1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. B1 speaking
  4. Problems at the train station

Problems at the train station

Makayla needs a bit of help from the station manager at the train station. 

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and follow the instructions to practise your speaking.

Preparation

Transcript

Station manager: Good afternoon. How can I help you?
Makayla: Hello … Erm … yes. I’ve just missed my train!
Station manager: Ah. Where are you going?
Makayla: To Manchester.
Station manager: Ah yes. That was the 16:20.
Makayla: What time’s the next one?
Station manager: Let’s see. The next train to Manchester leaves at 17:15 from platform 2.
Makayla: 17:15 … so that’s quarter past five … platform 2. What time does it get to Manchester?
Station manager: At 18:30.
Makayla: Half past six … erm … Can I use the same ticket?
Station manager: Just a moment, please. Can I see your ticket?
Makayla: Yes, here you are.
Station manager: Ah, sorry, no ... You can’t use this ticket on the 17:15 train.
Makayla: Really? Why not?
Station manager: This ticket is valid on trains before 5 and after 7 o’clock. During rush hour tickets are more expensive.
Makayla: Oh … do I have to buy another ticket?
Station manager: Yes, well, I can change your old ticket for a new ticket. Your ticket cost £7.50 and the new ticket is £11.00. So you just pay the difference, which is £3.50.
Makayla: Ah, OK, erm ... What platform is it from? 
Station manager: Platform 2. Just over there, on the other side.
Makayla: OK, thanks. Bye.
Station manager: All right. Bye bye!

...

Station manager: Good afternoon. How can I help you?
Makayla: Hello … Erm … yes. I’ve just m_____ my train!
Station manager: Ah. Where are you going?
Makayla: T__ Manchester.
Station manager: Yes. That was the 16:20.
Makayla: W___ time’s the n___ one?
Station manager: Let’s see. The next train to Manchester leaves at 17:15 from platform 2.
Makayla: 17:15 … so that’s q______ past f___ … platform 2. W___ time d___ it g__ t__ Manchester?
Station manager: 18:30.
Makayla: H___ p___ six … erm … Can I use the same t_____?
Station manager: Just a moment, please. Can I see your ticket?
Makayla: Yes, h___ you are.
Station manager: Ah, I’m sorry, no ... You can’t use this ticket on the 17:15 train.
Makayla: Really? W__ not?
Station manager: Because this ticket is only valid before 5 or after 7 o’clock. During rush hour tickets are more expensive.
Makayla: Oh … do I have to buy a______ t_____?
Station manager: Yes, well, I can change your old ticket for a new ticket. The old ticket cost £7.50 and the new ticket is £11.00, so you just need to pay the difference, which is £3.50.
Makayla: OK, erm ... What p_______ is it from? 
Station manager: Platform 2. Over there.
Makayla: OK, thanks. Bye.
Station manager: You’re welcome.

Worksheets and downloads

Problems at the train station - exercises287.29 KB
Problems at the train station - answers265.18 KB
Problems at the train station - transcript279.21 KB
Discussion

Do you like travelling by train? Have you ever had any problems on your journey?

Language level
B1 Intermediate
Topics
speaking skills
transport
travel
Grammar
inversion
Average: 3.3 (9 votes)
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Comments

Submitted by Ayanali on Mon, 10/07/2024 - 07:05

Yes, travelling by train is my favourite transportation because it is more convenient and comfortable than airplane and faster than many other things. And, I haven't had any problem when I was travelling.

Submitted by @AMR-.'10 on Tue, 04/02/2024 - 14:00

I liked trains they were one of my favourite transportations I loved travelling with trains and planes but now I travel with plane

Submitted by Demon_Hunter on Wed, 03/20/2024 - 13:29

Yes,I often travel by train to my grandparents' house alone.I remember once I was coming back from their house,I kept hearing faint cries in the train but there wasn't any passengers and i began to tremble in fear.Since then, I decided not to travel alone.

Submitted by Jxxxxn on Wed, 03/20/2024 - 13:23

Yes, I do like travel by train. But I once have problems with their food, there was hairs in it.

Submitted by Aleksa D on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 11:46

Trains are always late, i wanna cry

Submitted by Kolomoyskiy on Tue, 03/19/2024 - 11:46

Yes I like travelling by train.

