铁路运输（英语：rail transport），通称轨道运输或轨道交通。狭义上通常是指一种以具有轮对的车辆沿铁路轨道运行，以达到运送旅客或货物目的的陆上运输方式。而广义的铁路运输尚包括磁浮列车、缆车、索道等并非使用车轮形式，但仍然沿特定轨道运行的运输方式。

在中国大陆，轨道交通一般指城市轨道交通和城际轨道交通。依据《中华人民共和国国家标准 城市轨道交通技术规范》（GB 50490-2009），「城市轨道交通」的定义是：“采用专用轨道导向运行的城市公共客运交通系统，包括地铁系统、轻轨系统、单轨系统、有轨电车、磁浮系统、自动导向轨道系统、市域快速轨道系统。”其英文译名为「urban rail transit」。

Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails.

It is also commonly referred to as train transport. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles run on a prepared flat surface, rail vehicles ("rolling stock") are directionally guided by the tracks on which they run. Track usually consists of steel rails, installed on ties (sleepers) and ballast, on which the rolling stock, usually fitted with metal wheels, moves. Other variations are also possible, such as slab track, where the rails are fastened to a concrete foundation resting on a prepared subsurface.