diff --git a/core/include/vf/Rail.h b/core/include/vf/Rail.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6984b7d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/include/vf/Rail.h
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <unordered_map>
+#include <unordered_set>
+#include <utility>
+#include <vector>
+#include "World.h"
+#include "Circuit.h"
+#include "Block.h"
+#include "Math.h"
+
+namespace vf {
+
+constexpr int poweredRailReach = 8;
+
+enum class RailDir : uint8_t {
+    North,   // -Z
+    South,   // +Z
+    East,    // +X
+    West,    // -X
+};
+
+enum class RailShape : uint8_t {
+    NorthSouth,
+    EastWest,
+    AscendNorth,
+    AscendSouth,
+    AscendEast,
+    AscendWest,
+    CurveSouthEast,
+    CurveSouthWest,
+    CurveNorthWest,
+    CurveNorthEast,
+};
+
+struct RailStep {
+    Vec3i nextPos;
+    RailDir exitDir = RailDir::North;
+    bool valid = false;
+};
+
+inline bool isRailBlock(Block b) {
+    return b == Block::Rail || b == Block::PoweredRail ||
+           b == Block::DetectorRail || b == Block::ActivatorRail;
+}
+
+RailDir opposite(RailDir dir);
+Vec3i railDelta(RailDir dir);
+bool isAscending(RailShape shape);
+RailDir ascendUpDir(RailShape shape);
+std::pair<RailDir, RailDir> railEnds(RailShape shape);
+
+// Auto-connects a rail to its neighbours. Curves are only produced for plain
+// rails (Block::Rail); powered/detector/activator rails stay straight or
+// ascending. When `switched` is true a straight-capable rail that also has a
+// perpendicular neighbour takes the turn instead of going straight, modelling a
+// powered junction.
+RailShape inferRailShape(const World& world, const Vec3i& pos, bool switched = false);
+
+// Follows the track one cell from `pos` given an entry heading. Handles curves
+// (heading rotates) and slopes (steps up onto an ascending rail or down onto a
+// descending one). `valid` is false when the track dead-ends: a derail.
+RailStep advanceOnRail(const World& world, const Vec3i& pos, RailDir moveDir, bool switched = false);
+
+// Set of powered-rail cells that end up energised: every rail directly powered
+// by redstone plus connected powered rails within `poweredRailReach` along the
+// straight line in each direction.
+std::unordered_set<Vec3i, Vec3iHash> activePoweredRails(
+    const World& world,
+    const std::vector<Vec3i>& poweredRails,
+    const std::function<bool(const Vec3i&)>& directlyPowered);
+
+std::unordered_set<Vec3i, Vec3iHash> activePoweredRails(
+    const World& world,
+    const std::vector<Vec3i>& poweredRails,
+    const RedstoneCircuit& circuit);
+
+// Adjacency graph over a set of rail cells. Each node links to the rail cells
+// its two ends connect to, following curves and slopes. Backs cart routing:
+// distance queries, one-shot track tracing and connectivity checks.
+class RailGraph {
+public:
+    void build(const World& world, const std::vector<Vec3i>& railCells, bool switched = false);
+
+    bool contains(const Vec3i& pos) const { return adjacency.find(pos) != adjacency.end(); }
+    std::vector<Vec3i> neighbours(const Vec3i& pos) const;
+    std::size_t size() const { return adjacency.size(); }
+
+    // Walks the track from `start` heading `dir`, returning the ordered cells it
+    // visits (including `start`) until a derail, a revisit (closed loop) or
+    // `maxSteps` cells.
+    std::vector<Vec3i> trace(const World& world, const Vec3i& start, RailDir dir, int maxSteps) const;
+
+    // Cell count of the shortest connection between two rails, or -1 when they
+    // are not connected within the graph.
+    int distance(const Vec3i& a, const Vec3i& b) const;
+
+private:
+    std::unordered_map<Vec3i, std::vector<Vec3i>, Vec3iHash> adjacency;
+};
+
+} // namespace vf