Meaning of light railway | Babel Free

Definitions

A railway built at a lower cost, with a lighter track and to a lower standard than a main-line railway.

UK

Examples

“Under a Light Railway Order of 1904, the line was extended to Appledore, and opened thence on May 1, 1908, bringing the route length up to a fraction over 7 miles. The whole system was worked under this Order as a light railway, but this caused some friction with the local authorities when, under the authority of the Board of Trade, the gates were removed at five level crossings in May, 1905.”

“Although the line is officially a light railway, it is of standard gauge, and the traffic, particularly during and since the war years, is anything but light.”

CEFR level