Improved Rails (TURNABLE POWERED RAILS)
by ATGC
Improved Rails adds turnable powered rails, always-activated rails and underwater rail variants that let minecarts change direction on track set in the modded blocks.
What it does
The mod adds a set of rails built on the vanilla rail types. Turnable rails let minecarts change direction without being limited to the directions vanilla rails allow, which helps with compact intersections and custom junctions. Powered variants and always-activated rails respond to redstone differently from vanilla rails, and a glowing version keeps dark minecart tracks visible.
Underwater versions remove water friction from the track, so minecarts keep moving smoothly through ocean rail systems and underwater bases. Two conversion tools swap existing rails for the modded types in one step, which speeds up upgrading a track that is already built. The mod is licensed under the MIT License and is open source, with its source code, issue tracker and wiki publicly linked.
Installation needs Fabric, and the files target game versions 1.18.2 – 1.20.2. Improved Rails runs on client and server, so the server and every player need it. The current Fabric file, 1.0.2, is built for 1.20.1 and was published on 2025-04-30.
Key features
Turnable powered rails
Powered rails that let minecarts turn, bypassing the direction limits that apply to vanilla rails.
Always-activated rails
Rail variants that stay active without a redstone signal, along with powered and detector-activator forms.
Underwater rail variants
Rails with water friction removed, so minecarts move smoothly along tracks placed underwater.
Glowing rails
Rails that emit light, making tracks easier to see in dark tunnels and at night.
Conversion tools
Two tools that convert existing rails into the modded types immediately, without rebuilding the track.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
How it compares
Copper Powered Rails is client and server and open source under the MIT License, with files for 1.20 – 1.20.4 on Fabric and Quilt. Simple Copper Powered Rails is also client and server, open source under the GNU General Public License v3.0 only, and published for Fabric for 1.20.1. Better Rails is client and server under the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 4.0 license and is not open source, targeting 1.20.4 – 1.20.6 on Fabric.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Improved Rails (TURNABLE POWERED RAILS) | Fabric | 1.18.2 – 1.20.2 | Client and server | 2025-04-30 |
| Copper Powered Rails | Fabric and Quilt | 1.20 – 1.20.4 | Client and server | 2024-03-21 |
| Simple Copper Powered Rails | Fabric | 1.20.1 | Client and server | 2025-05-26 |
| Better Rails | Fabric | 1.20.4 – 1.20.6 | Client and server | 2024-05-05 |
Questions
Does Improved Rails need Fabric API?
Does the server need Improved Rails?
Which game versions does Improved Rails support?
In the catalog
Improved Rails (TURNABLE POWERED RAILS) is one of 3,932 Transportation mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,390 Transportation mods for Fabric. 12,076 mods support Minecraft 1.20.2.
More from ATGC
Similar mods
What the author says
A Minecraft mod that expands the rail system with functional upgrades, underwater compatibility, glowing rails, and conversion tools — making your transportation system faster, cleaner, and more flexible. These rails allow minecarts to turn, bypassing vanilla direction constraints. Ideal for compact intersections…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/improved-rails
- Owner
- ATGC
- Published
- 2025-04-06
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-04-30
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15