# Trams in the Rail Network

## Background

Within the OS NGD Transport Theme, in the OS Transport Network Collection, the Railway Link Feature Type represents geometry of Great Britain’s Rail Network.

This feature type provides a routable network when used in conjunction with the Railway Node Feature Type. The rail network includes tram tracks as well as train tracks. Trams can be identified by the description attribute, which describes the nature of the railway the feature is representing (for example, description = Tram).

## Technical detail

The Railway Link Feature Type provides a generalised geometry for the rail network of Great Britain. The generalisation of the rail network ensures full connectivity between relevant rail nodes. Rail track generalisation can be typically 3 or 4 sets of rail tracks represented as one link (for example, multiple siding tracks); however, this may not always be the case (for example, tracks that pass either side of a station platform are normally included to ensure connectivity at a station). 

## Examples of uses this data does support

* Routing along the rail network, including trams.
* Visualising track centreline geometry. Railways Links provide the generalised geometry of rail and tram tracks.

<figure><img src="/files/IMcDPyZbaccyXTng36If" alt="Example map comparing Tram On Road and Railway Link Feature Types. A background map has been included to provide context." width="563"><figcaption><p>Example map comparing Tram On Road and Railway Link Feature Types. A background map has been included to provide context.</p></figcaption></figure>

## Examples of uses this data doesn't support

* Identifying which Road Links have a tram track on them.


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