railway

American  

[reyl-wey] / ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

railways plural

1. a rail line with lighter-weight equipment and roadbed than a main-line railroad.

2. a railroad, especially one operating over relatively short distances.

3. Also called trackway.  any line or lines of rails forming a road of flanged-wheel equipment.

4. Chiefly British. railroad.

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railway British  

/ ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

1. a permanent track composed of a line of parallel metal rails fixed to sleepers, for transport of passengers and goods in trains

2. any track on which the wheels of a vehicle may run

   a cable railway

3. the entire equipment, rolling stock, buildings, property, and system of tracks used in such a transport system

4. the organization responsible for operating a railway network

5. (modifier) of, relating to, or used on a railway or railways

   a railway engine

   a railway strike

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interrailway
  adjective
• prerailway
  adjective
• railwayed
  adjective
• railwayless
  adjective
• unrailwayed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• railways
  plural

Etymology

Origin of railway

First recorded in 1770–80; rail ¹ + way ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

railway railways

But the national railway service said it had repaired cables burnt by the fire on Sunday, allowing it to resume normal services for fast trains connecting the capital to the southeastern city of Lyon.

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

The Memorial Garden, hanging baskets along Victoria Street, flower displays at the Channel Islands' only railway station, and planting schemes at both the harbour and airport are among areas being showcased.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Located above a busy mainline railway station, MSG is slap bang in the beating heart of tourist and commercial Manhattan.

From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026

The train operating company estimates fare evasion costs the state-owned railway more than £11m each year.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

In the distance she saw a train whooshing over the fair’s all-electric elevated railway along the park’s perimeter.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

In Southern California, cliffs could erode more than 130 feet by the end of the century, and the consequences of erosion have already proved to be severe on major roads, railways and other critical infrastructure.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

On the railways alone, he cited train delays, cancellations due to buckled rails, on-board air conditioning failure, cable and signalling meltdown.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Jake Kelly, from Network Rail, said the heat was putting a "significant strain" on the railways, but urged passengers to stay safe by planning ahead and staying hydrated.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

In the aftermath of World War II, its Labour government nationalized the Bank of England, airlines, coal, telecommunications, railways, electricity, gas, iron and steel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

They were going to protect Saratov’s bridges and railways from enemy bombers, and to guard the Saratov Aviation Factory, the very factory where their own planes had been built.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

Related Words

• line
• rail line
• track