railway

railway — noun

1. the two long metal bars fixed to the ground that trains travel along

1.nounA2
Definition

the two long metal bars fixed to the ground that trains travel along

Example

The children stood safely behind the yellow line when the train passed over the railway.

preposition: over the railway

A railway worker checked the tracks every morning for loose parts.

compound noun: railway worker

Common collocations
  • repair the railway
  • inspect the railway
  • lay railway
  • railway line
  • cross the railway
Synonyms
  • track

    broader term that can mean the whole path including the sleepers and ground beneath

  • rail

    refers to one single metal bar rather than the pair

  • railroad track

    the standard American English term for the same thing

Grammar Patterns

the railway

on the railway

over the railway

Usage Note

This sense is countable and refers specifically to the physical metal rails. In American English, the equivalent term is usually 'railroad track' or simply 'track'.

Common Mistakes

The train runs on a railroad.' (when pointing at the metal rails).
The train runs on the railway / railroad track.
'railroad' alone usually means the whole system, not the physical rails.

2. the whole arrangement of tracks, stations, and trains that provide a way for peo

2.nounB1
Definition

the whole arrangement of tracks, stations, and trains that provide a way for people and goods to travel by rail

Example

The railway connects the capital to towns across the north of the country.

the railway connects [places]

Kofi works for the national railway, helping to plan new routes and timetables.

collocation: national railway

Common collocations
  • national railway
  • railway company
  • railway station
  • railway network
  • railway line
  • by railway
  • the railway system
Synonyms
  • railroad

    standard American English term for the same concept, also used in British English for the organisation

  • rail system

    more formal, often used in official documents and planning contexts

  • rail network

    emphasises the interconnected routes rather than the organisation

Grammar Patterns

the railway

by railway

national railway

the railway company

Usage Note

In British English, 'the railway' (with definite article) commonly refers to the entire national system. The American English equivalent for this sense is 'railroad'. Some proper names retain 'railway' even in the US (e.g. 'Union Railway').

Common Mistakes

I took the railway to work.
I took the train to work.
'railway' refers to the system or tracks, not the vehicle itself.
The railway tracks were delayed.
The trains were delayed.
delays apply to train services, not the physical tracks.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

'Railway' (British English) and 'railroad' (American English) both refer to the whole transport organisation and its infrastructure. 'Railroad' has a stronger historical association with commercial freight operations in the US, while 'railway' feels more general in British usage. 'Rail system' is a broader, more formal term that can include light rail, metros, and high-speed services without implying a single company runs everything. 'Rail network' focuses on the interconnectedness of routes. For example: 'The British railway was privatised in the 1990s.' 'The US railroad system carries enormous amounts of freight.' 'The city built an integrated rail system with buses and trams.' 'The rail network in Japan is famous for punctuality.'

railway ↗railroad ↗rail systemrail network

Common collocations

Nouns

  • railway station
  • railway company
  • railway line
  • railway track
  • railway worker
  • railway system
  • railway network
  • railway bridge

Phrases

  • work for the railway
  • improve the railway
  • nationalise the railway
  • privatise the railway

Prepositions

  • by railway
  • on the railway
  • over the railway
  • across the railway

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

'Railway' combines 'rail' (from Old French 'reille', meaning 'iron bar', itself from Latin 'regula' meaning 'straight stick' or 'rule') with 'way' (from Old English 'weg', meaning 'path' or 'road'). The word was first used in the late 1700s for horse-drawn wagon systems running on iron rails. By the mid-1800s it had taken on its modern meaning of a steam-powered passenger and freight transport system.