train ferry

plural train ferries

1. nauticalA ferry used to transport rail vehicles from one railway line to another across a stretch of water.

   Even without the Channel tunnel, British Railways carry on a substantial exchange of traffic with the Continent by the various train ferries, which handle some 500,000 tons of cargo annually.

   1960 March, “Talking of Trains: London-Paris in four hours”, in Trains Illustrated, page 134

   1 more example

   Pack ice, at times mounting to a height of 35 ft., snow, fog, and floating mines all played their part in the disorganisation of railway services, and most of the train ferry services were completely suspended for a month or more; [...].

   1940 May, “Overseas Railways: Icebound Denmark”, in Railway Magazine, page 302