SNCF Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, SNCF gare du Nord, gare de l Est, gare Saint-Lazare, gare de Lyon, gare d Austerlitz

Transcription

1 SNCF The French railway system, la Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français, is normally referred to as the SNCF. Many of the lines go through Paris and it is common to have to travel via Paris in order to cross France by rail. In Paris, there are six main stations the gare du Nord, gare de l Est, gare Saint-Lazare, gare de Lyon, gare d Austerlitz and gare Montparnasse. Trains to different regions of France and to other European countries travel to and from these stations. If you were travelling to Paris from Britain you would probably arrive at the gare du Nord or the gare Saint Lazare. The cost of your ticket depends on the number of kilometres you travel. On some timetables, the distance between stations is given, so that passengers can easily workout the cost of their journey. Of course, there are reductions for special excursions, tourists, families with a lot of children (familles nombreuses), groups and students. You can travel in first or second class (en première ou en deuxième classe). You may have to pay extra (un supplément) to travel on a rapide, which is an express, rather like an inter-city train, on a train corail (a very modern and well equipped train), on the most luxurious of all the TEE (Trans Europe Express) which links main French and European cities or on the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse) which is a very high speed train. 1 What are the initials of the French railway service? 2 Which city do many trains go through? 3 How many main-line stations are there in Paris? 4 Name one of the stations where you might arrive if you were travelling by train from Britain to Paris. 5 How is the basic cost of a ticket worked out? 6 Who might get a reduction for travel on the French railways? 7 What is the name of an express train rather like an Inter-city train? 8 What is the name of the most luxurious type of train? 13

2 At The Station In a large French station it is easy to find the sign saying billets or guichet. This is where you buy your tickets. There will also be an information desk called Information or Renseignements where you can enquire about train departures and obtain a pocket timetable. (Une fiche horaire) There may also be une salle d attente (waiting room), une consigne (left luggage office), un buffet (snack bar) and un kiosque or un tabac, where you can buy books and magazines to read on the train. Once you have bought your ticket you may want to consult l indicateur (the departure board) usually headed trains au départ, or trains en partance or tableau horaire (timetable) In order to get to the platforms you need to find the sigh Accès aux quais or départ. Before going through the barrier though, you must composter votre billet (cancel your ticket). There are no ticket inspectors to check and punch your ticket. You have to put your own ticket in a machine, and this punches it and dates it. If you forget to do this, you ll have to pay a fine when the controleur (inspector) checks your ticket on the train. On the platform you may notice the sign voie (meaning track) as well as quai to indicate the platform number. In the train you will notice some carriages are fumeurs (for people who smoke) and some are non fumeurs. When you get to your destination you should look for a sign saying Sortie (exit). 14

3 1 What could you buy at the guichet? 2 Why would you go to a counter marked renseignements? 3 Where could you buy newspapers at a station? 4 If you followed the sign Accès aux quais where would you end up? 5 What must you remember to do first? 6 If you forget to do this what would happen? 7 Can you smoke in a compartment labelled fumeurs? 8 What sign should you look for if you want to leave the station? Vocabulary Section 2 A la gare Le quai La voie Le guichet La sortie La consigne La salle d attente Les magasins Les téléphones Les arrivées Les départs Les renseignements Les réservations Les jeux électroniques La station de métro La station de taxi La gare La gare routière L aéroport Le port L horaire the platform the platform the ticket office the exit the left luggage office the waiting room the shops the telephones the arrivals the departures the information reservations the games machines the metro station the taxi station the station the bus station the airport the port the timetable 15

4 Here are some words you might see on a French rail timetable: Trains en arrivée de En provenance de Heure Train direct (TD) Train à grande vitesse (TGV) Train Rapide (TR) Trains en départ Destination Nature Particularités Un billet Un aller retour Un aller simple Première classe Deuxième classe Fumeur Non fumeur Voitures couchettes Suppléments arrivals coming from time direct train high speed train fast train departures destination type of train special points a ticket a return a single first class second class smoking no smoking sleeper carriages supplements How to buy a ticket Vous désirez? Can I help you? Est-ce qu il y a un train pour Lyon? Is there a train for Lyon? Il faut changer? Do you have to change? A quelle heure part le train pour Bordeaux? What time does the train for Bordeaux leave? 16

