How to buy a train ticket in English
A round-trip ticket to Beacon, please.
“A ticket to Beacon and back, please.”
When: At the ticket window or with a station worker
The moment
You are at the ticket window in Grand Central Terminal and you want a train ticket to Beacon for a day trip. The line behind you is long, so keep it quick.
A1 · Unit 3 · Getting around
The lines
One-way or round-trip
Say where you go and if you come back. "A round-trip ticket to Beacon, please" means there and back. "A one-way ticket" means you only go there.
A round-trip ticket to Beacon, please.
“A ticket to Beacon and back, please.”
When to use it: At the ticket window or with a station worker
What you’ll hear back: Peak or off-peak? (Busy time or quiet time? The price is different.)
When's the next train?
"When's the next train?" asks what time the next one leaves. Say "When's the next train to Beacon?" to be clear. Change train to bus and it still works.
When's the next train to Beacon?
“What time does the next train to Beacon leave?”
When to use it: When you just missed one and want the soonest
What you’ll hear back: There's one at 10:45.
Words for this scene
| Word or phrase | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Which track is it on? | WICH TRAK iz-it AHN | Where do I go to get on this train? |
The 10:45 to Beacon, which track is it on? Where do I get on the 10:45 train to Beacon? Tip: Big US stations say track, and show it minutes before leaving. | ||
| Do I have to change trains? | doo-ai HAF-tuh CHAYNJ TRAYNZ | Must I get off and take a second train? |
To get to Beacon, do I have to change trains? Can I go to Beacon on one train only? Tip: Americans often say transfer too: "You transfer at Croton." | ||
| Is this an express train? | iz-this-uh-nik-SPRES TRAYN | Does this train skip some stops and go faster? |
Excuse me, is this an express train or a local? Excuse me, does this train stop everywhere or only at some stops? Tip: In New York, local trains stop everywhere; express trains skip stations. | ||
Your objective
Buy a return ticket to where you’re going and ask what time the next train leaves.
- a return ticket
- where to
- the time of the next train
Lines that get it done
- A round-trip ticket to Beacon, please.
- When's the next train to Beacon?
In the live scene the objective stays on screen, and the Replay afterwards says whether you got it done.
Check yourself
1. You go to Beacon today and come back tonight. What do you ask for?
- A round-trip ticket to Beacon, please.
- A one-way ticket to Beacon, please.
- Two one-way tickets from Beacon, please.
- A ticket to come back from Beacon, please.
Show the answer
A round-trip ticket to Beacon, please.
Round-trip means there and back. One-way means you only go there.
2. The screen shows your train, but you don't know where to get on. What do you say?
- Which track is it on?
- Which track are you on?
- Where is the track going?
- How many tracks is it?
Show the answer
Which track is it on?
"Which track is it on?" asks where your train is waiting.
3. The worker says "You have to change at Croton." What does this mean?
- You get off at Croton and take another train.
- You pay more money at Croton.
- Your ticket is only good until Croton.
- The train changes its name at Croton.
Show the answer
You get off at Croton and take another train.
Change trains means get off and get on a second train.