Skip to main content

Enhanced Rails

Platypus SMP uses EnhancedRails to improve Minecraft's rail and minecart system. Minecarts are faster, more reliable, and easier to work with than in vanilla Minecraft.


What's Different?

EnhancedRails improves the default rail system in several ways:

  • Faster minecart speeds - travel along rails quicker than vanilla
  • Better cart behavior - carts handle slopes, turns, and intersections more smoothly
  • Improved powered rails - powered rails provide stronger and more consistent boosts
  • Stacking - improved handling of multiple carts on the same track

Building a Rail Line

Rails are a great way to connect your base to your town, a mine, or a farm. Here's how to get started:

  1. Gather materials - iron ingots for rails, gold ingots + redstone for powered rails
  2. Lay your track - place rails along your desired path
  3. Add powered rails - place a powered rail every 32–38 blocks and power them with a redstone torch or lever underneath/beside them
  4. Place a minecart - right-click the start of your track to place a cart
  5. Get in - right-click the minecart to ride it

Rail Types

Rail TypeUse
RailStandard track, goes in all directions
Powered RailSpeeds up or stops carts (needs redstone power)
Detector RailEmits a redstone signal when a cart passes over
Activator RailActivates minecart features (like TNT carts)

Minecart Types

MinecartUse
MinecartPassenger transport
Chest MinecartItem transport along rails
Hopper MinecartAutomatically collects items as it moves
Furnace MinecartSelf-propelling cart (pushes other carts)

Tips

  • Build rail lines between your base and your town for fast, safe travel
  • Use chest minecarts + hopper minecarts to automate item transportation between farms and storage
  • A powered rail every ~38 blocks keeps a cart at full speed
  • Build underground rail tunnels to protect your track from damage
  • Use detector rails + redstone to build automatic stations where carts stop and start