A railway track (British English and UIC terminology) or railroad track (American English), also known as a train track or permanent way (often perway in Australia), is the structure on a railway or railroad consisting of the rails, fasteners, railroad ties (sleepers, British English) and ballast (or slab track), ...

In technical and engineering circles, the actual steel bar that trains run on is formally known as "Running Rail." It is part of the Permanent Way, a term that encompasses the rails, sleepers (ties), and ballast. The specific shape used globally in 2026 is the "Flat-Bottom Rail" (or Vignoles rail), characterized by a wide base, a thin vertical "web," and a thick "head" where the wheels make contact. Rails are also classified by their Weight Per Yard; for instance, "141-pound rail" means a three-foot section weighs 141 lbs. When two rails are welded together into long, continuous stretches to eliminate the "click-clack" sound and reduce maintenance, it is called CWR (Continuous Welded Rail). In contrast, older sections joined by bolts are called "Jointed Track." Understanding these terms is essential for railway professionals who must distinguish between the "Bullhead Rail" used in older British systems and the standard flat-bottom profiles used everywhere else.