Everyday listening · B1
Train platform change
Hear which train time or platform has changed, and separate the new details from the old ones.
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Examples
The sixteen ten service to York is delayed by fifteen minutes.
Why it works: Delayed by introduces the duration of extra waiting time.
2 more examples
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The York train will now depart from platform seven.
Now signals the replacement platform rather than immediate departure.
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Departure is delayed until sixteen twenty-five.
Delayed until introduces the specific revised clock time.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exercise
Identify your train by its destination and scheduled departure
A platform is where passengers wait beside the track to board a train. The destination tells you where the train is going. In an announcement, service can mean the scheduled train, and depart means leave. Listen for the destination and departure time together so you can identify your train before checking what has changed.
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The sixteen ten service to York will depart from platform seven.
Why it works: In formal station register, 'service' means the specific train and 'depart' means leave.
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Passengers waiting for the York train should check overhead screens.
Why it works: The destination, York, tells passengers which train this instruction is about. It does not have to come first in the sentence.
Your turn
What does the word 'service' refer to in railway announcements?
Answer: The specific train running on the timetable.
Show the answer
Answer: The specific train running on the timetable.
In railway station announcements, 'service' functions as a formal term referring to the specific scheduled train.
Compare what changes with what stays the same
An announcement can change one part of a journey while other details stay the same. Identify the train by its destination and scheduled time, then listen for a new platform or departure time. The written examples below show the difference between fixed and changed details. Use the recordings in Practice to try this with audio.
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The destination, York, stays the same, but the platform and departure time change.
Why it works: The train still heads to York, but boarding moves from platform two to platform seven.
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Excuse me, does the York train leave from platform seven now?
Why it works: A short passenger question verifies the updated track with station staff.
You can practise this again in Delayed train announcement and Rescheduled interview voicemail.
Your turn
The 16:10 York service now leaves at 16:25 from platform seven instead of platform two. Which detail stays the same?
Answer: The destination: York.
Show the answer
Answer: The destination: York.
The announcement keeps York as the destination but replaces the original departure time and platform.
Use now and instead to identify the replacement platform
In this announcement, now introduces an updated arrangement. It does not by itself mean the train is leaving this second; check the stated departure time. Instead of also marks a replacement. If the train leaves from platform seven instead of platform two, seven is the new platform and two is the old one.
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The sixteen ten train to York will now depart from platform seven.
Why it works: 'Now' signals the replacement platform in the schedule, not an immediate departure.
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Passengers should board on platform seven instead of platform two.
Why it works: 'Instead of' cancels the original track and points travelers to the valid boarding point.
Your turn
What does 'will now depart from platform seven instead of platform two' communicate?
Answer: Platform seven replaces platform two for this service.
Show the answer
Answer: Platform seven replaces platform two for this service.
In this announcement, 'now' introduces an updated arrangement rather than an instantaneous action. Platform seven replaces platform two.
Distinguish due at, delayed by and delayed until
'Due at' introduces an expected time. In the written example below, 'was due at sixteen ten' refers to the original timetable. 'Delayed by' gives a length of time: fifteen minutes. 'Delayed until' gives the revised clock time: sixteen twenty-five. Adding fifteen minutes to 16:10 gives 16:25. If the announcement states the new time, write that down and use the calculation to check it.
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This service was due at sixteen ten.
Why it works: 'Due at' introduces the original scheduled departure time from the timetable.
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The train is delayed by fifteen minutes and delayed until sixteen twenty-five.
Why it works: 'Delayed by' takes a time duration, whereas 'delayed until' introduces the revised clock time.
Your turn
Which phrase introduces the length of extra waiting time rather than a clock time?
Answer: Delayed by
Show the answer
Answer: Delayed by
'Delayed by' introduces a time duration such as fifteen minutes, while 'due at' and 'delayed until' introduce clock times.
Compare the written details, then listen in Practice
Fifteen and fifty differ in their ending as well as their usual stress pattern, but stress can change in a sentence. The table labels the announcement's details. The written steps show a self-check method, not the interface's hint sequence. In short Practice dictations, hints give a word count, opening words and then a blank outline. The long gap-fill recording instead offers a gap count, a first-gap cue and word beginnings. Test recordings do not offer those hints.
| Detail | What it tells you | Value in this announcement |
|---|---|---|
| Destination | Stays the same | York |
| Scheduled departure | Original timetable time | 16:10 (sixteen ten) |
| Delay duration | Extra waiting time | 15 minutes (fifteen minutes) |
| Revised departure | New departure time | 16:25 (sixteen twenty-five) |
| Old platform | No longer the boarding platform | Platform 2 |
| Replacement platform | New boarding platform | Platform 7 |
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Step 1: Delay duration. Step 2 cue: 'delayed by [___] minutes'. Step 3 reveal: 'fifteen minutes'.
Why it works: The words delayed by tell you to listen for a length of time. The gap marks the missing number.
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The sixteen ten service to York will now depart from platform seven.
Why it works: 'Now' signals that the platform information has changed. This is a written example, not a separate recording.
Your turn
Why should you not rely on stress alone to choose between fifteen and fifty?
Answer: Stress can change with the surrounding words.
Show the answer
Answer: Stress can change with the surrounding words.
