You arrive at the train station. Let’s learn how to buy a ticket, find the right platform, understand timetables and chat with fellow passengers
Immersive train video with real French announcements
If you want to hear more natural French, there’s a B1 immersive video at the bottom of this page.
The situation
J’arrive à la gare.
Il y a du monde.
J’entends les annonces…
Mon train part dans 20 minutes.
Buying a ticket (machine)
You go to the ticket machine.
— Bonjour
— Billets
— Aller simple ou aller-retour ?
(One way or return?)
— Aller simple
(One way)
— Destination ?
(Destination?)
— Lyon
— Choisissez votre train
(Choose your train)
— Paiement par carte
(Pay by card)
Main vocabulary
- une gare = a train station
- un train
- un billet = a ticket
- un aller simple = one-way ticket
- un aller-retour = round trip
- un quai = platform
- une voie = track
- un retard = a delay
Common verbs
- partir = to leave
- arriver = to arrive
- prendre = to take (a train)
- changer = to change (trains)
- attendre = to wait
Examples:
- Je prends le train à 14h
- Le train part à 14h30
- On arrive à Lyon à 16h
- J’attends une heure
Time expressions (very important)
- à l’heure = on time
- en retard = late
- en avance = early
Examples:
- Le train est à l’heure
- Le train est en retard
- Je suis en avance
At the station
You might hear:
- Le train à destination de Lyon partira voie 2
(The train to Lyon will leave from platform 2) - Attention au départ !
(Train departing! / Mind the departure!) - Ce train est en retard de 10 minutes
(This train is 10 minutes late)
Finding your train
- Le train pour Lyon part de quel quai ?
(Which platform does the train to Lyon leave from?) - Excusez-moi, où est la voie 3?
(Excuse me, where is platform 3?)
On the train
- Je m’assois
I sit down.
Small conversation (very French moment)
— Bonjour
— Bonjour
— C’est votre place ?
(Is this your seat?)
— Oui, je crois
(Yes, I think so)
— Vous allez à Lyon ?
(Are you going to Lyon?)
— Oui, et vous ?
(Yes, and you?)
— Moi aussi
Useful patterns
- Je vais à… → I’m going to…
- Je prends le train → I take the train
- C’est votre place ? → Is this your seat?
Natural French
In real life, you might hear:
- Il part à quelle heure ?
(What time does it leave?) - On arrive quand ?
(When do we arrive?) - Il y a du retard ?
(Is there a delay?)
Your turn
Try saying:
- Je prends le train pour Lyon
- Le train est en retard
- C’est votre place ?
▶️ Immersive video
This is how this situation sounds in real life.
👉 Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything. Just listen and catch what you can.