Yeah, an 8 block length in the "real" world is equal to a 1 block length in the Nether, so, for example, if the railway from Flaming Mountain to the UFO is 800 blocks in the Overworld it would only need to be 100 blocks in the Nether. Quite a difference.
The railways would have to be encased so that Ghasts don't blow out the tracks, but I think it'd be cool to have a cobble & glass "tube system."
