railway
8 synonyms for railway, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A transport system that runs trains on fixed tracks (British English).
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use railway
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
railway station
railway line
railway track
Etymology
A compound of "rail" and "way."
Full origin of railway →Frequently asked questions
What does “railway” mean?
The word “railway” means a transport system that runs trains on fixed tracks (British English). In plain terms, the British word for what Americans call a railroad.
How do you pronounce “railway”?
“Railway” is pronounced RAYL-way (/ˈɹeɪlˌweɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “railway” in a sentence?
Here is “railway” used in a sentence: “They took the railway from London to Edinburgh.”
What is another word for “railway”?
Words with a similar meaning to “railway” include rwy and Ry.
What part of speech is “railway”?
“Railway” is a noun.
Is “railway” a common word?
“Railway” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a railway and a railroad?
They mean the same thing, a track-based system for running trains. Railway is the standard term in British English and much of the Commonwealth, while railroad is normal in American English. The underlying technology is identical; only the regional preference differs. Britons ride the railway; Americans ride the railroad.
What are the main parts of a railway?
A railway combines several key elements: the track, made of steel rails fixed to sleepers on a bed of ballast; the trains themselves, including locomotives and carriages; stations where passengers board; and signalling systems that keep trains safely apart. Together these form the network that moves people and freight.
What is the difference between a railway and an underground or metro?
An underground, metro, or subway is a type of railway, usually running in and beneath cities on its own dedicated tracks. The word railway is broader, covering long-distance and mainline networks between towns as well. So every metro is a railway, but not every railway is a metro.
