“Train track” is a term normally used by young children who know no different. I agree there may be some logic to the term, but grammatically it certainly isn’t the norm.
The term Train Station annoys me. It seems that there is a general trend these days to use the least amount of syllables as possible.
Not only does Transport for Gtr Manchester use "train station" on their publicity but also "train line" for railway! When I worked there I did suggest that "a public body like ours" should set a good example. Does anyone say "train line"? And yes I regard train station as an Americanism.
(Quotes likely not in "chronological" order -- apologies.)
My personal "take" on this issue -- not founded on considerations of logic, or correct-or-not use of language -- is that: with my being aged 75, from a relatively educated and "large-vocabularied" middle-class background -- I grew up with, and have always favoured and used, the "railway station" wording. Am not one of those who get apoplectic over the use of "train station": just find it somewhat annoying because it strikes me as essentially, infantile. I have a gut dislike -- again, not to the point of waxing homicidal about it as some seem to do -- of "baby-talk" invading common English usage, as per the tendency which seems to obtain nowadays; cognate with, as per
@Ashley Hill above, the strong tendency to favour monosyllables. "Train track" and "train line", as quoted above, do irritate me considerably; just feel that they look and sound moronic. If monosyllablising has to happen, I would much prefer "rail track" and "rail line".
A related thing is, I feel, the strong tendency of juveniles and/or those for whom railway matters are not a big element in their lives: to refer to anything which runs on rails and is not a tram, as -- regardless of function or number of railed items -- a "train". This annoys me; but the feeling is got, that getting upset about its being done by "the masses", is likely the futile ultimate in kicking-against-the-pricks. Still, it sometimes grates; those like me, wish that railway institutions of whatever kind, would not -- as they often seem to -- collude in this perceived "dumbing-down". I cringe a little, whenever I visit the Isle of Wight Steam Railway's headquarters at Haven Street, at the title "Train Story" borne by its extensive and very interesting museum exhibit there. The thought is prompted -- "for heaven's sake, don't descend to expressing yourselves like three-year-olds: the kids are likely to be interested in seeing the museum anyway -- give it a more adult title, and let the small fry stretch their minds and vocabularies a bit".
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