5 A quelle heure arrive le train de Bordeaux? What time does the Bordeaux train arrive? Un aller simple pour Lyon, s il vous plaît A single ticket for Lyon, please. Deuxième classe? Second class? Quelle classe? Which class? Non, première classe. No, first class Fumeur ou non fumeur? Smoking or non smoking? Non fumeur, s il vous plait Non smoking, please C est combien? How much is it? C est vingt euros It is twenty euros Le train part de quel quai? What platform does it leave from? Du quai numéro deux From platform 2 17

6 Exercise 1 Here are some signs you might see in a train station: A Horaire B Quai 8 C D E F Snack Guichet Gare Compostez Which sign would you choose if: 1 You need platform 8 2 You are looking for the station 3 You want to buy a ticket 4 You want something to eat 5 You need a timetable 6 You want to stamp your ticket 18

7 Exercise 2 1 Guichet If you saw this sign, you could A B C buy tickets buy a cup of tea leave your luggage 2 Accès aux quais If you followed this sign you would A B C leave the station find the ticket office find the platform 3 Sortie You would look for this sign if you A B C wanted to leave the station wanted information about a journey wanted to buy a drink 19

8 4 Salle d attente This notice means A B C left luggage office information office waiting room a Informations b Consigne c Buffet 5 Which of the above three signs would you look for if i ii iii you wanted to buy a sandwich you wanted to leave your case in the left luggage office you wanted to enquire about a train journey Non-fumeurs 6 This notice in a railway carriage means that A B you can smoke You cannot smoke 6 Voie 7 You might see this sign A B C on a platform in the carriage outside the station 20

9 Exercise 3 Can you write in the correct caption for each sign? Use the words below to help you. Toilettes Buffet Téléphone Guichet Bureau de renseignements Salle d attente 21

10 Exercise 4 This board gives you details of trains leaving the station. Read it and then answer the questions below Heure Destination Quai 0944 Boulogne Paris Paris Calais Amiens Lille Boulogne 3 1 You want to go to Paris. Which platform should you go to? 2 Where would you be going if you were at platform 5? 3 When could you get a train to Boulogne? 4 Which platform would you go to if you were going to Amiens? Exercise 5 Read this advert and then answer the questions below. REGARDEZ! Un aller-retour en Ecosse pour 400 euros seulement Les enfants voyagent sans payer s ils sont accompagnés par deux adultes What two special offers are mentioned in the above advert? 22

11 Exercise 6 Read this timetable and then answer the questions below. No Destination Heures Nature Quai Particularités 3481 Bordeaux 2h00 Exp 1 voitures couchettes 6858 Poitiers 5h Nantes 9h15 Exp Toulouse 15h45 Exp Paris-Aust 17h11 Rapide 1 supplément de Poitiers à Paris 3529 Marseille 18h29 Exp 2 Voitures couchettes 1a 1b 1c 2a 2b 2c 3a 3b What sort of train would you travel on if you took the train to Bordeaux? At what time does it leave? From which platform does it leave? What type of train will you be on if you are going to Marseille? You will be travelling through the night and would like a sleeping compartment. Is this possible? Which platform do you need? You are taking the train which leaves at 3.45 in the afternoon. Where are you going? Which platform should you go to? 23

12 4a 4b 4c 5a 5b 5c You want to travel to Paris.. Which station in Paris will you arrive at? Would you have to play a supplement? Does your train leave arrive 6pm? When does the train for Nantes leave? Which platform does it leave from? What sort of train is it? Exercise 7 Look at this arrivals board at Paris train station. TRAINS EN ARRIVES Provenance Heure Provenance Heure Annecy (TR) 9.15 Toulouse (TGV) Grenoble (TGV) 9.20 Calais (TD) Nimes (TR) 9.30 Bordeaux (TR) Marseille (TGV) 9.45 Tours (TD) Orléans (TD) Poitiers (TR) TD = Train direct TGV = Train à grande vitesse TR = Train rapide 24

