A tramway is a light rail transportation corridor, usually following the streets of a city. These lines may diverge from the street network at various points, or follow dedicated pathways, but are generally slower and require less infrastructure than rapid transit lines.

The line can share the general course of city streets while diverging onto its own route in places. A dedicated section does not by itself remove the tramway character.

A rapid transit line has a separate right-of-way and generally more substantial infrastructure. The corridor form is distinct from an individual station on the line.