railway

/ˈreɪlweɪ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈreɪlweɪ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrāl-ˌwā/ (ame, mw)

railway — noun

  • railwaysingular
  • railwaysplural

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

1.名詞A2
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

the railway

on the railway

over the railway

用法筆記

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'.

常見錯誤

❌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.名詞B1
釋義

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

例句

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

同義詞
  • 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

文法句型

the railway

by railway

national railway

the railway company

用法筆記

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').

常見錯誤

❌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.