Public Transport
Buses, trains, tickets.
Buy tickets. Ask about times and platforms. Take the bus, train, or metro.
Look & say · Step 1
5 minGet ready
How do you go to work or school?
Name the last ticket you bought (bus/train/plane).
Which is best in your city: bus, train, or metro?
Words to learn · Step 2
8 minNew words today
bus
City road transport
"Take the bus."
train
Long-distance rail
"The train is fast."
metro / underground
City rail under the ground
"Take the metro."
taxi
Car you pay for
"Call a taxi."
ticket
Paper or app pass to travel
"Buy a ticket."
return
There and back
"A return, please."
single
One way
"A single to Oxford."
platform
Where you wait for the train
"Platform 3."
bus stop
Where the bus stops
"At the bus stop."
station
Big building for trains/buses
"Central station."
timetable
List of times
"Check the timetable."
late
After the time
"The bus is late."
Activate · Personalise · Recycle
Use these words now
Make each sentence true for you. Say it aloud to a partner.
train
"For me, train is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
bus stop
"For me, bus stop is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
single
"For me, single is …"
Finish the sentence with your own idea.
You'll meet these words again in Reading, Listening, Speaking and Homework.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Sounds & saying · Step 3
5 minPolite question intonation ↗
Travel questions sound friendly when your voice goes up at the end. Practise rising politely on the last word.
- • When does it leave? ↗
- • Where is platform 4? ↗
- • How much is a single? ↗
- • Does this bus go to the centre? ↗
Language focus · Step 4
10 minAsking 'When…?', 'Where…?', 'How much…?'
Quick rule
Asking 'When…?', 'Where…?', 'How much…?'
When does…?
- Where is…?
- How much is…?
- Which platform…?
- Use these to get travel info.
When does the next bus leave?
Where is the station?
How much is a single to London?
Which platform is it?
Does this bus go to the centre?
Question 1.___ does the train leave?
Question 2.___ is platform 4?
Question 3.___ much is a ticket?
Question 4.___ this bus go to the airport?
Rebuild each line, spot the natural chunks, then practise responding aloud.
Quick check 1.Time question: ___ does it leave?
Quick check 2.Place question: ___ is the bus stop?
Reading · Step 5
7 minA trip to the city
Ben travels to London. 🚆 He goes to the station 🏢 and asks: 'How much is a return to London?' The man says: '£28. The next train leaves at half past ten from platform 5.' 🛤️ Ben buys a ticket 🎫 and waits. The train is 5 minutes late, ⌛ but it's a fast train. He arrives in London at twelve o'clock. 🏙️
Question 1.How much is the return ticket?
Question 2.What time does the train leave?
Question 3.Which platform?
Q1.The train is on time.
Q2.Ben arrives in London at 12:00.
Listening · Step 6
10 minBuying a train ticket
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Anna
Hi, a return to Oxford, please.
Ticket Seller
Sure. That's £22.
Anna
When does the next train leave?
Ticket Seller
At quarter past nine, from platform 2.
Anna
And what time does it arrive?
Ticket Seller
Ten thirty-five.
Anna
Great. Can I pay by card?
Ticket Seller
Of course. Here's your ticket. Have a good trip!
Question 1.How much is the ticket?
Question 2.Departure time?
Question 3.Which platform?
Practice · Step 7
8 minChoose the word
Question 1.A ___ to London, please. (one way)
Question 2.The train leaves ___ platform 4.
Question 3.___ does the bus arrive?
Question 4.The bus is ___ today — 10 minutes!
Q1.There and back = ___
Q2.Where you wait for a train = ___
Survival English · Step 8
4 minSpeaking — buy a ticket
Task
Roleplay: buy a return train ticket. Ask the price, time, and platform.
Strategy
Start with 'A return to ___, please.' Then ask 'When?' and 'Which platform?'
Example
A return to Brighton, please. When does it leave? Which platform?
Writing · Step 9
5 minWrite a little
Your task
Write a short dialogue (6 lines): you buy a train ticket and ask about time and platform.
Show model answer
You: A return to Cambridge, please. Seller: That's £30. You: When does the next train leave? Seller: At ten past eight, from platform 6. You: Can I pay by card? Seller: Yes, of course.
Speaking · Step 10
12 minTalk together
Pairs: customer + ticket seller. Buy 2 different tickets (bus and train).
Useful phrases
- • A single / return to ___, please.
- • When does it leave / arrive?
- • Which platform?
- • How much is it?
- • Does this bus go to ___?
- • Can I pay by card?
- SellerHi, can I help you?
- You_______________
- SellerThat's £40.
- You_______________
- SellerAt half past two, from platform 3.
- You_______________
Homework · Step 11
Take-homePractice at home
Find a real bus or train timetable online and write 3 times in English.
Practise saying ticket prices and platform numbers aloud for 2 minutes.
Learn 5 new transport words.
Recap · Step 12
3 minWhat you learned
- 🚌 You can name common transport: bus, train, metro, taxi.
- 🎫 You can buy a single or return ticket.
- 🛤️ You can ask about times, platforms, and prices.
- 🗣️ You sound polite and confident at the station.