13 A True or false? The fast train from Nimes arrives at 9.15 The TGV from Toulouse arrives at The direct train from Orléans arrives at The direct train from Calais arrives at The fast train from Poitiers arrives at B Now make up five statements in French about the arrival of the other trains. The first one has been done for you. 1 Le TGV de Grenoble arrive à neuf heures vingt. Exercise 8 Translate these train travel announcements into English. Use a dictionary to help you if necessary. 1 Le train rapide pour Bordeaux en provenance de Tours arrive au quai numéro trois. 2 Le TGV de dix heures trente de Calais arrive quinze minutes en retard 3 Le train direct Calais-Paris part du quai numéro deux. C est cinq minutes en retard. 4 L arrivée de Paris à neuf heures dix est dix minutes en retard. 5 Le train rapide pour Chambéry part à seize heures quarante. C est un quart d heure en retard. 6 Le TGV Marseille-Strasbourg part du quai numéro quinze. 7 L arrivée de Toulouse est une demi-heure en avance. 8 Le train rapide pour Annecy en provenance d Orléans arrive un quart d heure en retard. 9 A cause de problèmes électriques le train direct pour Grenoble est une heure en retard. 10 Le TGV de quatorze heures moins dix part du quai numéro cinq. C est vingt minutes en retard. 25

14 Exercise 9 Look at this timetable and then answer the questions below. Paris D (Gare de Lyon) Dijon Lyon A D A D 23 rapide 49 rapide 52 express 4 rapide 32 express , Marseille A A = arrivée D = départ 1 Which two types of train are available to passengers? 2 Which of the two types of train is the fastest? 3 From which station do these trains begin their journey? 4 For how long do trains stop in Dijon? 5 How many rapides leave Paris in the morning? 6 How many rapides leave Paris in the afternoon? 7 How long does the journey from Paris to Marseille take if you catch rapide number 49? 8 How long does express number 32 take to reach Lyon from Paris? 9 Which train would you catch from Paris if you wanted to A arrive in Dijon as early as possible in the day? B reach Lyon as soon as possible after midday? C arrive in Marseille shortly before midnight? D leave the Gare de Lyon as late in the day as possible 26

15 Exercise 10 Read this passage and conversation and then do the exercises below: Jean Duval est canadien. Il vient de Montréal. Il va passer un mois à La Rochelle, chez la famille Masson. Il a pris l avion de Montréal à Paris, et maintenant il va continuer son voyage par le train. Il arrive à la gare d Austerlitz en taxi et il va au guichet. Jean Un aller simple pour La Rochelle, s il vous plait. L employée Deuxième classe? Jean Oui, deuxième classe. L employée Voilà. 100 euros. Jean Merci, monsieur. Puis il va au bureau de renseignements. Jean Pardon, madame. A quelle heure part le train pour La Rochelle? L employée Voyons, vous avez un train à 12h05, arrivée à La Rochelle à 17h18 Jean C est direct? L employée Oui, c est direct. Jean Merci, madame. Et c est quel quai? L employé Quai numéro 9. 27

