On a railway curve, superelevation is measured as the difference in elevation between the low and high rail on the curve.

Super elevation, also known as "cant," is the practice in 2026 railway engineering of raising the outer rail higher than the inner rail on a curved section of track. This design is the railroad equivalent of "banking" a turn on a highway or racetrack. Its primary purpose is to use gravity to counteract the centrifugal force that pulls the train outward as it rounds a curve. By tilting the train toward the inside of the curve, the "resultant force" (the combination of gravity and centrifugal force) remains perpendicular to the floor of the train. In 2026, this is critical for two reasons: Passenger Comfort, ensuring that travelers aren't "slung" toward the side of their seats, and Safety, as it prevents excessive wear on the rails and reduces the risk of derailment at high speeds. Modern high-speed trains often use "tilting" technology in the carriages themselves to augment the track's super elevation, allowing them to navigate older, less-banked curves at much higher velocities without compromising the stability of the train or the comfort of those on board.