Stress can vary in a sentence. Listen for the different endings, check the surrounding words and replay the number if needed.
Avoid confusing the old platform, new platform and departure time
Do not choose a platform from the first or last number alone. The announcement mentions platform two as the old location and platform seven as the replacement. Sixteen twenty-five is a time, not a platform. Listen to the words beside each number, and label your notes as original time, delay, new time or platform.
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The train originally on platform two will now depart from platform seven at sixteen twenty-five.
Why it works: Platform two is cancelled, platform seven is the replacement track, and sixteen twenty-five is the time.
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Boarding is on platform seven, not platform two.
Why it works: Do not move until you hear which platform is confirmed as the active boarding location.
Your turn
If an announcement ends with 'from platform seven at sixteen twenty-five', which number is the departure platform?
Answer: Platform seven
Show the answer
Answer: Platform seven
The word 'platform' is directly attached to 'seven', while 'sixteen twenty-five' represents the departure clock time.
Practice the recordings and check the number patterns
The first three examples are the written forms of the first three Practice recordings. Try the dictation there, then use these examples to check your answers. Label each number as a platform or a delay. The last two written examples show a request for attention and a reason for an instruction; they are not extra recordings.
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Item 1: 'The train now leaves from platform seven.'
Why it works: Listen for now and the platform number. The exact sound and emphasis come from the actual recording.
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Item 2: 'Our service is delayed by fifteen minutes.'
Why it works: By introduces the delay length. Check the ending of fifteen as well as the surrounding words; its stress can vary.
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Item 3: 'Passengers for York must walk to platform seven because the service is delayed by fifteen minutes and will leave soon.'
Why it works: Keep track of the destination, platform and delay across the connected clauses. Replay the short linking words if needed.
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Written example: May I have your attention, please? The train will leave from platform seven.
Why it works: This written example separates the request for attention from the platform information. It is not an additional recording.
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Written example: Due to a signal fault, passengers should wait on platform three.
Why it works: Due to means because of and introduces a reason. It differs from due at, which gives a time. Platform three belongs only to this separate written example, not the York announcement.
Your turn
What does 'due to a signal fault' add to the last written example?
Answer: The reason for the instruction.
Show the answer
Answer: The reason for the instruction.
'Due to' introduces a reason. The rest of that written sentence tells passengers where to wait.
Check the updated journey and ask station staff if needed
Cover your notes and try to recall the destination, replacement platform and revised departure time. Then compare your answer with the written model below. On a real journey, check current station information and ask staff about anything unclear before changing platforms.
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Transcript-free recall: Destination York, replacement platform seven, revised departure sixteen twenty-five.
Why it works: Use this model to check the destination, platform and departure time you recalled.
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Excuse me, does the York train leave from platform seven now?
Why it works: This spoken confirmation question names the destination, replacement track, and time adverb 'now' clearly.
Your turn
Which summary gives the current journey details?
Answer: The destination (York), replacement platform (seven), and revised departure time (sixteen twenty-five).
Show the answer
Answer: The destination (York), replacement platform (seven), and revised departure time (sixteen twenty-five).
The useful summary contains where the train is going, where to board and when it now leaves. Check current station information if you are traveling.
Before you go
Remember this
Identify your train by its destination and scheduled departure. Listen for delayed by to learn the delay length, and look for now or instead to find the replacement platform. Verify both the revised time and new platform before walking to the train.
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Questions about "Train platform change"
How do I know the announcement is about my train?
Listen for your destination and the scheduled departure time. In this announcement, those details identify the York train before the announcer gives its new time and platform.
The sixteen ten service to York will now depart from platform seven.
Which platform number should I follow if I hear two?
In this announcement, platform seven replaces platform two. Listen for how 'now', 'instead of' or 'not' connects the details, rather than choosing the first or last number alone. Check the destination and revised departure as well.
Passengers for York should proceed to platform seven instead of platform two.
Does 'will now depart' mean the train is leaving immediately?
Not necessarily. Here, now introduces an updated arrangement. The word alone does not tell you whether departure is immediate. Check the stated departure time and current station information.
The train will now depart at sixteen twenty-five from platform seven.
What is the difference between 'delayed by' and 'delayed until'?
'Delayed by' introduces an amount of time, such as fifteen minutes. 'Delayed until' introduces a specific clock time, such as sixteen twenty-five. If a train due at sixteen ten is delayed by fifteen minutes, it is delayed until sixteen twenty-five.
The train is delayed by fifteen minutes.
The train is delayed until sixteen twenty-five.
Why does the announcement still mention the old departure time?
The original timetable time and destination help identify the scheduled train even after its departure is delayed. They are reference details, not the new departure time. Do not assume every announcement presents old and new information in exactly the same order.
The sixteen ten service to York is now expected at sixteen twenty-five.
How can I ask someone to confirm the new platform?
Ask a station employee to confirm your destination and the new platform. Naming both details makes it clear which train and boarding point you are asking about.
Excuse me, does the York train depart from platform seven now?
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Say it your way
Use these journey details: the 16:10 York train is delayed until 16:25 and moved to platform seven. Explain the original and revised times, then ask a station clerk to confirm the new platform.
You could start with “Excuse me, I heard that the York train…”
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