Submitted by pomelo on Wed, 03/29/2023 - 13:25

I love traveling by train, I remember eating on the train as a kid and the train was shaking so much that the food was all over me

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Submitted by flyinghigh on Mon, 04/18/2022 - 10:04

I have never traveled by train but if I have to predict I think that there are some problems. As a result the travel can be plesant and you will reach your destination.

Submitted by Arivelde on Thu, 04/15/2021 - 15:19

Yes I did, the most unplesurable journey, in train, that I've had it was in the Netherlands. I was going with my family from Amsterdam to a province in the south and in the way the train run over something. The train had to stop, we waited a really long time. After a that, the train began to work again, but no one said what had happend, not even one word.

Submitted by Liuda on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 13:36

Yes, of cours. I very like travelling by train. My fist journey had been really amazing by train. My family and I went to Odesa in Ukrain. I think it's so fantastic.
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Submitted by Pterodaktyl111 on Tue, 04/13/2021 - 11:10

I really enjoy traveling by train. I did it a lot while on vacation by the sea because it is a very fast, safe and convenient form of transport. Once upon a time, while traveling by train, I had an unpleasant situation. the toddler was running around the compartments and screaming very loud and the worst part was that his mom didn't pay attention to it, luckily it took me half the way because they got out at some point.
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Submitted by Kostantinus on Sat, 01/16/2021 - 08:47

Yes, I enjoy travelling by train. I usually come to train station on time, because I leave my home beforehand, but once I've missed my train, because on my way to a train station I've got stucked in traffic jam. I live in suburb so I need some time to get city and to take a tram to a railway station. That day was December 29th. It seems like a lot of people didn't work in that morming so the roads from my home to the train station were filled by vehicles. I knew I will be late in that moment, when I took my bus, but I still was hoping to be on time. I was very upset that time, because I was going to have a trip with my girlfriend. The result is she took that train alone and I took another train to my hometown where we met with her. That was a lesson to me.

Submitted by sweet_creature2809 on Mon, 01/04/2021 - 19:33

I've never traveled by train,the ticket price is very expensive here and a few months ago the president closed the train due to contamination.I hope to live in England and be able to travel by train in a few years

Submitted by nimdini on Fri, 10/30/2020 - 13:05

I hate traveling by train because most of the times I broke my water bottle inside the trains.

Submitted by Stasiia_Ukr on Tue, 10/20/2020 - 07:19

I like travelling by train but if it isn't very long trip. 1 year ago I have been travelling to another city across my country and it was so long (24h).

Submitted by heinserberg on Sat, 09/26/2020 - 19:02

i have traveled by train only once time, that was in bolivia because in my country there isn't train , but yes i liked it

Submitted by Orgitohaxhi on Sat, 09/05/2020 - 12:59

No actually I don't like traveling by train and I've never had a problem.

Submitted by cookiepg on Mon, 08/24/2020 - 08:52

Yes, and i don't have any problem on journey

Submitted by Vuquan on Thu, 08/20/2020 - 08:20

I very like to traveling by train because it very fun when i traveling by train.
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Submitted by Xuka on Sun, 08/09/2020 - 18:01

I am crazy about traveling by train, especially when the train runs on rails along the beach or twists and turns around the hills, passing through many tunnels, crossing bridges, traversing forests and tea plantations. It's so amazing! I've had a problem with my journey from Hanoi capital to Sapa city by train. At that time, while I was on the way to the train station, I suddenly remembered that I left my phone at home. It took more time to catch the train so that I missed it. I had to buy another ticket and my journey was 5 hours late.
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Submitted by IANPAUL on Tue, 07/21/2020 - 18:05

I traveled by train but with my parents

Submitted by Mamou1 on Wed, 07/01/2020 - 09:28

Sincerely I never travelled by a train but I would like to because it seems funny. About if I ever had probleme during my journey, Yess I had like forgotten my Zoom metting. That's journey was the bad one.

Submitted by Eng_learner on Fri, 06/19/2020 - 07:48

To be honest, I've never travelled by train but I really want to. I suppose I'll like it because I enjoy travelling by car and listening to the music. It's amazing! To say about problems during my journeys, I've had such as losing a road or ridding out of petrol, not more:)

Submitted by Thapa01 on Fri, 06/12/2020 - 08:23

I like traveling by train but fact is that i only one time travel by train with my friends and yeah it's good adventure for me and i never had any problems on my journey .
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Submitted by Andrii on Wed, 05/27/2020 - 16:06

I prefer travelling by plane, but train is also good. And once I missed my train but station manager told me that I can use it for the next train.

