Train

Subway

Bus

Taxi

Cable Car

Tram

Monorail

Shuttle Bus

Trolleybus

Light Rail

High-speed Train

Jeepney

Chiva Bus

Funicular

Tuk-tuk

People Mover

Airport Shuttle

Matatu

Double-decker Bus

Jitney

Public Transportation

Train - Transportation

40 chapters

beginner

Check out our simple readings on public transportation to boost your English skills and learn about buses, trains, and how people travel in cities.

Vocabulary

electric train

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk tɹˈeɪn/

high-speed train

[n]

/hˈaɪspˈiːd tɹˈeɪn/

[v]

/ɡoʊ/

up to

[prep]

/ˈʌp tuː/

connect

[v]

/kəˈnɛkt/

freight train

[n]

/freɪt treɪn/

product

[n]

/ˈprɑdʌkt/

ride

[n]

/raɪd/

Russia

[n]

/ˈɹəʃə/

10.

take

[v]

/teɪk/

11.

train

[n]

/treɪn/

12.

public transportation

[n]

/ˈpʌblɪk ˌtrænspɚˈteɪʃən/

13.

run

[v]

/rʌn/

14.

track

[n]

/træk/

15.

carry

[v]

/ˈkæri/

16.

interesting

[adj]

/ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

17.

engine

[n]

/ˈɛnʤɪn/

18.

coal

[n]

/koʊl/

19.

stuff

[n]

/ˈstəf/

20.

mine

[n]

/maɪn/

21.

factory

[n]

/ˈfæktɚi/

22.

steam train

[n]

/stˈiːm tɹˈeɪn/

23.

locomotive

[n]

/ˌɫoʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

24.

load

[n]

/loʊd/

25.

passenger train

[n]

/pˈæsɪndʒɚ tɹˈeɪn/

26.

England

[n]

/ˈɪŋɡɫənd/

Practice

electric train

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk tɹˈeɪn/

high-speed train

[n]

/hˈaɪspˈiːd tɹˈeɪn/

[v]

/ɡoʊ/

up to

[prep]

/ˈʌp tuː/

connect

[v]

/kəˈnɛkt/

freight train

[n]

/freɪt treɪn/

product

[n]

/ˈprɑdʌkt/

ride

[n]

/raɪd/

Russia

[n]

/ˈɹəʃə/

10.

take

[v]

/teɪk/

11.

train

[n]

/treɪn/

12.

public transportation

[n]

/ˈpʌblɪk ˌtrænspɚˈteɪʃən/

13.

run

[v]

/rʌn/

14.

track

[n]

/træk/

15.

carry

[v]

/ˈkæri/

16.

interesting

[adj]

/ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

17.

engine

[n]

/ˈɛnʤɪn/

18.

coal

[n]

/koʊl/

19.

stuff

[n]

/ˈstəf/

20.

mine

[n]

/maɪn/

21.

factory

[n]

/ˈfæktɚi/

22.

steam train

[n]

/stˈiːm tɹˈeɪn/

23.

locomotive

[n]

/ˌɫoʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

24.

load

[n]

/loʊd/

25.

passenger train

[n]

/pˈæsɪndʒɚ tɹˈeɪn/

26.

England

[n]

/ˈɪŋɡɫənd/

electric train

[n]

/ɪlˈɛktɹɪk tɹˈeɪn/

elektrischer Zug

high-speed train

[n]

/hˈaɪspˈiːd tɹˈeɪn/

Hochgeschwindigkeitszug

[v]

/ɡoʊ/

gehen

up to

[prep]

/ˈʌp tuː/

bis zu

connect

[v]

/kəˈnɛkt/

verbinden

freight train

[n]

/freɪt treɪn/

Güterzug

product

[n]

/ˈprɑdʌkt/

Produkt

ride

[n]

/raɪd/

Fahrt

Russia

[n]

/ˈɹəʃə/

Russland

10.

take

[v]

/teɪk/

nehmen

11.

train

[n]

/treɪn/

Zug

12.

public transportation

[n]

/ˈpʌblɪk ˌtrænspɚˈteɪʃən/

Öffentlicher Verkehr

13.

run

[v]

/rʌn/

verkehren

14.

track

[n]

/træk/

Eisenbahnschiene

15.

carry

[v]

/ˈkæri/

tragen

16.

interesting

[adj]

/ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/

interessant

17.

engine

[n]

/ˈɛnʤɪn/

Motor

18.

coal

[n]

/koʊl/

Kohle

19.

stuff

[n]

/ˈstəf/

Sachen

20.

mine

[n]

/maɪn/

Mine

21.

factory

[n]

/ˈfæktɚi/

Fabrik

22.

steam train

[n]

/stˈiːm tɹˈeɪn/

Dampfzug

23.

locomotive

[n]

/ˌɫoʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/

Lokomotive

24.

load

[n]

/loʊd/

Last

25.

passenger train

[n]

/pˈæsɪndʒɚ tɹˈeɪn/

Personenzug

26.

