Travelling by train

Dialogues

At the booking office

Passenger: I want a ticket to London, please. Which train must I take?

Booking-clerk: If I were you, I should take the 8.35 train.

Passenger: Do I have to change anywhere?

Booking-clerk: No, no change, it's a through train.

Passenger: Thank you, a ticket to London, please.

Booking-clerk: Single or return?

Passenger: Return, please, first class.

Booking-clerk: Here you are.

Passenger: Thank you. Can you tell me, what time the train goes ?

Booking-clerk: 8.35. You'll have to hurry if you want to register your luggage.

Passenger: Thanks. (He hurried away.)

* * *

A: Porter, will you see to my luggage, please ?

P: Where for, sir ?

A: I am taking the ten o’clock train for Glasgow. Have this trunk labled and put it in the luggage van, and two suit-cases can go in the carriage.

P: Right, sir. What class ?

A: First. Find me a corner seat facing the engine in a smoker.

P: Have you got your ticket, sir ?

A: No, not yet. Where's the booking-office ?

P: Come along with me, sir. I'll show you. Here it is. You take your ticket, sir, and I'll meet you on the platform.

A: Which platform is it ?

P: Number 8, over there.

* * *

P: Here you are, sir. I've found you a corner seat next to the corridor. Your carriage is near the dining-car and you can order lunch when the attendant comes along.

A: What time do we get to Glasgow ?

P: You're due to arrive at 6.15.

A: Thank you. Here you are.

P: Thank you, sir. I hope you'll find the journey comfortable.

A: Well, if I had some minutes left, I should like to go and get myself a book to while away the time during the journey.

P: I'll bring you a paper, sir.

Ex. 1.

Answer the following questions.

1. How many railway stations are there in your town ? 2. Where do the trains come in and go out ? 3. Where can you buy a ticket for your journey ? 4. What are waiting-rooms for ? 5. Where can you buy a paper ? 6. Who can help you with the luggage ? 7. In what way do the porters carry luggage ? 8. What is a luggage van ? 9. What kinds of trains do you know? 10. What trains do you prefer ? Why ? 11. Where can one have a light refreshment ? 12. What trains have dining-cars ? 13. Do you prefer to book your ticket beforehand or to queue up at the booking-office ? 14. What is the left-luggage office for ? 15. What do the people who prefer to travel light do with their luggage ? 16. Do you like to travel light ? Why ? 17. Do you like to see off your friends and relatives ? 18. Do you like when your friends and relatives come to see you off?

Ex. 2.

Make up your own story using the words and expressions from the list.

At the railway station, to get a morning paper, the waiting-room, the train is due out at, to have a long journey, sleeping-car, through train, stopping train, long distance train, express, local train, to travel light, to register the luggage, the left-luggage office, to hurry along the train, to book the tickets beforehand, dining-car, to queue up, to see smb. off.

Ex. 3.

Complete the following sentences.

1. When we came to the railway station we saw … . 2. If you did not book your ticket beforehand you'll have to … . 3. If you want to buy a ticket for your journey you must … . 4. The porters were busy … . 5. It takes you much time to travel by a stopping train because … . 6. If you have much luggage and prefer to travel light you can … . 7. If you don't like to queue up at the booking-office you can … . 8. They didn't want to miss the train that's why … . 9. The train was ready to leave that's why … . 10. The train starts in 20 minutes so if you are hungry you can … . 11. If you are in a hurry and don't want to travel by a stopping train … .

Ex. 4.

Translate into English.

1. Сколько железнодорожных вокзалов в вашем городе? 2. Поезда подходят к платформе каждые 5 минут. 3. Если вы не заказали билет заранее, вы можете купить его в билетной кассе на вокзале. 4. Билетные кассы находятся справа от зала ожидания. 5. Газеты и журналы можно купить в киоске в зале ожидания. 6. Носильщики везут тележки с багажом к багажному вагону. 7. Поезд № 23 идёт без остановок, а поезд № 7 останавливается на многих станциях. 8. Скорые поезда не останавливаются на всех станциях. 9. В поездах местного назначения нет вагона-ресторана. 10. В каждом поезде дальнего следования есть багажный вагон, вагон-ресторан и спальные вагоны. 11. Она не сдала багаж в камеру хранения, так как не хотела стоять в очереди. 12. Те, кто любит путешествовать налегке, сдают чемоданы в багаж. 13. Вы любите провожать друзей ? 14. Дайте мне, пожалуйста, билет до Москвы. 15. До Воронежа нет прямого поезда, вам придется делать пересадку в Москве. 16. Я вам советую взять билет туда и обратно. В Москве трудно купить билеты на Санкт-Петербург, и вам придётся стоять в очереди. 17. Многие пассажиры предпочитают места по ходу поезда. 18. Поезд из Киева должен прибыть в 12 часов к платформе № 5.

Ex. 5.

Be ready to speak on the following topics.

1. What a large railway station looks like. 2. Your last railway trip. 3.A funny or sad incident that happened to you while on travel.