Z'), slot('1', true, '2026-10-18T02:00:00Z')], 5);
     expect(o.train.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['1', '3', '2', '4']);
     expect(o.held).toEqual([]);
-    expect(o.split).toBe(false);
   });
 
-  test('when as many unscreened PRs wait as fill a train, they form their own train; over-size PRs are held in order', () => {
-    const unscreened = ['5', '6', '7'].map((pr, i) => slot(pr, false, `2026-10-18T0${i}:00:00Z`));
-    const split = orderSlots([slot('9', true, '2026-10-18T05:00:00Z'), ...unscreened], 3);
-    expect(split.split).toBe(true);
-    expect(split.train.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['9']);
-    expect(split.held.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['5', '6', '7']);
+  test('unscreened PRs fill the seats a screened PR leaves, however many wait; over-size PRs are held in order', () => {
+    const unscreened = ['5', '6', '7', '10', '11'].map((pr, i) => slot(pr, false, `2026-10-18T0${i}:00:00Z`));
+    const mixed = orderSlots([slot('9', true, '2026-10-18T05:00:00Z'), ...unscreened], 5);
+    expect(mixed.train.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['9', '5', '6', '7', '10']);
+    expect(mixed.held.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['11']);
+    const atThree = orderSlots([slot('9', true, '2026-10-18T05:00:00Z'), ...unscreened.slice(0, 3)], 3);
+    expect([atThree.train.map(s => s.pr), atThree.held.map(s => s.pr)]).toEqual([['9', '5', '6'], ['7']]);
+    expect(orderSlots(unscreened, 3).train.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['5', '6', '7']);
     const over = orderSlots([slot('8', true, '2026-10-18T06:00:00Z'), slot('9', true, '2026-10-18T05:00:00Z'), unscreened[0]!], 2);
-    expect(over.split).toBe(false);
     expect(over.train.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['9', '8']);
     expect(over.held.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['5']);
   });
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ describe('ordering and fill', () => {
     expect(orderSlots([docs, catalog], 5, order as string[]).train.map(s => s.pr)).toEqual(['3343', '3337']);
     const screened = slot('9', true, '2026-10-22T20:00:00Z');
     const over = orderSlots([docs, catalog, screened], 2, ['3343', '3337', '9']);
-    expect([over.train.map(s => s.pr), over.held.map(s => s.pr), over.split]).toEqual([['3343', '3337'], ['9'], false]);
+    expect([over.train.map(s => s.pr), over.held.map(s => s.pr)]).toEqual([['3343', '3337'], ['9']]);
     expect(parseOrder(undefined, pins)).toBeUndefined();
     for (const bad of ['3343', '3343,3337,3337', '3343,3337,1', '3343,x']) expect(parseOrder(bad, pins)).toEqual({ error: `--order must list every PR in --prs exactly once (--prs has #3337,#3343; got ${bad})` });
     expect(prsArgs([{ pr: '3343', head: SHA }, { pr: '3337', head: SHA }], true)).toBe(`--prs 3343@${SHA},3337@${SHA} --order 3343,3337`);
@@ -194,12 +194,16 @@ describe('screen recommendation', () => {
     expect(skillOwnCases(['a', 'b', 'c'], { a: ['review/**'], b: ['lib/**'], c: ['review/SKILL.md'] }, ['review'])).toEqual(['a', 'c']);
   });
 
-  test("gstack's selector on gstack's own tree: a skill template change recommends --screen, a docs change --no-screen", async () => {
+  test("gstack's selector on gstack's own tree: only a change that restores every case recommends --screen", async () => {
     const has = (dir: string) => fs.existsSync(path.join(ROOT, dir, 'SKILL.md.tmpl'));
     const skill = await gstackPaidSelection(ROOT, 'HEAD', ['review/SKILL.md.tmpl'], has);
-    expect(skill.recommend).toBe('screen');
+    expect(skill.recommend).toBe('no-screen');
     expect(skill.lines[0]).toMatch(/^SCREEN: selection \d+ e2e case\(s\) \+ \d+ judge\(s\)/);
-    expect(skill.lines[1]).toMatch(/^SCREEN: skill's own cases \S+ → recommend --screen$/);
+    expect(skill.lines[1]).toMatch(/^SCREEN: skill's own cases \S+$/);
+    expect(skill.lines[2]).toMatch(/^SCREEN: selector mode (pr|dependents): the train gate's full census covers these cases → recommend --no-screen$/);
+    const shared = await gstackPaidSelection(ROOT, 'HEAD', ['bun.lock'], has);
+    expect(shared.recommend).toBe('screen');
+    expect(shared.lines[2]).toMatch(/^SCREEN: selector mode full-fallback \(.*bun\.lock.*\) → recommend --screen$/);
     const docs = await gstackPaidSelection(ROOT, 'HEAD', ['docs/ship-policy.md'], has);
     expect(docs.recommend).toBe('no-screen');
   }, 60_000);
diff --git a/test/ship-queue-train.test.ts b/test/ship-queue-train.test.ts
index 15e24c277..ff77594b0 100644
--- a/test/ship-queue-train.test.ts
+++ b/test/ship-queue-train.test.ts
@@ -564,7 +564,7 @@ describe('train build', () => {
     expect(dispatches(fx, 'free-tests.yml').length).toBe(4);
   }, 180_000);
 
-  test('ordering: screened PRs first in READY order; enough unscreened PRs wait for their own train', () => {
+  test('ordering: screened PRs first in READY order; unscreened PRs fill the remaining seats', () => {
     const fx = make({ ...TRAIN_POLICY, train: { ...TRAIN_BLOCK, max_size: 2 } });
     const h = ['1', '2', '3'].map(pr => openPr(fx, pr));
     readyReceipt(fx, '1', h[0]!, { at: '2026-10-18T08:00:00.000Z' });
@@ -572,8 +572,8 @@ describe('train build', () => {
     readyReceipt(fx, '3', h[2]!, { at: '2026-10-18T09:00:00.000Z', screen: true });
     const r = queue(fx, ['train', 'build', '--prs', `1@${h[0]},2@${h[1]},3@${h[2]}`, '--dry-run']);
     expect(r.status).toBe(EXIT.ok);
-    expect(line(r.out, 'ORDER:')).toBe('ORDER: 1:#3(screened)');
-    expect(line(r.out, 'HELD:')).toBe('HELD: #2,#1 (unscreened PRs form their own train)');
+    expect(line(r.out, 'ORDER:')).toBe('ORDER: 1:#3(screened) 2:#2(unscreened)');
+    expect(line(r.out, 'HELD:')).toBe('HELD: #1 (over the train size 2)');
     const wide = make();
     const w = ['1', '2', '3'].map(pr => openPr(wide, pr));
     readyReceipt(wide, '1', w[0]!, { at: '2026-10-18T08:00:00.000Z' });