guideway

A guideway is a fixed structure or surface that provides the path and mechanical guidance for a guided transport vehicle. It constrains the vehicle’s motion to a prescribed route and, in many systems, supplies support, alignment, and sometimes propulsion or suspension elements. The vehicle carries guiding elements such as flanged wheels, rollers, guide rails, grooves, or magnets that engage with or respond to the guideway.

Forms and uses: In rail-based guided transport, the guideway consists of rails or a channel that the wheels or rollers follow. This includes conventional railways, light rail, and tramways, where the vehicle is steered and supported by the track. Monorails use a single central rail that the vehicle interfaces with. Magnetic-levitation systems use a guideway of magnets to provide levitation, lift, and lateral guidance without touching the surface. Automated guideway transit and many guided-bus systems employ fixed guideways embedded in or alongside roadways to constrain steering and maintain alignment.

Construction and maintenance: Guideways may be at-grade, elevated, or underground. They are typically built from concrete, steel, or composite materials. Precision in alignment and joint integrity is important for safety and ride quality, particularly for rail and maglev guideways. Maintenance tasks include regular inspection, wear management of contacting surfaces, and calibration of guiding elements in magnetically guided systems.

See also: rail, monorail, maglev, guided bus, funicular.