(rail transport) the rail tracks owned by a company or organisation; a rail networkIt was appropriate that 'King' number 6000 began the return to steam on British Rail metals in 1971.
1901, Kipling, Kim,Now and again a night train roared along the metals within twenty feet of him; but he had all the Oriental’s indifference to mere noise, and it did not even weave a dream through his slumber.
1913, D. H. Lawrence, ,They stood on the foot-bridge over Boathouse Station and looked at the metals gleaming coldly.
