There are a lot of very clever people out there designing complex rail systems. To place redstone wire, right-click with redstone dust just like placing rails. Note how the buttons are connected to all the powered rails by a redstone wire that passes under one of the incoming tracks. The lever controls the direction of the travel push either button to go. The lever allows you to select which direction your cart will set off in when you push the button. Here are some examples of how to take advantage of this as you start to build a more complex network: 2-way station A redstone signal (such as a redstone torch or a lever) will change the orientation of this elbow, allowing you to choose which way carts will go over the junction. When you place rails in a T-junction, the central rail will be bent into a right-angle 'elbow' connecting two of the tracks. The lever is an optional extra you can use it switch the powered rails on permanently if you no longer want to stop at this station. To choose a direction, nudge the cart around so that it is on the slope that is downhill in the direction you want to go. These stations are ideal for points along your route where you may want to get in and out, or just push the button to keep going.

Place these at the ends of your line place a cart in the hole, jump in and push the button to go! Waypoint station However, these simple stations will get you around your Minecraft world well enough! Both station designs are based on laying two pieces of powered rail into a small trench, and providing power using a stone button. Stationsīuilding complex automated passenger stations with multiple destinations is a fun challenge, and there are many ingenious examples on YouTube and elsewhere. If you don't mind slowing down a bit, one powered rail every four blocks will do. To keep up top speed whilst climbing a hill, you'll need one powered rail every two blocks ie. Cargo RailĪlthough the Minecart With Chest looks like it should be good for building cargo trains to move stuff around, it should be noted that they only have the same momentum as an empty minecart, so you would need to place powered rails every 8 blocks. If you don't mind going slower and want to save on materials, powered rails can be placed further apart. On flat ground, the cart will be kept up to speed by placing a powered rail every 38 blocks along the route. How many powered rails to place? Passenger RailĪn occupied minecart will be accelerated to maximum speed by three powered rails in a row. Redstone torches can also be placed underneath the block that the rail is resting on to provide a hidden power source. Provide power to the rails by placing a redstone torch or a lever next to the powered rail &emdash you will see the rail light up. Place powered rails at appropriate intervals (see below). Rail can be laid diagonally in a zig-zag pattern it looks wiggly on the ground but minecarts travel in a nice straight diagonal line. Just right click to lay tracks on the ground.

You will also need gold and redstone for powered rails, unless you're OK with only going downhill. You will need lots of iron and wood to build your rails. Minecraft rail systems can be fabulously complicated and are fun to build, but here we'll just focus on simple systems to get you around your minecraft world with minimum fuss. Detector Railĭetector rails activate a redstone signal when a minecart passes over them. Occupied minecarts (containing a player or a mob) will have travel up to 80 blocks on flat land after being boosted by a powerd rail unoccupied carts, however, have less momentum and will only travel 8 blocks. Stationary carts will be given a push downhill. Moving carts will get a push in the direction they are going.

they are right at the end of a track, up against a block. Stationary minecarts will not get a push unless there is only one direction they can move (ie. Moving minecarts will get a push in the direction they are going.

When powered by redstone, will give a minecart a push in the direction it is moving. When unpowered, these act as brakes and will stop your cart. If you go around a corner or up or down a slope, the rails should adjust themselves automatically. Rails are placed by right-clicking on the floor where you want them to go.

Minecraft rails guide