England

[n]

/ˈɪŋɡɫənd/

England

Kapitel

Train

Read a short passage about a long vehicle that runs on tracks, often used to carry people or goods over land.

1.1

Trains are a type of public transportation. They run on tracks. Trains carry people and things. They go from one place to another. Trains have been used for a long time. They have an interesting history.

Züge sind eine Art von öffentlichem Verkehrsmittel. Sie fahren auf Schienen. Züge transportieren Menschen und Dinge. Sie fahren von einem Ort zum anderen. Züge werden schon seit langem genutzt. Sie haben eine interessante Geschichte.

1.2

Horses pulled the first trains. This was before engines were made. Early trains were made of wood. They were not very fast. They were used to move coal and heavy stuff. They moved from mines to factories.

Pferde zogen die ersten Züge. Das war bevor Motoren gebaut wurden. Frühe Züge waren aus Holz. Sie waren nicht sehr schnell. Sie wurden verwendet, um Kohle und schwere Sachen zu bewegen. Sie fuhren von Minen zu Fabriken.

1.3

In 1804, a man named Richard Trevithick made the first steam train. It was called the Penydarren locomotive. This train was faster than horse-pulled trains. It could carry heavy loads. It did not get tired like horses. Steam trains became very popular.

Im Jahr 1804 baute ein Mann namens Richard Trevithick den ersten Dampfzug. Er wurde Penydarren-Lokomotive genannt. Dieser Zug war schneller als von Pferden gezogene Züge. Er konnte schwere Lasten tragen. Er wurde nicht müde wie Pferde. Dampfzüge wurden sehr beliebt.

1.4

The first passenger train ran in 1825. It was called the Stockton and Darlington Railway. It was in England. It carried people and coal. This was the start of trains being used to carry people.

Der erste Personenzug fuhr 1825. Er hieß die Stockton and Darlington Railway. Er war in England. Er transportierte Menschen und Kohle. Dies war der Beginn der Nutzung von Zügen zum Transport von Menschen.

1.5

In 1829, a famous train called the Rocket was built. George Stephenson made it. This train was very fast for its time. It could go at a speed of 47 kilometers per hour. The Rocket showed people that trains were a good way to travel.

1829 wurde eine berühmte Lokomotive namens Rocket gebaut. George Stephenson hat sie gebaut. Diese Lokomotive war für ihre Zeit sehr schnell. Sie konnte eine Geschwindigkeit von 47 Kilometern pro Stunde erreichen. Die Rocket zeigte den Menschen, dass Züge eine gute Art zu reisen sind.

1.6

Trains have changed a lot since then. Today, we have electric trains and high-speed trains. Some high-speed trains can go up to 320 kilometers per hour. These trains are very fast and comfortable. They connect big cities. They help people travel quickly.

Züge haben sich seitdem stark verändert. Heute haben wir Elektrozüge und Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge. Einige Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge können bis zu 320 Kilometer pro Stunde erreichen. Diese Züge sind sehr schnell und komfortabel. Sie verbinden große Städte. Sie helfen den Menschen, schnell zu reisen.

1.7

Trains are also important for moving things. Freight trains can carry a lot of heavy items. They carry stuff like cars, coal, and food. They help businesses. They move products from factories to stores.

Züge sind auch wichtig für den Transport von Gütern. Güterzüge können viele schwere Gegenstände transportieren. Sie transportieren Dinge wie Autos, Kohle und Lebensmittel. Sie helfen Unternehmen. Sie bewegen Produkte von Fabriken zu Geschäften.

1.8

Fun fact: The longest train ride in the world is on the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia. It is over 9,000 kilometers long. It takes about seven days to complete!

Fun Fact: Die längste Zugfahrt der Welt ist auf der Transsibirischen Eisenbahn in Russland. Sie ist über 9.000 Kilometer lang. Die Fahrt dauert etwa sieben Tage!

1. Train

Public Transportation

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QuizSkip the quiz

What do trains run on?

Roads

Tracks

Water

Sand

Who built the first steam train?

George Stephenson

A horse rider

Richard Trevithick

A coal miner

Put the events in the correct order from earliest to latest:

the first steam train was made

trains were pulled by horses

the rocket was built

the first passenger train ran

Match the item to what it relates to:

The Rocket

Stockton and Darlington

Freight trains

Trans-Siberian Railway

Carry heavy items

First passenger train

Fast train in 1829

Longest train ride

Choose the best word to complete each sentence (two words extra):

The first trains were pulled by

The Rocket could go

kilometers per hour.

High-speed trains are

and comfortable.

horses

fast

cars

Are these sentences True or False?

Sentence	True/False
Trains were always made of metal.
The first passenger train carried only people.
Today, some trains can go 320 kilometers per hour.
Freight trains carry items like coal and food.

False

True

Where is the longest train ride in the world?

England

America

Russia

China