Unit 7. Coach Travel

WORD BANK ******************

to arrive — приходить, прибывать

broken-down — вышедший из строя

coach — туристский, экскурсионный автобус

to change coaches — пересесть с автобуса на автобус

condensation — конденсация

driving licence — водительское удостоверение

escort — сопровождающий

to get about — ездить

to get on (in; into) a bus — сесть в автобус

kerb (curb) — край тротуара

luggage compartment — багажное отделение

mileage —пробег в милях

to park — парковать (ся)

to pull in — прибывать

to pull out — отходить

to pull up — останавливаться

to ride — вести автобус

road — дорога

terminus — конечный пункт

traffic — уличное движение

traffic jam — пробка на проезжей части

traffic lights — светофор

traffic policeman — регулировщик уличного движения

traffic sign — дорожный знак

tyre — шина (AmE: tire)

vehicle — транспортное средство

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HOLIDAY COACH DISCOMFORTS

A passenger's experience

Our destination was Scarborough, a journey which took us from 9.20 a.m. until 3.15 p.m., including stops. As soon as we arrived in the departure queue we ran into trouble. A man car­rying a fistful of papers came rushing down the ranks shouting: "Is there a party of three anywhere?" As we were a party of three we stepped out of the ranks, and he said: "Follow me, there's just three seats left on this bus just leaving." He piled our bags into the luggage compartment and ushered us into the coach. But every seat was full, and we very sheepishly got out, waited while our bags were taken out, and started to look for the place where we had been in the queue. But the official told us to stay at the head of the queue until the next coach drew in.

There we stood, feeling very foolish, and all the time hear­ing remarks from the crowd about "jumping the queue" and "some people get away with it," and so on. The official had dis­appeared, leaving us to bear the consequences of his inefficien­cy. A good start!

A stop for lunch

Eventually we found ourselves seated comfortably in a coach. The first part of our journey was uneventful, and we arrived at Otley, the first stop, feeling quite contented with the world in general. The conductor murmured: "Twenty minutes!" then got out leaned against the side of the coach and lit a cigarette.

The next stop was for lunch. Lunch was a hurried affair, served by harassed waitresses who hardly had time to take the money. We had neither soup nor sweet, and not until we were well on our way again did I discover through talking to another passenger that I had been charged for three full meals. There were no price lists up in this cafe, so I had no means of know­ing the correct charges.

The outward journey proceeded without any further event — but the return journey was a different matter. Our departure time was 4.15 p.m., but I decided to take our bags to the coach sta­tion left-luggage office in the morning. Gilt letters on the of­fice window stated: "left luggage," so in I went and plonked my bags on the counter. The clerk gave me a half-pitying look and told me that the "left luggage" was "inside the coach station, just on the left."

I came inside and stood and watched, while other travellers put their bags on the counter, picked them up again, and came out with a bemused look on their faces. But when they got to

the place to which they were directed they found that to be full and were diverted to another point.

We arrived, at the station at about 3.45 p.m. giving our­selves — as we thought — plenty of time to catch our coach. 1 asked the inspect or where we caught our coach for Blackburn. He asked could he see our tickets. He looked at our tickets, pursed his lips and muttered something about "service buses and excursions" which was all double talk to me, as I had booked a return ticket for Blackburn to Scarborough and had not been told about any complications.

At last the inspector said: "Wait in the queue over there be­hind the wall." We could not see any queue there, but when we got behind the wall there was just one long queue in which pas­sengers for all parts were lumped together. There was a sign at the head of the queue: BOLTON-WARRINGTON- ST. HELENS, but as most of the people who were waiting were for Blackpool, Preston and Blackburn, 1 could only imagine that the cleaners had forgotten to move the sign.

No luggage compartments

When we had been waiting about 15 minutes there was a deuce of a row at the head of the queue. It was due to the fact that two ordinary buses without luggage compartments had been put on, and Blackburn passengers had — quite rightly — refused to board them.

We failed to get on the Blackburn coach, and were left among an assortment of passengers for different towns in East Lancash­ire who were all ushered into one vehicle. The coach seemed to visit every town in the district before arriving at Burnley, where we.had to change coaches for the last few miles to Blackburn. There we arrived feeling utterly fed up and wondering if we had case for claiming our money back. The next time I book with a coach firm I shall certainly ask about the type of vehicle I shall be expected to travel in.

Passengers save for 50 weeks for their annual holiday and they expect something a little better than what they get in their ev­eryday lives.

(by J. Wilkins)

Comprehension questions:

1. How long did the journey take?

2. Where did they run into trouble?

3. Why did they step out of the ranks?

1. Where did the man carrying a fistful of papers pile their bags into?

4. Why did they sheepishly get out?

2. Why did they stand at the head of the queue, feeling very foolish?

5. What did they have for lunch?

3. When did he find out he had been charged for 3 full meals?

4. Where did the author decide to take the bags in the morn­ing?

10. What did the gilt letters on the office window stand for?

11. Why did other travellers come out with a bemused look on their faces?

12. What did the inspector mutter when he saw their tickets?

13. Why were his words all double talk to the author?

14. What sign was there at the head of the queue behind the wall?

15. How much time had they been waiting there?

16. What fact was it due to?

17. Did they manage to get on the Blackburn coach?

18. Did the coach go direct to Blackburn?

19. What thoughts did they arrive there with?

20. What do people expect from their annual holiday?

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