Travelling by train:
a) carriage (car):
1. reserved ~
2. sleeping ~
3. first-class (sleeper) ~
4. second-class (sleeper) ~
5.  third-class / tourist class ~
6. (non) smoker ~
7. luggage-van
8. day coach (Am.)
9. restaurant- car / dining-car
10. lower berth
11. upper berth
12. compartment
13. bedding
14. rack
b) train:
1. slow ~ 2. fast ~ 3. passenger ~ 4. express ~ 5. (over) night ~
6. through ~
7. local ~
8. long-distance ~
9. freight ~
10. take the train Syn. get on the train
11. get off the train
12. leave (left, left) Syn. start
13. departure
14. miss the train
15. train for /to (Moscow)
16. say good- bye
17. see smb. off
18. arrive (at the station) but: arrive in town, country
19. arrival
20. delay (n. v.) e.g. The train arrived with 30 minutes delay (without delay, on time)
21. according to the time-table
22. run on time
23. be behind schedule
24. late comer
25. while away the time
26. waste time
27. change for e.g. Where do we change for London?
28. departure
29. deliver
30. conductor Syn. attendant, guard
31. passenger
32. track
33. platform
34. waiting-room
35. via e.g. We arrived to New York via Boston.
36. with one’s face to the engine / back to the engine
c) ticket:
1. single ~ Syn. one-way ~ 2. return ~ 3. through ~
4. season ~ 5. book a ticket (cabin) 6. book a ticket on / for a train 7. ticket-office 8. inquiry-office 9. beforehand Syn. in advance 10. pick up (a ticket) 11. ticket inspector / controller
d) luggage (baggage – Am):
1. left-luggage (room) 2. leave one’s luggage in the left luggage Syn. deposit ~ 3. take one’s luggage from the left luggage Syn. collect ~
4. hand luggage
5. a piece of luggage
6. weigh luggage / have one’s luggage weighed
7. be overweight (underweight)
8. trunk
9. suitcase
10. see to the luggage
11. luggage check-in
12. label
13. have one’s luggage labelled
14. receipt
15. claim-check

1. Read the text. Travelling by Train

My friend Harris and his wife Nora were leaving London for Torby, one of the best seaside resorts in England, where they intended to spend their honeymoon. Harris had booked the single tickets by phone well in advance as it was a busy season.

On Sunday morning I went to see my friends off. We took a taxi not to miss the train. When we got out, Harris called a porter. We followed the porter through the station building. There were quite a number of people there: some of them were waiting for the tickets in queues at the booking office, others were sitting in the waiting rooms.

Passing the telegram counter Nora asked me to send a telegram to her uncle who lived in Torby. She wanted him to meet them at the station.

When I came up to my friend's sleeping-car they were already back out of the platform. Harris had shown the tickets to the guard, found the compartment and put the luggage on the rack. They had one upper berth and one lower berth back to the engine. Their carriage was just near the dining-car and Nora said that she would order lunch when the attendant came along.

Soon the guard told the people who had come to see their friends off to leave the car and passengers to get in. I wished my friends a comfortable journey and a minute later the train pulled out.

1. Give equivalents to the words and phrases from the text:

Resort, well in advance, to book single tickets, porter, station building, queue, booking office, waiting room, telegram counter, guard, rack, to have a lower berth back to the engine, dining-car, attendant, to see smb. off, to pull out.

2. Fill in the prepositions where necessary:

• My friend Harris and his wife Nora were leaving ___ London ___ Torby.

• Harris had booked the single tickets __ phone well ___ advance.

• Some of them were waiting ___ the tickets ___ queues ___ the booking office.

• She wanted him to meet them ___ the station.

• He put the luggage ___ the rack.

• A minute later the train pulled ___ .

3. Explain the meaning of the phrasal verb to get in in the sentence Soon the guard told the people who had come to see their friends off to leave the car and passengers to get in. What is the difference between to get in and to get on.

4. Try to image what might happen to Harris and his wife during their railway trip.

2. Read the dialogues. Explain the meaning of the underlined words. Memorize the dialogues and act them out.

***

A: Excuse me, where can I book a ticket to Birmingham?

B: The second window to your right. You’ll see it written up.

A: Could you give me an early morning train to Birmingham tomorrow?

C: How many tickets?

A: Two, please.

C: Just a minute. Let me see.... Well, I can let you have two tickets but in different carriages. Will that do?

A: I’m afraid not. See if you can find two tickets in a non-smoker for the day after tomorrow?

C: Yes, we have some tickets left in a second-class sleeper, if you wish.

A: I won’t have to change, will I?

C: Oh, no. It’s a through train.

***

C: Good afternoon.

T: Good afternoon. I’d like a rail ticket to Amsterdam, please.

C: Certainly. When are you travelling?

T: I’m taking the four o’clock train today.

C: First or second class?

T: First class, please.

C: That’s 82.25, please.

T: Do you accept credit cards?

C: Certainly. Thank you. Sign here, please.

T: Thank you very much.

C: Thank you.

***

Mr. Harris: I’d like a second-class ticket for an overnight train to Liverpool for next Monday, please.

С: There is a slow train at 9.25 p. m.. It arrives in Liverpool at 7.50 a. m.. There is another one which leaves here at 11 p. m. and arrives in Liverpool early in the morning at 6.45. There is nothing after 11.

H: I can’t take 9.25. It’s too early for me. I’d like to go by the fast train. Could you give me a lower berth on it?

C: I’m sorry. I’ve got only upper berths on this train.

H: That’s too bad. Have you got lower berths on the same train on Tuesday?

C: Let me see. Yes, I have one for you.

H: How much is it?

C: Single or return?

H: Return, please.

C: It’s 75.25.

H: Here you are.

C: Thank you, here is your ticket. Carriage 5, compartment 7. Have a nice trip.

H: Thank you.

***

A: How do I get to Oxford, by train or by bus?

C: The train’s quicker.

A: And how long does it take by bus?

Clerk: The bus takes three hours and goes every hour from Victoria Station and the train takes about one and a half hours.

A: Which station do I go from?

Clerk: From Paddington.

A: What time is the next train to Oxford, please?

Clerk: At 9:45.

A: And when does it arrive in Oxford?

Clerk: It gets to Oxford at 11.18.

A: Can I have a third class return?

Clerk: Yes, certainly.

A: And which platform for Oxford, please?

Clerk: Platform 3.

A: Thank you.

***

Harris:  Porter, porter! Will you see to our luggage, please!

Porter: Where for, sir?

Harris: We are going to Dover. Will you have this trunk labelled and put in the luggage van?

Porter: Very well, sir. I'll do it in a moment. Show me, your tickets, please.

Harris: Here they are. Non-smoking carriage   number 5, compartment 6, berths 23 and 24.

Porter:   That's all right. Where can I find you?

Harris: We'll be waiting for you in the refreshment room.  

Porter: Well, I'll come in a few minutes.