Right-of-way (transportation)

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A right-of-way (ROW; plural: rights-of-way) is a strip of land granted, through an easement or other mechanism, for transportation purposes such as for a rail line or highway. In the case of an easement, it may revert to its original owners if the facility is abandoned.

In the United States, railroad rights-of-way are considered private property by the respective railroad owners and by applicable state laws. Most U.S. railroads employ their own police forces who can arrest and prosecute trespassers found on their rights-of-way.

In the United Kingdom railway companies received the right to resume land for a right of way by way of private act of Parliament. The procedure required to get a private act through Parliament was in itself expensive, and provided some brake on less viable railway schemes.

[edit] Uses other than rail transport

Railroad rights-of-way need not exclusively be for railroad tracks and related equipment. Easements are frequently given to permit the laying of communication cables (such as optical fiber) or natural gas pipelines, or to run electric power transmission lines overhead.

Some railroad rights-of-way include recreational rail trails.