Track/turnout # & brand ?
The use of a relay is usually best. It only requires a small power draw thru an isolated rail to activate a relay vs passing a motor's load across the same circuit. End result is less damage to the rails used as contacts. (over time contact/isolation rails does pit more from more electrical current, sparking, etc.) A relay keeps that wear at a minimum.
A relay is also useful for circuit isolation and or creating a better, maybe shorter path of delivery, etc.
The only downside is the relays aren't free.
What you want to do isn't hard and besides;it's hard to say "no way to do that" anyhow. Consider a station(s) and timers for off and on times too.
