How to Automate Station Stops and Yard Switching with Signal Rails

If you want your trains to stop at stations, reverse at the end of a line, or change speeds without manual lever input, you can install Signal Rails along your track network.

Configuring a Signal Rail

1. Place a Signal Rail block into your standard rail line where you want an automated action to happen.

2. Right-click the Signal Rail to cycle through its three operating modes: Throttle, Brake, or Reverse.

3. Connect a redstone power source (such as a lever, button, detector rail, or redstone torch) to the Signal Rail. The rail only activates its chosen setting when it receives redstone power.

How Train Detection Works

You do not need the furnace locomotive itself to touch the Signal Rail for the command to register. Whenever any linked cart in your train rolls over a powered Signal Rail, the signal is sent through the chain to the locomotive. This means a trailing cargo wagon or passenger seat rolling over the block will still trigger the engine's brakes, throttle, or reverse gear.

Practical Track Setups

• Emergency Stop Sections: Place a Signal Rail set to Brake before a dangerous junction and power it with redstone when the track ahead is occupied.
• Station Dispatch Systems: Keep a powered Brake Signal Rail at your station platform to hold incoming trains, then swap or unpower the signal and trigger a Throttle rail when ready to depart.
• Automated Yard Switching: Place Reverse Signal Rails at the dead-ends of shunting yards to automatically bounce linked carts back the way they came.