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.

hoofdstuk

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.

Treinen zijn een soort openbaar vervoer. Ze rijden op sporen. Treinen vervoeren mensen en dingen. Ze gaan van de ene plaats naar de andere. Treinen worden al lang gebruikt. Ze hebben een interessante geschiedenis.

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.

Paarden trokken de eerste treinen. Dit was voordat motoren werden gemaakt. Vroege treinen waren gemaakt van hout. Ze waren niet erg snel. Ze werden gebruikt om kolen en zware spullen te verplaatsen. Ze gingen van mijnen naar fabrieken.

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.

In 1804 maakte een man genaamd Richard Trevithick de eerste stoomtrein. Hij heette de Penydarren locomotief. Deze trein was sneller dan door paarden getrokken treinen. Hij kon zware ladingen vervoeren. Hij werd niet moe zoals paarden. Stoomtreinen werden erg populair.

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.

De eerste passagierstrein reed in 1825. Hij heette de Stockton and Darlington Railway. Het was in Engeland. Het vervoerde mensen en steenkool. Dit was het begin van het gebruik van treinen om mensen te vervoeren.

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.

In 1829 werd een beroemde trein genaamd de Rocket gebouwd. George Stephenson heeft hem gemaakt. Deze trein was erg snel voor zijn tijd. Hij kon een snelheid van 47 kilometer per uur bereiken. De Rocket liet mensen zien dat treinen een goede manier van reizen waren.

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.

Treinen zijn sindsdien veel veranderd. Vandaag hebben we elektrische treinen en hogesnelheidstreinen. Sommige hogesnelheidstreinen kunnen tot 320 kilometer per uur gaan. Deze treinen zijn zeer snel en comfortabel. Ze verbinden grote steden. Ze helpen mensen snel te reizen.

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.

Treinen zijn ook belangrijk voor het vervoeren van spullen. Goederentreinen kunnen veel zware items vervoeren. Ze vervoeren dingen zoals auto's, kolen en voedsel. Ze helpen bedrijven. Ze verplaatsen producten van fabrieken naar winkels.

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!

Leuk weetje: De langste treinrit ter wereld is op de Trans-Siberische spoorlijn in Rusland. Het is meer dan 9.000 kilometer lang. Het duurt ongeveer zeven dagen om te voltooien!

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 rocket was built

the first steam train was made

the first passenger train ran

trains were pulled by horses

Match the item to what it relates to:

The Rocket

Stockton and Darlington

Freight trains

Trans-Siberian Railway

Longest train ride

Carry heavy items

Fast train in 1829

First passenger train

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