southbound

Southbound denotes a direction toward the south or movement in a southward direction. In transportation contexts, it commonly appears on maps and signage to indicate the southernward route or the trains, buses, or lanes proceeding to southern termini. The term is relative to a reference orientation; for example, in a city grid that uses north-south streets, street numbers or destinations help travelers determine which lanes are southbound.

Roadways: Highways and arterials label lanes as northbound and southbound; slip ramps, toll plazas, and interchanges may designate exit numbers for the southbound direction. Traffic management uses sensors and signals to accommodate southbound flow.

Rail and transit: On rail networks, a train moving toward the southern terminus is described as southbound; timetables may list southbound services with corresponding terminal stations. The concept applies similarly to buses and other scheduled transport.

Aviation and maritime: While less common in everyday speech, flight routes and shipping lanes may be described as southbound when traveling toward southern hemispheric destinations; pilots and navigators rely on charts with cardinal directions.

See also: Northbound, Eastbound, Westbound; Directional signage; Transportation terminology.