Submitted by mmatildepontoni04 on Fri, 05/15/2020 - 14:46

I like travelling by train but every time is cold because of the air conditioners on

Submitted by atykho on Thu, 05/14/2020 - 08:11

I adore travelling by train. I like looking landscapes and villages throw the window and listening music at the same time.

Submitted by NuChio on Wed, 05/06/2020 - 19:13

No, I don´t like

Submitted by anna_v3r on Fri, 04/17/2020 - 11:44

Yes I have travelled by train. I have never had any problems except for non-working ticket machines.

Submitted by vittoriadigianno on Thu, 04/16/2020 - 15:12

i like travelling by train because i can see the landscape

Submitted by Gabriele1926 on Thu, 04/16/2020 - 13:41

Yes, I like to travel by train. No I have never had problem in my journey

Submitted by gio_cra2004 on Tue, 04/14/2020 - 16:11

I like to travel by train but I prefer the plane because ypu arrive earlier

Submitted by peachygirl on Sun, 04/12/2020 - 11:15

Hello. I like travelling by train and once me and my father went to Kazakhstan by train. We had gone during 4 days. It was very interesting and awesome.

Submitted by audreeyy on Sat, 04/11/2020 - 17:51

i've never travel by train but i would like so much to

Submitted by alaricofranca02 on Fri, 04/10/2020 - 12:53

I like travelling by train ,but I don't travel much by train and i prefer travel by airplane.

Submitted by Carbonelratufepikad on Thu, 04/02/2020 - 15:17

I like travelling by train but it usually has problem or construction sites and delays, so after a while it’s annoying!And trains are usually dirty! But, yes I like travelling by train !

Submitted by Jungkook on Tue, 03/24/2020 - 05:07

I don't like traveling by train because it's very noisy. I don't usually travel by train

Submitted by Durk_22 on Sat, 02/29/2020 - 21:12

I don't know-how is the feeling of traveling by train because in my city there aren't any trains, but I'm eager to travel by train.. so that's all.
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Submitted by wonder on Tue, 12/31/2019 - 02:19

I like a train, because when I go to my school, I always take a train. On a train, There are many kind of people and everyone use smartphone to play. So when I take a train, I can understand what Japanese people are interested. Trains show the trends.

Submitted by Sai on Wed, 12/25/2019 - 05:51

I like travelling by train ,but I don't travel much by train.

Submitted by Rohan26 on Wed, 07/10/2019 - 01:30

i like travelling by train very much,but unfortunately i was going to meet my sister on raksha bandhan festival (this festival is made by Indian people's ,where sister tie a rakhi (a band) on his brother's hand like watch, rakhi is symbol of love in them and take promise form his brother that he will protect her from miseries) i reached train station 2 hour earlier from the train time and seated on a chair and wait for the train on right platform.but train was standing away from me and i didn't know that, i thought train will come in front of me but the platform is too long there and train standing away from me and then train left, this way i missed my train but then i took a bus and reached there and celebrated the festival with my sister. ,
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Submitted by empty on Sun, 07/07/2019 - 11:54

I like traveling by train very much , but I don't usually travel by train .
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Submitted by Batgirl on Sat, 12/29/2018 - 20:27

I really love travelling by train. I like looking into the window and watching the landscapes change. It inspires me for creating some artworks and poems.
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Submitted by Tutor on Mon, 10/01/2018 - 12:41

In Bangladesh, we also use the train to go other parts of it. And traveling by train is really fantastic! I love traveling by train so much. Actually I haven't yet faced any problem on my journey like this video. Because I was always aware of it.

Submitted by Mughal on Sat, 07/28/2018 - 16:11

yes I like travelling by train.when we go to our relative's homes so we arrive at station on time.Because we know that if we don't arrive on time.it might be missed our train.
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Submitted by Genius_Girl on Tue, 07/10/2018 - 17:37

Yes!!!

Submitted by Saleh on Mon, 06/11/2018 - 03:44

can i download this video, if yes how
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Submitted by Jonathan - Coo… on Tue, 06/12/2018 - 02:39

Hi Saleh. Sorry, this video is not downloadable. I hope you can visit this page to watch it whenever you need. :)

Jonathan (LearnEnglish Teens Team)

Submitted by matheo on Thu, 04/05/2018 - 08:10

Hello my name is ali and I’m very strong in english
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