noun
railway
A system of train tracks and associated transport services.
The railway connects several small towns with the nearest city.
Etymology
Rail joins way to name a route formed by rails. The compound extends from the physical tracks to the transport system operating on them.
More examples
- The railway carries both passengers and freight.
- Heavy snow disrupts service on the mountain railway.
- Two regional railways share the tracks through town.
Forms
railway · railways
Similar words
- railroad
- The usual American term for the same transportation system.
- rail line
- Usually a single route rather than an entire transportation system.