railway

American  

[reyl-wey] / ˈreɪlˌweɪ /

noun

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 rail 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

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

Etymology

Origin of railway

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

Example Sentences

The crane was being used to build an overhead railway that is part of a China-backed project to link Bangkok with neighbouring Laos, where a Chinese-built high-speed line is already running to south-western China.

From BBC

At a suburban Kyiv railway station, two carriages painted in the blue and white livery of Ukrainian Railways sit on the main platform, their diesel engines running as snow steadily falls.

From BBC

The first phase of NPR will also see improvements to railway stations in Leeds, Sheffield and York, the government said.

From BBC

"Even signals on railway lines can be affected and switch from red to green or vice versa," says Harra.

From Science Daily

Accounting for inflation, that would mean at least £100bn will be spent but only 135 miles of railway built.

From BBC

Related Words

• line
• rail line
• track