Rural matter linked to railway (7)
I believe the answer is:
country
'rural' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'matter linked to railway' is the wordplay.
'matter' becomes 'count' (both can mean to be of significance).
'linked to' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'railway' becomes 'ry' (abbreviation for railway).
'count'+'ry'='COUNTRY'
(Other definitions for country that I've seen before include "land?" , "State; region" , "Nation" , "See 9" , "Rural" .)