Trains in France run on a schedule, and figuring out your platform, ticket, or a delay announcement in French can throw off your whole trip. Here are the phrases you actually need — from buying your ticket to finding your platform.
At the ticket office
- I would like a ticket to Paris, please. — Je voudrais un billet pour Paris, s’il vous plaît.
- I need to buy a return ticket. — J’ai besoin d’acheter un billet de retour.
- How much does a ticket cost? — Combien coûte un billet ?
- I have to change trains. — Je dois changer de train.
- The next train leaves at 3pm. — Le prochain train part à 15 heures.
- What time does the last train leave? — À quelle heure part le dernier train ?
- Where can I find the timetable? — Où puis-je trouver les horaires ?
- I would like to reserve a seat. — Je voudrais réserver un siège.
- Can I have a window seat ? — Puis-je avoir un siège côté fenêtre ?
Find the way
- What platform does the train leave from ? — De quelle plateforme part le train ?
- Where is platform number five? — Où est la plateforme numéro cinq ?
- Can I have a map of the station? — Puis-je avoir une cart de la gare ?
- Where is the waiting room? — Où est la salle d’attente ?
- Can you tell me the way to the storage? — Pouvez-vous me montrer le chemin vers la consigne à bagages ?
- Where is the exit? — Où est la sortie ?
On the platform
- Does this train go to Paris? — Est-ce que ce train va à Paris ?
- What time does the train arrive ? — À quelle heure arrive le train ?
- Is the train on time ? — Le train est à l’heure ?
- Is the train late? — Le train est en retard ?
On the train
- I have a first-class ticket. — J’ai un billet de première classe.
- Is this seat free? — Ce siège est libre ?
- Is the seat taken ? — Ce siège est pris ?
- The train is full. — Le train est complet.
- The train is about to depart. — Le train est sur le point de partir.
- Is there a restroom on the train? — Y a-t-il des toilettes dans le train ?
- Where is the bar car? — Où est la voiture-bar ?
- What is the next stop ? — Quel est la prochaine arrêt ?
- I need to get off at the next stop. — Je dois de descendre à la prochaine station.
- Does the train stop here ? — le train s’arrête ici ?
- I have a connecting train. — J’ai un train de correspondance.
How can I practice the French train station phrases on my own?
Reading phrases is one thing. Saying them instantly, without translating in your head, is another. Parlez.app gets you there: it feeds you English sentences to translate and check your pronunciation. Since the exercises are dynamic, you’ll keep discovering new phrases beyond this list.
Here’s how to try it:
- Log in and select Card 2: “French Fluency Boost.”
- Once your AI tutor greets you, say: “Je veux pratiquer le thème à la gare.”
- Your tutor will give you English train station sentences to translate and say out loud — as many as you want, correcting your pronunciation as you go.
Practice enough, and you won’t be translating “My train was late, I need to change my connecting train.” in your head anymore. You’ll just say it.