A railroad switch, turnout, or points is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a railway junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
A right-hand railroad switch with point indicator pointing to right
Large stations may have hundreds of switches (Frankfurt Central Station, Germany).
Abt switch used in the 1895-built Dresden Funicular Railway (photo of 1985)
A railway worker operating a manual switch at a rail yard in Britain during World War I
Tramway track is used on tramways or light rail operations. As with standard rail tracks, tram tracks have two parallel steel rails, the distance between the heads of the rails being the track gauge.
Tram track on Florent Pauwelslei, Antwerp
Grooved-rail gauntlet track
Light rail tracks with concrete railroad ties (sleepers)