A trans–continental railway runs across a continent and links its two ends. These railways were constructed for economic and political reasons to facilitate long runs in different directions. They serve as vital transportation arteries across vast distances.

For example, the Trans–Siberian Railway runs from St. Petersburg in the west to Vladivostok on the Pacific Coast in the east. Similarly, the Trans–Canadian Railways connects Halifax in the east to Vancouver on the Pacific Coast. These lines help integrate regions, such as connecting industrial areas with wheat belts, making them complementary to one another.