trackage rights

Trackage rights are agreements where a railroad company allows another company to use its tracks to move trains. Instead of owning the track infrastructure, the leasing company can operate trains over it, often to access a specific location or connect routes more efficiently. This arrangement benefits both parties: the track owner earns revenue from the rights, while the train operator gains access without building new tracks. Trackage rights are common in freight and passenger rail services, enabling flexible routing, reducing costs, and improving service coverage without extensive infrastructure investment.