In minecraft each section of track takes up one block.
Be aware, you have to leave one block between rail linesor they will connect to each other.
For example, if you make a long rail road line between two villages and you want to have two rail road lines next to each other then you have to leave one block between the two or they will try to connect side by side. You make turn-outs or corners doing that.
If you go to the Minecraft WiKi you can find out how to make "switchable" turn outs, automatic switches and many other things with Redstone powder, and other items.
Standard North American railroad tracks are 54.5 inches apart. This distance is known as the gauge of the rail.
by stagecoach or wagon train
There isn't a set distance for this. It depends on the number of rail lines being crossed, and how far apart they're spaced.
About 21 inches
15 and 50 feet
512 kms by road and 609 kms by rail...
99.75 by rail and approximately 120 by road.
As far as I know, he had a life time pass for the rail roads. To have one of those, I guess that you had to retire from the rail road.
Sixty percent of the world's railways use a gauge of 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
London-Oxford is about 55 miles by road and 64 miles by rail.
Read Paulo Coelho book called The Zahir. Pretty much explains it perfectly.
Statistically, the rank of transport mode is as follows (per passenger hour): 1 (safest): Rail - by far! 2 Road 3 (least safe): Air Per passenger kilometer (which is sometimes used), the ranking is as follows: 1 (safest): Rail 2 Air 3 (least safe) Road - by far! I tend to prefer to measure my life by hours, not kilometers.