Public transport in London

If you go to Britain by air, you will arrive at Heathrow Airport. Heathrow airport is in London. London is a big city and like every big city it has plenty of public transport.

From Heathrow Airport you can reach central London by Underground railway or by Airbus, or you can hire a taxi.

The Underground is often called the “tube”. This is the quickest and easiest way to get around central London. The Underground has nine lines or routes. Each of the lines has a different name and a different colour on the famous Underground map. Train run every few minutes between 5.30 and 24.00 Monday to Saturday, and between 7.30 to 23.30 on Sundays.

You can buy your ticket from the station ticket office or from a ticket machine. You fare depends on your destination (destination is the place you are travelling to). Ticket machine take 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, and £ coins. London Underground operates a zone system. You pay a standard fare for all routes within a zone, and pay more for each zone you cross. Many stations have automatic barriers, and you insert your ticket to open the gate. Or you show your ticket to an official to go through the ticket barrier.

You will have to hand the ticket in at your final destination. Keep you ticket safe!

In the east and south-east of London it is convenient to travel by British Rail. Your destination is in big letters on the timetable board. There you will also see the station and the time your train arrives at your destination. You can also listen to information about trains. You will have to go through a ticket barrier or show your ticket before you go to your platform. Train tickets may be single and return.

If you prefer travelling by bus, look for a bus stop. At a compulsory bus stop there is usually a board with routes, numbers and times of buses. When you see the sign “Request stop”, you must put out your arm put signal the bus to stop.

There are different fares for different distances. On some buses you pay the conductor. Children under five travel free, and children under sixteen pay half price.

Journeys around London by double-decker bus are especially interesting, because you can see London’s most famous sights from the top deck.

London’s black taxis are as famous as its red buses. Places where taxis wait are called “taxi ranks”. You can stop a taxi in the street. When a yellow “For Hire” sigh is lit, the taxi is free to take passengers. A meter inside the taxi registers the fare.

INSERT THE MISSING WORDS:

London has plenty of public …. the quickest and easiest way to get around central London is ……. The London Underground has nine ……... The place you are travelling to is called ……. Your ….. depends on your destination. To go through the ticket barrier you show your ticket to an …., or insert your ticket to open the gate.

When you travel by train you will find your destination and the number of your platform on …... Before you go to the platform, you will have to go through …... train tickets may be …. Or ….. In Britain there are different ….. for different distances. Children under five travel …. On some buses you pay the …. when you get on, on others you pay the …., who comes to your seat. The bus will stop at the ….. stop, unless it is full. Journeys by double-decker bus are very …., because many routes pass by London’s most famous …..

TRUE OR FALSE:

ü From Heathrow Airport, rail is the quickest method to reach central London.

ü The nine lines on the Underground have different colours on the Underground map.

ü On Sundays trains run between 5.30 and 24.00.

ü You can buy your ticket either from the station ticket office or from one of the ticket machine.

ü Very few Underground stations have automatic barriers.

ü At a railway station you can find the number of your platform on the timetable board.

ü Places where taxis wait are called “the bays”.

ü London’s double-deckers are black, while taxis are usually yellow in London.

ü Train tickets are single or return.

ü London has plenty of public transport.

ANSWER THE QUESTIONS TO THE TEXT:

ü What is the easiest way to get around central London?

ü Why it is helpful to have plenty of coins when you go by the Underground?

ü What does “a zone system” mean?

ü What must you do to through the ticket barrier?

ü What is the best method of travelling in the east and south-east of London?

ü Where can you see the time your train departs?

ü What are the two types of train tickets?

ü What are the two types of bus stops?

ü What must you do to signal the bus to stop?

ü What does your fare depend on?

ü What are the advantages of a “double-deckers”?

ü Can you stop a taxi in the street?

ü What kind of sign is lit when the taxi is free to take passengers?

READ AND TRANSLATE INTO UKRAINIAN:

1. On Sundays public transport in Britain starts later and stops earlier. It is also less frequent, and in some places there is no service at all.

2. Smoking is prohibited in all Underground trains and stations. Smoking on buses is allowed at the back of the top deck of double-decker buses. It is not allowed on single-deckers.

3. It is usual practice to give the taxi-driver a tip of 15to 20 per cent on top of the fare.

4. In many places street parking is allowed only at paying car parks and meters.

5. The traffic keeps to the left in Britain. Look right before you cross the road.

6. Gatwick Airport is now the fourth busiest international airport in the world. It is also the region’s local airport. There are direct services and connections to every airport in Britain as well as with international airports throughout the world.

7. At airports and big railway stations you can put your luggage on a luggage trolley which you push along.