Learn English – What do you call the segment of track between two train stops

terminologyvocabularyword-choice

Is there a dedicated word or expression for a segment of track between two train stops? Can "train station" also refer to the track between two stations?

The context is an article about computer simulations of railway vehicles in which I would like to avoid sentences such as:

Each track section between two consecutive train stops was considered separately…

and replace them by something like:

Each train station was considered separately….

Best Answer

There are a number of terms used within the railway industry to define sections of track infrastructure where conventional signalling is used.

Technically, a Track Section (sometimes Track Circuit) is the piece of track between two signals, not between two stations.
A Berth is a location within which a single train may be located. This is usually a group of track sections.

The section of track between two stations is known as a Path. This will encompass a number of Berths and will also define the running line (e.g. fast or slow) as appropriate.

Train timetablers (British English) or schedulers (American English) will create the train's timetable/schedule by defining its paths.

In the example you give, a path would be the term most understood in the industry.

One of the best sources of explanation for railway technical jargon is here.