A railroad can be shown as a line with bars drawn across it, like a train's track. All the symbols for a map are often grouped together in a MAP KEY for reference.

Railroads are traditionally symbolized on maps using a solid or dashed line with small perpendicular "tick marks" (cross-hatching) that resemble the ties of a real track. This is often referred to as a "ladder" or "railway" line. In 2026, modern digital cartography uses different variations to indicate the type and status of the line: a single line with thin cross-ticks typically denotes a single-track line, while a double line or a thicker line with ticks indicates a multi-track main line. Color coding is also common; black or dark gray is the standard, but some maps use distinct colors to differentiate between high-speed rail, freight-only lines, or abandoned tracks (often shown as dashed lines without ticks). On topographic maps, additional symbols might include small rectangles for stations or specific line patterns to indicate whether the track is standard, narrow, or broad gauge.