German course

Lesson 175 of 240

New here? This is lesson 175 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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The wrong train in German

Priya and Jule are off to Hamburg for the weekend. At the station the board is a mess: their ICE is gone, and a rail-replacement bus is hiding somewhere outside.

Anton is already on a platform, perfectly on time for a train that is not theirs.

By the end you can say a train is cancelled, ask if you are on the right platform, and check a connection with station staff.

By the end of this lesson

Deal with a cancelled train and a rail-replacement bus, and ask station staff.

  • Der ICE fällt heute aus.The ICE is cancelled today.
  • Es gibt Schienenersatzverkehr.There's a rail-replacement bus.
  • Sind wir am richtigen Gleis?Are we on the right platform?
  • Dieser Zug fährt nicht nach Hamburg.This train isn't going to Hamburg.
  • Schaffen wir den Anschluss noch?Can we still make the connection?
  • Der nächste Bus fährt in zwanzig Minuten.The next bus leaves in twenty minutes.

Scene — the station boards

Saturday morning at Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Priya and Jule stand under the boards with weekend bags. The Hamburg ICE is not listed.

Anton waits on a nearby platform with his satchel and his ticket on a cord. He looks pleased with his timing.

Priya and Jule wait beneath the station displays with their weekend bags while Anton sits nearby with his satchel.

Learn — a cancelled ICE

Six lines for a cancelled ICE, rail-replacement service, the right platform, and whether you still make the connection.

You'll also get when the next bus leaves.

  1. Jule pauses beneath the station displays and looks up after learning the Hamburg ICE is cancelled.

    Der ICE fällt heute aus.

    The ICE is cancelled today.

    When to use it: Say this when a high-speed train will not run today.

    The prefix aus sits at the end of the clause in a main sentence.

    Say it: The ä in fällt sounds like the e in ten.

  2. Priya listens as a station employee points toward the exit for replacement buses.

    Es gibt Schienenersatzverkehr.

    There's a rail-replacement bus.

    When to use it: Say this when buses replace a cancelled train.

    Es gibt means there is or there are; Schienenersatzverkehr is replacement service, usually provided by buses.

    Say it: Schienenersatzverkehr starts with sch, like sh in ship.

  3. Priya pauses on the platform while Jule checks the direction of the train.

    Sind wir am richtigen Gleis?

    Are we on the right platform?

    When to use it: Ask this when you are not sure about the platform.

    Use this with a friend when you both might be in the wrong place.

  4. Jule steps back from an open carriage doorway after realizing this train is not going to Hamburg.

    Dieser Zug fährt nicht nach Hamburg.

    This train isn't going to Hamburg.

    When to use it: Say this when the train in front of you goes somewhere else.

    In a main clause the verb stays in second place, even after Dieser Zug.

  5. Priya holds out her ticket and makes a small questioning gesture to ask about the connection.

    Schaffen wir den Anschluss noch?

    Can we still make the connection?

    When to use it: Ask this when you might miss the next train or bus.

    Anschluss is the next train or bus you need to catch.

  6. Jule points toward the exit while Anton waits nearby with his satchel.

    Der nächste Bus fährt in zwanzig Minuten.

    The next bus leaves in twenty minutes.

    When to use it: Say this when you tell someone how soon the bus leaves.

    zwanzig Minuten tells you how long you wait for that bus.

    Say it: The ch in nächste is the ich sound, not the ach sound.

Story — the wrong platform

Watch Priya and Jule hunt for a bus after the ICE is cancelled. Anton chose the wrong platform with great timing.

Highlighted words are lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The departure board flickers. Jule stops walking.
  2. JuleDer ICE fällt heute aus.The ICE is cancelled today.
  3. PriyaEcht? Und jetzt?Really? And now?
  4. JuleEs gibt Schienenersatzverkehr.There's a rail-replacement bus.
  5. They turn. Anton is already on a platform, satchel at his feet.
  6. AntonIch war nur zufällig in der Gegend.I just happened to be in the area.
  7. PriyaSind wir am richtigen Gleis?Are we on the right platform?
  8. AntonGenau. Steig nur ein.Exactly. Just get on.
  9. JuleDieser Zug fährt nicht nach Hamburg.This train isn't going to Hamburg.
  10. AntonAch so. Dann bin ich falsch.Ah. Then I'm in the wrong place.
  11. They walk back to the hall. A staff member stands by a yellow sign.
  12. PriyaEntschuldigen Sie.Excuse me.
  13. StaffJa, bitte?Yes, please?
  14. PriyaSchaffen wir den Anschluss noch?Can we still make the connection?
  15. StaffDas kann ich Ihnen leider nicht sagen. Der nächste Bus fährt in zwanzig Minuten.I'm afraid I can't tell you that. The next bus leaves in twenty minutes.
  16. JuleNa super. Wo denn?Great. Where, then?
  17. StaffDraußen links, hinter dem Bahnhof.Outside to the left, behind the station.
  18. AntonIch muss umsteigen.I have to change.
  19. JuleDann beeilen wir uns.Then let's hurry.

Practice — bus or train

Ten short exercises. You'll listen, fill a gap, swap a word, build a line, and match meanings.

Station staff and friends both show up, so keep Sie and du straight.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What does it mean?

    Es gibt Schienenersatzverkehr.

  3. What do you say?

    You and Jule are on a platform and you are not sure it is the right one.

  4. Build the line

    The ICE is cancelled today.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  5. Pick the reply

    Staff says:

    Der ICE fällt heute aus.

    The ICE is cancelled today.

    And you reply with:

  6. Swap the word

    The train on this platform is not the Hamburg one. Tell Jule.

    Dieser ____ fährt nicht nach Hamburg.

  7. Fill the gap

    The next bus leaves in twenty minutes.

    Der nächste ____ fährt in zwanzig Minuten.

  8. Match the pairs

    German

    Der ICE fällt heute aus.Drop the English here
    Es gibt Schienenersatzverkehr.Drop the English here
    Dieser Zug fährt nicht nach Hamburg.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  9. True or false?

    Use this when you stay on one train all the way.

  10. What do you say?

    You need a station worker to look up from the sign and listen.

  11. What did you hear?

Say it — ask at the station

Now you're Priya at the station with Jule. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

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

  1. JuleSchau mal auf die Tafel.Take a look at the board.
  2. Priya (you)Tell her the high-speed train will not run today.

    Der ICE fällt heute aus.

    The ICE is cancelled today.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Der ICE fällt heute aus.The ICE is cancelled today.
Es gibt Schienenersatzverkehr.There's a rail-replacement bus.
Sind wir am richtigen Gleis?Are we on the right platform?
Dieser Zug fährt nicht nach Hamburg.This train isn't going to Hamburg.
Schaffen wir den Anschluss noch?Can we still make the connection?
Der nächste Bus fährt in zwanzig Minuten.The next bus leaves in twenty minutes.
Next: lesson 176The famous snack

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