16 Complete these sentences: 1 Jean Duval comes from. 2 He is going to spend.. in La Rochelle 3 He is travelling to Paris from Montréal by.. 4 He arrives at the gare d Austerlitz in a.. 5 He buys a.. class ticket 6 It costs.. 7 At the information office, he asks when the train for la Rochelle.. 8 There is a direct train from.. 9 It arrives at La Rochelle at.. 10 It leaves from platform.. Exercise 11 Can you translate these sentences into English? 1 Excusez-moi, madame, où se trouve le guichet? 2 La station de métro est au fond. 3 Je cherche les renseignements. 4 Le train pour Paris part de quel quai? 5 Est-ce qu il y a un train pour Strasbourg? 6 Il faut changer à Tours. 7 La salle d attente est à gauche. 8 Il y a un train pour Nancy à midi. B Now translate these sentences into French: 1 Excuse me, where are the toilets? 2 The taxi rank is on the right 3 Where are the departures? 4 Is there a train for Bordeaux? 5 It is the bus for Versailles 6 The bus station is at the back 7 Where are the departures? 8 The shops are on the left. 28

17 Exercise 12 Look at these three conversations and the do the exercises below: A Bonjour, monsieur Un aller simple pour Rouen, s il vous plait. Oui. C est vingt euros. C est quel quai? Rouen? Quai numéro deux B C Bonjour, madame Un aller-retour pour Lyon s il vous plait Oui. C est quinze euros. C est quel quai? Lyon? Quai numéro sept. Bonjour monsieur Un aller simple pour Paris, s il vous plait Oui, c est dix euros. C est quel quai? Paris? Quai numéro trois. 1 How much would it cost to go to Lyon? 2 What time of ticket does the passenger going to Rouen buy? 3 From which platform does the Paris train leave? 4 How much does it cost to go to Rouen? 5 What type of ticket does the passenger going to Lyon buy? 6 Which platform do you go to if you are going to Rouen? 29

18 Exercise 13 Read this conversation. Then make up similar ones using the information in the chart below: Bonjour Bonjour. Un aller simple pour Paris, s il vous plait. C est vingt franccs. Le train part de quel quai? Du quai numéro deux. 1 Return Nice 30 euros 3 2 Return Lyon 25 euros 7 3 Single Marseille 40 euros 5 4 Single Calais 50 euros 4 5 Return Rouen 13 euros 2 6 Single Lille 100 euros 10 30

19 Exercise 14 Read this conversation. Then make up similar ones using the information in the chart below: Bonjour. Vous désirez? Je voudrais un aller simple pour Lyon, s il vous plait. Quelle classe? Deuxième classe. Fumeur ou non fumeur? Non fumeur, s il vous plait. C est combien? C est trente euros Le train part de quel quai? Le train part de quai numéro deux. 1 Single Bordeaux 2 nd Smoking 15 euros 5 2 Return Nantes 1 st Non smoking 24 euros 2 3 Return Nimes 1 st Non smoking 18 euros 7 4 Single Orléans 2 nd Smoking 31 euros 1 5 Single Strasbourg 2 nd Non smoking 76 euros 4 6 Return Lille 1 st Smoking 55 euros 8 31

20 Exercise 15 Read this leaflet and then answer the questions that follow Angleterre Boulogne-Douvres Pour vos enfants* c est gratuit 4 départs par jour Traversée de 1h 45 Accès très facile au Port de Boulogne Et le confort Normandy Ferries *Offre valable jusqu au 15 septembre pour les enfants de 4 à 14 ans voyageant en voiture avec leur parents au tarif normal Normandy ferries Renseignements et réservations toutes agences de voyage 1 To which English port does this ferry sail? 2 How many sailings take place each day? 3 How long does the journey take? 4 Until September 15 th, how much is a child of under 14 expected to pay? 32

21 5 On what conditions does this apply? Where may reservations be made? Exercise 16 L Angleterre en voiture La traversée la plus rapide en car-ferry Calais-Douvres en 75 minutes Nouveaux navires Calais-Douvres en 75 minutes Jusqu à 50% de réduction sur les petits voyages Nouveau tarif E économique Jusqu à 66 départs par jour Des milliers de départs à demi-tarif pour caravanes 1 How long does the Calais-Dover crossing take? 2 Which type of journeys have a 50% reduction? 3 What is special about tariff E? 4 How many crossings are made per day? 5 What sort of tariff is offered for caravans? 33

22 6 Between which two ports is the quickest crossing? 34