Train

Subway

Bus

Taxi

Cable Car

Tram

Monorail

Shuttle Bus

Trolleybus

Light Rail

High-speed Train

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Chiva Bus

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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.

chapitre

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.

Les trains sont un type de transport public. Ils circulent sur des rails. Les trains transportent des personnes et des choses. Ils vont d'un endroit à un autre. Les trains sont utilisés depuis longtemps. Ils ont une histoire intéressante.

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.

Les chevaux tiraient les premiers trains. C'était avant que les moteurs ne soient fabriqués. Les premiers trains étaient en bois. Ils n'étaient pas très rapides. Ils étaient utilisés pour transporter du charbon et des charges lourdes. Ils se déplaçaient des mines aux usines.

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 homme nommé Richard Trevithick a fabriqué le premier train à vapeur. Il s'appelait la locomotive Penydarren. Ce train était plus rapide que les trains tirés par des chevaux. Il pouvait transporter des charges lourdes. Il ne se fatiguait pas comme les chevaux. Les trains à vapeur sont devenus très populaires.

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.

Le premier train de passagers a circulé en 1825. Il s'appelait le Stockton and Darlington Railway. C'était en Angleterre. Il transportait des personnes et du charbon. Ce fut le début de l'utilisation des trains pour transporter des personnes.

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, un célèbre train appelé la Rocket a été construit. George Stephenson l'a fabriqué. Ce train était très rapide pour son époque. Il pouvait atteindre une vitesse de 47 kilomètres par heure. La Rocket a montré aux gens que les trains étaient un bon moyen de voyager.

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.

Les trains ont beaucoup changé depuis lors. Aujourd'hui, nous avons des trains électriques et des trains à grande vitesse. Certains trains à grande vitesse peuvent atteindre jusqu'à 320 kilomètres par heure. Ces trains sont très rapides et confortables. Ils relient les grandes villes. Ils aident les gens à voyager rapidement.

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.

Les trains sont également importants pour le transport de marchandises. Les trains de fret peuvent transporter beaucoup d'articles lourds. Ils transportent des choses comme des voitures, du charbon et de la nourriture. Ils aident les entreprises. Ils déplacent les produits des usines vers les magasins.

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!

Fait amusant : Le trajet en train le plus long du monde se trouve sur le chemin de fer Transsibérien en Russie. Il fait plus de 9 000 kilomètres de long. Il faut environ sept jours pour le parcourir !

1. Train

Public Transportation

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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 passenger train ran

trains were pulled by horses

the first steam train was made

the rocket was built

Match the item to what it relates to:

The Rocket

Stockton and Darlington

Freight trains

Trans-Siberian Railway

Fast train in 1829

First passenger train

Carry heavy items

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