the rails are affected by the north-south orientation (minecraft beta code orientation ) you c'ant place rail at east-west orientation is a problem because you c'ant place a minecrart track next to another at same direction. see, you can't do that on my picture 3 i use mcedit for do it.

it possible to change rails orientation. the player see north, the rail place is north orientation.the player see west orientation, the rail place is west orientation.