trackage

[ trak-ij ]

noun

1. the whole quantity of track owned by a railroad.
2. the right of one railroad company to use the tracks of another.
3. the money paid for this right.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trackage¹

An Americanism dating back to 1875–80; track + -age

Example Sentences

“The theory here is that Front Range rail and RTD, potentially, could be sharing trackage from Denver to Boulder,” said Sal Pace, the commission’s vice chair and a former lawmaker from Pueblo.

From Washington Times

But trackage and stations fell victim to the 2019 teardown of the nearby Alaskan Way Viaduct for its replacement by a tunnel.

From Seattle Times

The 1998 deal left Union Pacific with permanent “overhead trackage rights” to the rails through the gorge, “so as to preserve the integrity of the Tennessee Pass through route.”

From Washington Times

While both views look west from the north end of the Fremont Bridge, the historical photographer stood a few feet south of Jean’s prospect to include, on the left, the new double trackage of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

From Seattle Times

A quiet row of empty tank cars is better than a never ending series of rock hauling cargo trains, the intended hypothetically more profitable use of the trackage.

From New York Times