Land Transportation - Railroad Infrastructure

Here you will learn some English words related to passenger accommodations such as "rail", "track ballast", and "gauge."

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rail [noun]

a steel track on which trains run

Ex: He watched the train glide smoothly along the rail .

track [noun]

a pair of metal bars that trains use to move

Ex: Trains run along these tracks , their wheels fitting snugly onto the rails , allowing for efficient transportation .

railroad line [noun]

a set of tracks that trains travel on between destinations

Ex: They planned to extend the railroad line to new areas .

main line [noun]

an important railroad line between two cities or large towns

Ex: The main line runs between the capital city and the industrial center , facilitating commerce .

branch line [noun]

a secondary railway line that splits from a main line

Ex: The branch line connected to the main line at the junction .

siding [noun]

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

Ex: They used the siding to store out-of-service trains .

spur [noun]

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

Ex: They constructed a new spur to access the industrial park .

track ballast [noun]

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

Ex: Track ballast helps to prevent the rails from moving when trains pass over them .

monorail [noun]

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

Ex: The futuristic design of the monorail stations attracted tourists and became a local landmark .

switch [noun]

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

Ex: They maintained the switch regularly for safety .

funicular [noun]

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

Ex:

third rail [noun]

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

Ex: The third rail ran alongside the regular tracks .

overhead line [noun]

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

Ex: An overhead line runs through our town to provide electricity to all the houses .

tie [noun]

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

Ex: He counted the ties between each rail section .

railhead [noun]

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

Ex:

track bed [noun]

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

Ex: The quality of the track bed affects the stability of the trains .

tie plate [noun]

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

Ex: A strong tie plate is essential for maintaining the stability of the railway track .

gauge [noun]

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

Ex:

narrow gauge [noun]

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

Ex: The narrow gauge allowed for sharper turns .

standard gauge [noun]

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

Ex: They upgraded the railway to standard gauge .

train station [noun]

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

Ex: I took a taxi from my house to the train station .

railroad station [noun]

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

Ex: He bought a ticket at the railroad station .

platform [noun]

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

Ex: The announcement indicated that the train to Berlin would arrive at platform 3 .

concourse [noun]

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

Ex: In the center of the shopping mall , a spacious concourse served as a meeting point for shoppers to rest and regroup before continuing their retail therapy .

signal box [noun]

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

Ex: He learned about signaling systems in the signal box .

infill station [noun]

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

Ex: After the infill station opened , more people started using public transport instead of driving .

railroad terminal [noun]

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

Ex: The railroad terminal connected several major lines .

island platform [noun]

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

Ex: Trains arriving on the island platform often required passengers to walk a short distance to reach the exit of the station .

adhesion railway [noun]

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

Ex: Operators ensure that adhesion railways are kept clear of debris to maintain sufficient grip between the wheels and the rails .

cog railway [noun]

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

Ex: They maintained the cog railway for tourists .

railway yard [noun]

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

Ex: He worked as a mechanic in the railway yard .

classification yard [noun]

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

Ex: Railroad workers use switches and tracks to maneuver each car within the classification yard , ensuring they end up in the correct train .

balloon loop [noun]

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

Ex: Passengers enjoyed the scenic views as the train navigated the gentle curve of the balloon loop .

wye [noun]

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

Ex: At the wye , the locomotive was turned around to head back in the opposite direction .

rail profile [noun]

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

Ex: The maintenance crew inspected the rail profile regularly to detect any signs of wear or deformation .

wayobject [noun]

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

Ex: Overhead wires are essential wayobjects for electrified railways , providing power to trains .

traction current pylon [noun]

a tall structure supporting electrical wires used to power trains

Ex: During the storm , one traction current pylon was damaged , causing a temporary suspension of train operations .

midway [noun]

a wide main pathway in facilities like railroad yards or factories, flanked by work buildings or storage areas

Ex: Newly built train cars were assembled near the midway for easy access .

Land Transportation
Vehicle Terms and Types	Vehicle Body Types	Utility Vehicles	Personal and Performance Vehicles
Historical Vehicles and Carriages	Emergency Vehicles and Transportation Services	Public Transportation	Vehicle Undercarriage and Main Structure
Vehicle Systems	Vehicle Interior	Vehicle Exterior and Accessories	Engine Components and Additives
Vehicle Users	Transit Actions	Driving Operations and Terms	Driving Techniques
Fueling Terms	Road Accidents and Conditions	Driving Offences and Crimes	Traffic Terminology and Regulation
Traffic Signs	Documentation and Charges	Vehicle Maintenance and Restoration	Automotive Industry
Infrastructure	Road Design and Features	Urban Roads and Spaces	Residential and Rural Spaces
Highway Infrastructure and Intersections	Road Construction and Maintenance	Road Barriers and Safety Elements	Rolling Stock
Train and Locomotive Parts	Passenger Accomadations	Railroad Infrastructure	Railroad Operations and Safety Control
Railroad Personnel	Railroad Signals and Maintenance