Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Introduce the ability to drive the car on train tracks via research.

What ?

Here is real world example of a road vehicle that has been modified with the ability to drive on rails.
If you're currently on top of the rail (and traveling say +/- 5 degrees of the track direction) and press a particular hot key, it will toggle rail travel, allowing you to go only forward and backwards along the rail without turning, until you disengage by pressing the hot key again.
As the driver you operate the car manually, however your car will count as a vehicle on the track as far as train signals are concerned.

Why ?

I find that I often lay long tracks of rail down narrow corridors, through narrow gates, between power lines etc. I would appreciate making it easier to travel down these 'paths' without having to make constant minor course corrections and/or slowing down.

I wouldn't attempt the stunt but this mod may help you driving on tracks, depending on how curvy they are.

https://mods.factorio.com/mods/Zaflis/VehicleSnap

In your suggestion, signals should prevent collision but do they also give the rail orientation ? It would end up as like driving backward a manual train. The behavior of the vehicule might not be very desirable.

I'd not object to the idea. On the subject of helpful mods, though, if it doesn't already, seems like a small step for "Pavement Drive Assist" to gain this feature, so you may also wish to check that out. (It does what it says on the tin, but I don't know if rails are included or could be included; I don't think there is a technical limitation to prevent it.)