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Lesson 99 of 240

New here? This is lesson 99 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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Taking Amtrak in English

Tasha takes Ana to the Amtrak counter. She wants a Milwaukee ticket, there and back.

Staff will ask if the ticket is one way or round trip. Then Ana needs the track and the time.

The board shows a delay. Murray already has a seat in the waiting hall.

By the end, you'll buy a round-trip, ask which track, and check if a seat is free.

By the end of this lesson

Buy an Amtrak ticket, find the track, and pick a seat.

  • I'd like a round-trip to Milwaukee.You want a ticket there and back.
  • One way or round trip?Staff ask if you are coming back too.
  • Which track?Which platform number is the train on?
  • Is this seat taken?You ask if someone is already using this seat.
  • The train is delayed.The train will leave later than planned.
  • What time is the train?Ask the departure time for this train.

Scene — the Amtrak counter

Tasha and Ana stand at the Amtrak ticket counter in Chicago. A staff member waits behind the glass.

Murray sits on a bench in the waiting hall, peacoat on, with his Ventra card on a cord. The board lists tracks and times.

Tasha is helping Ana buy a ticket for their Milwaukee trip. Their train is delayed today.

Tasha and Ana stand together at the ticket window in the busy station hall.

Learn — tickets and tracks

Six lines cover a round-trip ticket, the track, a free seat, and a delay.

You'll also ask what time the train leaves.

  1. Ana asks for a ticket there and back while Tasha helps her at the window.

    I'd like a round-trip to Milwaukee.

    You want a ticket there and back.

    When to use it: Say this at the counter when you want to go and come back.

    I'd is I would, so learn I'd like as one piece.

    Say it: I'd sounds like one short word.

  2. The clerk asks whether Ana is coming back too, and Tasha explains the round trip simply.

    One way or round trip?

    Staff ask if you are coming back too.

    When to use it: You will hear this when you buy a train ticket.

    One way is only going, and round trip is there and back.

  3. Ana receives the ticket after choosing the trip there and back.

    Which track?

    Which platform number is the train on?

    When to use it: Ask this after you buy your ticket.

    At a station, each track has a number.

  4. Ana asks about the departure time and learns the train is delayed.

    Is this seat taken?

    You ask if someone is already using this seat.

    When to use it: Ask this before you sit next to a person.

    Taken here means a person is already using the seat.

    Say it: Taken has stress on the first part.

  5. Ana asks which platform the train uses as Tasha points toward the concourse.

    The train is delayed.

    The train will leave later than planned.

    When to use it: Say this when the train will leave later.

    You will hear late too, but delayed is the station word.

    Say it: The -ed ending in delayed sounds like d.

  6. Ana asks whether the seat beside Murray is already in use, and he indicates that he needs it.

    What time is the train?

    Ask the departure time for this train.

    When to use it: Ask this to learn when the train leaves.

    This asks for the clock time, not the track.

Story — Murray has a seat

Watch Ana buy a Milwaukee ticket with Tasha. Staff mention a delay and a track.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The Amtrak hall is busy. Tasha nudges Ana to the glass.
  2. AnaExcuse me. I'd like a round-trip to Milwaukee.She gets their attention and asks for a ticket there and back.
  3. StaffOne way or round trip?Staff ask if you are coming back too.
  4. AnaRound trip? Do we go around?She thinks round trip means going in a circle.
  5. TashaThere and back, Ana. Not around.She explains it kindly in a short way.
  6. AnaRound trip, please.She chooses a ticket there and back.
  7. StaffRound trip. Here's your ticket.Staff confirms her choice and gives her the ticket.
  8. AnaWhat time is the train?Ask the departure time for this train.
  9. StaffEleven forty. The train is delayed.The train will leave at eleven forty, later than planned.
  10. AnaWhich track?Which platform number is the train on?
  11. StaffTrack five. Check the board.The train leaves from track five. Look at the screen.
  12. They walk to a waiting bench. Murray already fills two seats.
  13. AnaIs this seat taken?You ask if someone is already using this seat.
  14. MurrayWell, this one is. I use two.He needs two seats, so this one is not free.
  15. Tasha turns Ana toward the door.
  16. TashaWe'll go. Safe travels.They will leave now, and she wishes him a safe trip.

Practice — ticket, track, seat

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    One way or round trip?

  3. What do you say?

    You have your ticket now. You need to know where the train leaves from.

  4. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    One way or round trip?

    Staff ask if you are coming back too.

    And you reply with:

  5. Swap the word

    You want to sit. Ask if someone is already using the seat.

    Is this seat ____?

  6. Fill the gap

    The train will leave later than planned.

    The ____ is delayed.

  7. Build the line

    Ask the departure time for this train.

    ?

    Tap the words in order.

  8. What do you say?

    You want to ask for a ticket. First, pick the polite phrase that gets their attention.

  9. True or false?

    You say this when you buy a train ticket.

  10. Put the chat in order

    1. StaffWhat comes first?
    2. Ana…
    3. Staff…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

Say it — your turn at the counter

Now you're Ana at the Amtrak counter, then in the waiting hall. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. StaffOne way or round trip?Staff ask if you are coming back too.
  2. Ana (you)Ask for a ticket to Milwaukee, there and back.

    I'd like a round-trip to Milwaukee.

    You want a ticket there and back.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
I'd like a round-trip to Milwaukee.You want a ticket there and back.
One way or round trip?Staff ask if you are coming back too.
Which track?Which platform number is the train on?
Is this seat taken?You ask if someone is already using this seat.
The train is delayed.The train will leave later than planned.
What time is the train?Ask the departure time for this train.
Next: lesson 100Hail a taxi

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