Minecraft – distance limit for minecart tracks

Since version 1.5, this hasn't been much of an issue, as that release introduced a rule in the mobs' AI to avoid rails unless they are chasing after the player. Although I have still found Zombie Pigmen appearing on the tracks, this is now not as much of an issue as it was in previous versions.

Zombie Pigmen are able to spawn on rail tracks, so removing the walking path on the side will do nothing. But as has been mentioned, adding blocks above your tracks will prevent them from spawning and help keep them from walking onto your tracks 100% of the time. This is a common "fix", and has been around for quite a while, and it doesn't seem like the developers have any plans to stop this fix from being possible.

The following blocks can safely be placed above the tracks, and will not suffocate you:

• Glass panes (I would really recommend this one, since they are "cheaper" than glass blocks, works with stained glass panes as well)
• Glass blocks (works with stained glass as well)
• Glowstone blocks
• Leaf blocks
• Iron bars
• Fences (of all materials)
• Half-slabs (of all materials, note that they must be single, NOT double slabs)
• Stairs (of all materials)
• Trap doors
• Pistons (both extended and retracted)

There are other blocks that would work, such as Beds, Chests, TNT, or Enchantment Tables, but I have excluded them from the list due to being impractical.

As far as I understand your question, you have trouble with the track going trough the door...

Here is a screenshot of my setup, first you switch over to the new track, then you go trough the 'door', but by going down under the door block the track doesnt break and just creates a slope whenever the door is open, this would work in both directions.

Also as often happens with these timed things, the doors or track switcher might not stay open long enough, here is a way to lengthen that. (This is my own design, not all that compact, but the only thing that makes sense and works for me)