diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-activate.svelte b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-activate.svelte
index 168e06d93..2ed01e530 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-activate.svelte
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-activate.svelte
@@ -104,4 +104,16 @@
 			el.setAttribute('data-words-depth', String(segments.length));
 		}
 	});
+
+	// There is ALWAYS an active block: on first load (no click yet) select the
+	// first top-level block so the inspector + the gutter rail have a target
+	// from the start instead of "nothing selected".
+	let seeded = false;
+	$effect(() => {
+		if (seeded || !enabled) return;
+		const first = api.document.children[0];
+		if (!first?.id) return;
+		if (!api.activeBlockId) api.setActiveBlock(first.id);
+		seeded = true;
+	});
 </script>
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-active-rail.svelte b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-active-rail.svelte
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f31167fbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words-active-rail.svelte
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+<script lang="ts">
+	/**
+	 * Active-block rail — ONE vertical bar in the left gutter that tracks the
+	 * CLICKED (active) block. Frame-relative + a fixed gutter column (CSS), so
+	 * it never shifts right for nested blocks, and a single fixed colour. Its
+	 * top/height follow the active block, re-measured on activation / render /
+	 * scroll. Hidden when the active block is scrolled out of view.
+	 */
+	import type { ActiveDom } from '$adom';
+	import type { ProviderSnippetProps } from '$soma/components/words';
+
+	let {
+		api,
+		content,
+		dom
+	}: {
+		api: ProviderSnippetProps;
+		content: HTMLElement;
+		dom: ActiveDom;
+	} = $props();
+
+	const frame = $derived(content.closest('[data-words]') as HTMLElement | null);
+	let rail = $state<{ top: number; height: number } | null>(null);
+
+	function measure() {
+		const el = frame ? content.querySelector('[data-words-active]') : null;
+		if (!frame || !(el instanceof HTMLElement)) {
+			rail = null;
+			return;
+		}
+		const br = el.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const fr = frame.getBoundingClientRect();
+		const cr = content.getBoundingClientRect();
+		// Hide when the active block is scrolled out of the content viewport.
+		if (br.bottom < cr.top + 2 || br.top > cr.bottom - 2) {
+			rail = null;
+			return;
+		}
+		rail = { top: br.top - fr.top, height: br.height };
+	}
+
+	// Re-measure when the active block changes or the doc re-renders (typing
+	// resizes a block; `{@html}` recreates its element).
+	$effect(() => {
+		void api.activeBlockId;
+		void api.html;
+		dom.raf(measure, content);
+	});
+	// Re-measure on internal content scroll (the rail is frame-relative).
+	$effect(() => dom.listen(content, 'scroll', measure, { capture: true }));
+</script>
+
+{#if rail}
+	<div data-words-active-rail style="top: {rail.top}px; height: {rail.height}px;"></div>
+{/if}
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
index 6e01f6789..fecbb0161 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.css
@@ -1064,32 +1064,21 @@ button[data-words-breadcrumb-crumb]:focus-visible {
    (not border → zero reflow) shows the inspector's current target on the
    canvas. The hue shifts by depth so nested structure reads at a glance:
    blue at top level, then teal / violet / amber descending into columns. */
-[data-words-content] [data-words-active] {
-	position: relative;
-}
-/* The active-block marker lives in the GUTTER, not on the block: a vertical
-   accent rail in the left margin (`::before`, just left of the block) spanning
-   the block height. Depth-coloured via `--_words-active-outline`. The block
-   stays `position: relative` so the rail anchors to it. */
-[data-words-content] [data-words-active]::before {
-	content: '';
+/* Active-block rail — a single vertical bar in the GUTTER (left margin), at a
+   FIXED column (frame-relative, so it never shifts right for nested blocks),
+   one fixed colour. Its top/height track the active block; the rail element is
+   rendered by `words-active-rail.svelte` and positioned here. */
+[data-words-active-rail] {
 	position: absolute;
-	inset-block: 0;
-	inset-inline-start: -0.7rem;
+	inset-inline-start: calc(var(--_words-content-px) - 1.4rem);
+	z-index: 1;
 	inline-size: 3px;
 	border-radius: 2px;
-	background: var(--_words-active-outline, var(--color-primary-solid));
+	background: var(--color-primary-solid);
 	pointer-events: none;
-	animation: words-outline-in var(--words-transition-duration) var(--words-transition-ease);
-}
-[data-words-content] [data-words-active][data-words-depth='2'] {
-	--_words-active-outline: var(--color-affirm-solid); /* teal — column level */
-}
-[data-words-content] [data-words-active][data-words-depth='3'] {
-	--_words-active-outline: var(--color-loss-solid); /* violet — block in a column */
-}
-[data-words-content] [data-words-active][data-words-depth='4'] {
-	--_words-active-outline: var(--color-risk-solid); /* amber — deeper nesting */
+	transition:
+		top 120ms var(--words-transition-ease),
+		height 120ms var(--words-transition-ease);
 }
 
 [data-words-content] :where([data-words-node='block']):first-child {
diff --git a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.svelte b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.svelte
index b360425be..861c6bd3b 100644
--- a/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.svelte
+++ b/src/uix/eidos/components/words/words.svelte
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 	import { Popover } from '$uix/eidos/components/popover';
 	import { SlidersHorizontal, X } from '$uix/eidos/components/icon';
 	import WordsActivate from './words-activate.svelte';
+	import WordsActiveRail from './words-active-rail.svelte';
 	import WordsBlockDrag from './words-block-drag.svelte';
 	import WordsBlockGutter from './words-block-gutter.svelte';
 	import WordsBubble from './words-bubble.svelte';
@@ -111,6 +112,7 @@
 			{#if contentEl}
 				<WordsActivate {api} content={contentEl} {dom} enabled={mode === 'edit'} />
 				{#if mode === 'edit'}
+					<WordsActiveRail {api} content={contentEl} {dom} />
 					<WordsBlockGutter {api} content={contentEl} {dom} />
 					<WordsBlockDrag {api} content={contentEl} {dom} />
 				{/if}