Transport Terrestre - Infrastructure ferroviaire

a steel track on which trains run

rail

a pair of metal bars that trains use to move

voie ferrée

a set of tracks that trains travel on between destinations

ligne de chemin de fer, voie ferrée

an important railroad line between two cities or large towns

grande ligne, voie principale

a secondary railway line that splits from a main line

ligne secondaire, branche ferroviaire

a short track connected to a main track, used for loading, unloading, or storing trains

voie de garage, voie accessoire

a short railway track branching off from a main line, typically leading to a specific facility

voie de raccordement, dérivation ferroviaire

the layer of crushed stones or gravel placed under and around railway tracks to keep them in place and provide drainage

ballast de voie, gravier de voie

a railway system that has only one rail instead of two, usually in an elevated position

monorail

a mechanical installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another

aiguillage, commutateur

a type of railway powered by cables that goes up and down a slope

funiculaire

an additional rail providing electric power to trains, often used in subway systems

rails de caténaire, troisième rail

a wire or cable that is used to carry electricity or signals and is supported above the ground by poles or towers

ligne aérienne, câble aérien

a crosspiece used to hold the rails in place and keep them evenly spaced

rail, traverse

the farthest point reached by a railway line or the starting point for transport of goods

terminus ferroviaire, point terminal

the layer of stones or other material on which the railway tracks are laid

lit de voie, couche de ballast

a flat piece of metal used to join and support the ends of rails in a railroad track

plaque de jonction

the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails of a track

écartement, gabarit

a smaller distance between railroad tracks, less than the standard size, often used in mountains or small space

voie étroite, gabarit étroit

the most common distance between railroad tracks, which is 1,435 mm apart

voie ferrée à écartement standard, écartement standard

a place where trains regularly stop for passengers to get on and off

gare

a place where trains stop to pick up or drop off passengers and cargo

gare ferroviaire, station de train

the raised surface in a station next to a railroad track where people can get on and off a train

quai

a large open space or hallway within a building, often used for gatherings or as a central area in transportation hubs like airports or train stations

hall central, espace central

a building or structure from which railway signals and switches are controlled

poste de signalisation, cabine de signalisation

a new train or bus station built on an existing line to serve an area that previously did not have a nearby station

station de comblement, gare de comblement

a major station where multiple train routes converge and services are provided

gare ferroviaire, terminal ferroviaire

a raised structure in a train station where passengers can board and alight from trains, surrounded by tracks on both sides

plateforme centrale, plateforme insulaire

a type of railroad where trains rely on friction between the wheels and the track for propulsion rather than using a cog or rack system

chemin de fer à adhérence, railway à adhérence

a railway with a toothed rail, allowing trains to operate on steep gradients

chemin de fer à crémaillère, rail à crémaillère

a complex of tracks where trains are stored, maintained, and built

dépôt ferroviaire, gare de triage

a specialized railway facility where freight trains are sorted into different tracks according to their destinations or routes

gare de triage, dépôt de triage

a circular railway track that allows trains to change direction without needing to turn around

boucle de ballon, circuit en boucle

a track arrangement where three rails converge to allow trains to change direction

aiguillage en Y, wye

the cross-sectional shape or contour of a railway track's metal rail

profil de rail, profil de voie férroviaire

a term used to describe any equipment, device, or structure used on or alongside railway tracks to facilitate safe and efficient operations

objet de voie, dispositif de voie

a tall structure supporting electrical wires used to power trains

pylône de courant de traction, pylône électrique de traction