Travelling by a Train

Many of us enjoy journey by train. Travelling by train in India is convenient because it is time-saving and cheaper. Here, the students will get a glimpse of the railway system.

After reading the concept, students will be able to:

• Know about bodies of water, rivers, waterfall, and various types of landforms like hills and mountains.
• Buy train tickets from ticket counters.
• Differentiate between village and city.
• Identify the arrival and departure schedules of trains from railway station timetables.

Each concept is explained to class 4 students using descriptions, illustrations, and concept maps. After you go through a concept, assess your learning by solving the two printable worksheets given at the end of the page.

Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept Journey by Train provided in PDF format.

• Trains are one of the best transport options for travelling long distances because of cheaper fares and ease of travel.
• A journey on the train also offers a spectacular view of the beautiful landscape and culture as the train passes through different places.
• One can see the traditional attires, crops cultivated and different kinds of houses.
• Another exciting thing about travelling by train is the chance to taste the local cuisine served by the vendors in the railway stations and wagons.
• The journey becomes entertaining as one can interact with fellow passengers from different regions.

Things we see while travelling on a train:

1. Bodies of Water:

• When a train moves through rural areas, one can see large water bodies surrounded by land.
• The larger water bodies are called lakes, while the smaller and shallower ones are called ponds.
• We also see many aquatic birds like cranes, kingfishers, ducks, etc.
• People nearby use this water for bathing and washing clothes and utensils, making it contaminated.

2. Rivers:

• Sometimes while travelling by train, one can see the flowing rivers.
• Small and big boats are seen on the river.
• A bridge constructed on the river allows trains to cross the river.
• On the river banks, one might see fishermen with their fishing nets and boats.

3. Waterfalls:

• One can see large and small waterfalls when trains pass through hilly regions.
• A part of a river or other water body that takes a steep drop over a rocky ledge or cliff is called a waterfall.
• Dudhsagar Waterfalls in Goa is an amazing waterfall that can be seen if one travels by train.

4. Types of Landforms:

• One travels in toy trains in the mountainous regions as they can easily move through the mountain slopes.
• Watching hills and mountains from the train itself is a beautiful experience.
• We may see elevated lands in many places.
• The colour of the soil also differs according to the changing landforms.
• It may be blackish, dark brown or reddish.
• Many other types of landforms are visible, like agricultural lands, deserts, and barren infertile lands.

5. Village and City:

• When the train reaches any railway station, we get to see the cities.
• Cities are always buzzing with huge gatherings of people, loud traffic noise and movement of vehicles.
• When a train departs a train station, it starts moving through the rural regions till it reaches the next station.

In villages, the farmers grow crops and rear livestock.In villages, we see small houses, ponds and lots of greenery. Still, when a train approaches the city, it becomes congested.In cities, we can see tall buildings, shops, schools, offices and buildings, so there is not much greenery left.

6. Bridges:

• Bridges are built to provide passage over obstacles that are impossible to cross.
• The obstacle could be a big waterbody, a river, a congested road, etc.
• For smooth movement of trains, the railway tracks are connected by bridges.
• When a train crosses a bridge over a congested road, one can see different vehicles like trucks, buses, cars, motorbikes, and bicycles on the road.

7. Railway Level crossing:

• When railway tracks and a road are at the same level, one must cross the road by a level-crossing.
• When we travel by train while passing a level crossing, we see many vehicles wait for the train to pass.
• Some people turn off their car engines while waiting, but some do not, which causes air pollution.
• Level crossings are marked with flashing lights, barriers like gates or bars, and a warning siren.
• However, some people get impatient and try to cross it by going under the bars, which is risky and life-threatening.

8. Tunnels:

• Tunnels are narrow, enclosed passages with opening and exit gates.
• They are covered with either rocks or soil.
• Tunnels are constructed to provide passage over obstacles like hills and mountains.
• In many developed countries, underwater tunnels are built instead of bridges.

Scenes at the Railway Station:

• In the railway station, we see many railway workers like ticket checkers, ticket sellers, police, cleaners, porters, etc.
• The waiting lists are pasted on the coach so that one can check if the tickets are confirmed or not.
• Railway police come for inspection before the train departs.
• We also see train guards blowing whistles and giving signals to the train drivers.
• Porters are seen carrying luggage and moving fast across platforms to catch the train.
• During the journey, we see many tea and snack sellers who serve us hot beverages and lip-smacking snacks.
• Many shops selling books, magazines, water, snacks and other essential things are seen at the railway station.

Train Tickets:

• Ticket sellers issue tickets from the railway ticket counters.
• A ticket is authorised proof that whoever is travelling with it has paid for the journey and reserved a seat for themselves.
• The information one gets from a train ticket is—
  • Departure and arrival time of the train.
  • Train number and PNR number.
  • How many people are travelling, and their age and sex.
  • If children are travelling or not.
  • Coach number, seat number and berth number.
  • Amount paid for the ticket.
  • Name of the destination.
• Ticket checkers check tickets before boarding the train.

Railway Station Timetable:

The following information can be obtained from a railway timetable—

• Train number.
• Name of the train.
• Arrival time and destination station.
• Departure time and station.
• The number of days a specific train operates from a railway station.

New Words:

Did You Know?

• The Indian Maharaja Deccan Odyssey is a luxurious train travelling from Mumbai to Delhi. It offers scenic beauty and many other services like a gymnasium, library, steam baths, spa centres, etc.
• Travelling to Rameswaram by train, one must cross the sea to reach their destination, which is a unique and fantastic experience.