railway
gb/ɹˈeɪlwˌeɪ/ us/ɹˈeɪlwˌeɪ/
A2
English
~ 1200
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
System of tracks and trains
A set of tracks and trains that carry people or things from one place to another.
Usage pattern:
[someone] travels by railway
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'railway' (system) with 'railroad track' (the physical rails) or 'train' (the vehicle).
Synonyms
railroad (More common in American English; 'railway' is more common in British English.)
Antonyms
road (Refers to routes for cars and other road vehicles instead of trains.)
Collocations
national railway
|railway station
|railway line
|railway network
|railway company
Themes
transportation
|travel
|infrastructure
Examples
- The government announced plans to modernize the national railway.
- We took the railway from London to Edinburgh.
- The railway plays a vital role in the country's economy.
- A new railway line will connect the two cities.
- The old railway station has been turned into a museum.
Learner examples
- The railway is busy in the morning.
- We go to the city by railway.
- The railway connects my town to the capital.
- Many people use the railway every day.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Single track or line in a railway
One track or route where trains travel in a railway system.
Synonyms
rail line (Commonly used to refer to a single route within a network.)
Collocations
branch railway
|heritage railway
|light railway
Themes
transportation
|travel
Examples
- The heritage railway operates steam trains on weekends.
- A new light railway will run through the city center.
- This branch railway connects the main line to smaller towns.
Learner examples
- The light railway is very fast.
- We took a small railway to the village.
- The old railway is not used now.
Grammar
Expressions
heritage railway
1/hˈɛɹɪtɪd͡ʒ ɹˈeɪlwˌeɪ/
fixed phrase
Historical tourist train system
An old train system kept for visitors to enjoy as history.
Examples
- We took a ride on the heritage railway last summer.
- Volunteers help run the heritage railway.
railway line
1/ɹˈeɪlwˌeɪ lˈaɪn/
fixed phrase
Route with tracks for trains
Tracks between two places where trains travel.
Examples
- The new railway line will reduce travel time by half.
- This railway line passes through beautiful countryside.
railway station
1/ɹˈeɪlwˌeɪ stˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Building where trains stop for passengers
A place where trains stop so people can get on or off.
Examples
- We met at the railway station before the trip.
- The town’s railway station is over 100 years old.