Powered Rail in Minecraft

The powered rail is a type of rail that can increase and decrease the speed of minecarts. It requires a redstone signal to be activated. Unlike regular rails, they cannot be curved around corners.

A powered rail (via screenshot)

How to get Powered Rail?

Powered rails can be both found as loot and can be crafted by players themselves. You find powered rails in loot chests inside mineshafts. They can be picked up by a player when mined with any tool or by hand, but a pickaxe is the quickest. To craft powered rails you will need redstone dust, a stick, and six gold ingots.

Crafting a powered rail (via screenshot)

What is the use of Powered Rail?

Powered rails can be placed on top of any solid opaque blocks, any hopper, upside-down slabs, upside-down stairs, or on top of any transparent block. A powered rail can be used to move minecarts and they also can increase or decrease the speed of minecarts. When powered by a redstone signal it can accelerate minecarts up to a speed of 8m/s.

A rail system with some powered rails integrated into it (via screenshot)

Conclusion

Powered rails have the ability to change the speed or the status of a minecart. It can either speed up or slow down minecarts. It is most commonly used in rail systems to make sure minecarts have a consistent speed.