Noun

Singular railroad

Plural railroads

railroad (plural railroads)

1. A permanent road consisting of fixed metal rails to drive trains or similar motorized vehicles on.

   Many railroads roughly follow the trace of older land - and/or water roads

2. The transportation system comprising such roads and vehicles fitted to travel on the rails, usually with several vehicles connected together in a train.
3. A single, privately or publicly owned property comprising one or more such roads and usually associated assets

   Railroads can only compete fully if their tracks are techically compatible with and linked to each-other

4. (figuratively) A procedure conducted or bullied in haste without due consideration.

   The lawyers made the procedure a railroad to get the signatures they needed.

Synonyms

• railroad track, railway

Derived terms

• railroad flat

Rail transport is the conveyance of passengers and goods by means of wheeled vehicles running along railways or railroads. Rail transport is part of the logistics chain, which facilitates international trade and economic growth. Rail transport is capable of high capacity and is energy efficient, but lacks flexibility and is capital intensive.

It consists of trains running along a permanent way, consisting of steel track on ties and ballast. Alongside is a signalling system and sometimes an electrification system. The rolling stock, fitted with metal wheels, moves with low frictional resistance when compared with road vehicles. The operation is carried out by a railway company, providing transport between train stations. Power is provided by a steam engine, diesel engine or electrical transmission. Rail is the safest land transport when compared to other forms of transport.

The oldest, man-hauled railways date to the 6th century BC. With the development of the steam engine, it was possible to construct mainline railways, that were a key component of the industrial revolution. In the 1880s, electric trains were launched, and the first tramways and rapid transit systems came into use. Following the 1940s, unelectrified railways in developed countries replaced steam with diesel. In the 1960s, high-speed rail was launched. Trains have since become more accessible, and some are now driverless. Other forms of rail transport outside of the traditional definition such as maglev trains have also emerged.