Railway station to train station?

Question

Just when and why did the phrase change from railway station to train station? It is most annoying to here this used even on bews reports on the tv they use the 'new' phrase!

Answer 1

That's the trouble with semantics.  Oft times terms are interchanged incorrectly.  Also at work in this particular forum is that people are here from around the world, where terms are further confused.  The first thing I learned when I visited Australia was that if at dinner, and I needed something to wipe my mouth with, I was explaned the difference between a "serviette," which was what I needed, and a "napkin,"  which is what I had asked for and what I needed if I were at home.

But, just for info, on US railroads they are referred to simply as a "station,"  a term which also includes sidings and yards or other places referred to in the Timetable by name.  The term has nothing to do with passenger trains or those places where passengers arrive and depart.

Usually, when referring to passenger operations, the place where people board or disembark is called the "depot."

Answer 2

Its just another example of the effect of mass communication. We now receive news via TV and the internet from so many other countries, especially the US, that its no wonder we are picking up more and more of their phrases and expressions. Perhaps "train" is replacing "railway" as its quicker to say, in line with the tendancy to abbreviate everything. The process is gradual and probably unstoppable.

Answer 3

Yeah I agree. at one time you could just say 'I'm going to the station' and everyone knew you meant the railway station. Now they ask, train station, bus station, police station,fire station?

Answer 4

Railway Station is correct, but most pople call it train station, its gradually taken over it seems !

Answer 5

Another phrase adopted from ###

Not sure why.  Not sure about bews either?

We must stop using meaningless phrases like:

Coworkers instead of colleagues,

Issues instead of problems,

amazing instead of wonderful,  

whatever instead of I don't care,

snuck instead of sneaked,

dove instead of dived.

etc etc the list is endless

Answer 6

I suppose people use 'train station' because it's less of a mouthful. You're right however, 'railway station' is the correct term.

Answer 7

But if you think about what it means, its a station for trains, i suppose both terms are correct and are not new train station has been used for many years now

Answer 8

It has never changed, Railway Station is the correct form.

Answer 9

Sounds you want Tobe funny    train station is more  accurate term  for stopping places for trains and buildings to assist in  transporting you   Railways /railroads is a bed that takes you nowhere..

   You know these words are interchangeable  travelling from A  to B you will ask for a train timetable  but a rail ticket THAT'S  SILLY really  Railway station is not in the dictionary

Railway yard where rolling stock is formed into trains

Station is linked as-  assembly point for travellers of buses coaches and trains..

Answer 10

I fully agree with Sir Terrance, let's not forget we're British. It's a Railway Station, NOT a TRAIN station. Originally they we built to serve the railways and would have been used for passengers, mail, newspapers, light freight etc, so the term Railway Station was more suited to the multipurpose nature of the sites.

Bottom line is that it's our invention so if we'd called it a space station or heliport then the terminoligy would be correct.  This is along the same line that we don't have Aircraft Stations, or Boat Stations, they are Airports and Harbours.

The Victorians named them Railway Stations, so that's just how it should be.

You wouldn't call a Catholic/Methodist/etc Church a "Singular religious group congrigation center" would you? no, because it's a Church although using todays modern Bulls**t language then I guess some people would.

Basicly, it's to do with ignorance that is being bred world wide.

Arks me, am a boverd. Too bl**dy right I am!

Answer 11

I am not sure when precisely this occurred, but it is truly an abomination.

I always use the term "railway station".  Let's not forget, we're British.