A hydraulic-boosted rail brake is provided for use with an elevator having a guide rail. The rail brake includes a braking plate having friction material, a spring package in communication with the braking plate, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston housed at least partially inside the hydraulic cylinder, and a brake controller. The braking plate is selectively movable relative to the guide rail, and the spring package biases the friction material to interact with the guide rail to cause braking. The piston is in communication with the braking plate and is selectively: (a) movable in a release direction to diminish or overcome force from the spring package; and (b) movable in an engage direction to supplement the force from the spring package. The brake controller selectively causes the piston to move in the release direction and in the engage direction.