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.

capítulo

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.

Los trenes son un tipo de transporte público. Circulan sobre vías. Los trenes transportan personas y cosas. Van de un lugar a otro. Los trenes se han utilizado durante mucho tiempo. Tienen una historia interesante.

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.

Los caballos tiraron de los primeros trenes. Esto fue antes de que se hicieran los motores. Los primeros trenes estaban hechos de madera. No eran muy rápidos. Se usaban para mover carbón y cosas pesadas. Se movían de las minas a las fábricas.

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.

En 1804, un hombre llamado Richard Trevithick hizo el primer tren de vapor. Se llamaba la locomotora Penydarren. Este tren era más rápido que los trenes tirados por caballos. Podía transportar cargas pesadas. No se cansaba como los caballos. Los trenes de vapor se volvieron muy populares.

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.

El primer tren de pasajeros corrió en 1825. Se llamaba el Ferrocarril de Stockton y Darlington. Estaba en Inglaterra. Transportaba personas y carbón. Este fue el comienzo del uso de trenes para transportar personas.

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.

En 1829, se construyó un famoso tren llamado el Rocket. George Stephenson lo hizo. Este tren era muy rápido para su época. Podía ir a una velocidad de 47 kilómetros por hora. El Rocket mostró a la gente que los trenes eran una buena manera de viajar.

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.

Los trenes han cambiado mucho desde entonces. Hoy en día, tenemos trenes eléctricos y trenes de alta velocidad. Algunos trenes de alta velocidad pueden alcanzar hasta 320 kilómetros por hora. Estos trenes son muy rápidos y cómodos. Conectan grandes ciudades. Ayudan a las personas a viajar rápidamente.

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.

Los trenes también son importantes para transportar cosas. Los trenes de carga pueden llevar muchos artículos pesados. Transportan cosas como coches, carbón y comida. Ayudan a los negocios. Mueven productos de las fábricas a las tiendas.

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!

Dato curioso: El viaje en tren más largo del mundo está en el Ferrocarril Transiberiano en Rusia. Tiene más de 9,000 kilómetros de largo. ¡Se tarda unos siete días en completarlo!

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

the first passenger train ran

the rocket was built

trains were pulled by horses

Match the item to what it relates to:

The Rocket

Stockton and Darlington

Freight trains

Trans-Siberian Railway

Fast train in 1829

Longest train ride

First passenger train

Carry heavy items

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