What is a yard lead in railway terminology?

In railway terminology, a yard lead refers to a track that connects a rail yard to the mainline, enabling trains to enter and exit the yard. This connection is essential for facilitating the movement of trains from the yard, where cars are assembled, switched, or stored, to the mainline where they can engage in regular rail traffic.

By ensuring that trains can easily transfer between the storage or servicing area and the primary tracks, the yard lead plays a vital role in the efficiency of rail operations. This allows for streamlined switching activities and minimizes disruptions to both yard movements and mainline traffic.

The other options, while related to railway operations, do not accurately define a yard lead. For instance, a short segment for switching trains does involve tracks, but it does not denote the specific function of connecting to the mainline like a yard lead does. A safety zone for workers refers to areas designated to protect workers from hazards, and a device for coupling train cars denotes equipment used for linking cars rather than describing a track connection.