Railroads

The term global railroad is often used by market analysts in research and analysis reports that cover the rail industry and the transportation of goods and passengers around the world. A specific definition for global railroad does not appear in the literature, but the term railroad (or railway) has been defined in several ways. Some define it as the track infrastructure that provides the fixed guideway for rail transportation, whereas others include the equipment, rolling stock, buildings, property, and tracks used in a rail transportation system. Unlike airlines, highways, or seaports in which the infrastructure and equipment are similar between countries, many railroad systems have components, such as different track gauges and power sources, that either restrict the movement between countries or make it inconvenient or expensive. Most current rail systems operate within a single nation or between limited nations with interoperability capabilities, and for these reasons, some claim that a global railroad does not truly exist today. However, the role of railroads as an important part of the global supply chain is undisputable, and there is a growing number of manufacturers and operators with a presence throughout the continents.