Train or Railway Station?

[JohnB57]

It shouldn't IMO. Bahnhof is literally 'way house'. in other words the Germans use the word as we would use 'station' to mean railway station, because when they started with trains there were no other types of station, the same as here, so the method of transport did not need to be added.

I'd have said that Bahnhof literally means "Road Yard" as Bahn is a shortening of Eisenbahn which means Iron Road. But I could be wrong, perhaps a native speaker could assist?

"Bahn" doesn't easily translate into modern English. I think the nearest use would be "where are you bound" (or in Yorkshire "weer 'sta baan"), itself an older form. Probably the closest translation of bahn would be "track" so "Bahnhof" translates more as "track court" (not "house" which in German is "Haus"). As you observe, "Eisenbahn" is a compound noun - "iron track" - so you are definitely wrong about it being a shortened form in this context.

 

[Techniquest]

http://www.southwales-eveningpost.c...Talbot-train/story-20538935-detail/story.html

The photo is quite interesting too.

Bah, I'll keep the memories of Port Talbot Parkway from my many journeys through South Wales thanks, that artist's impression doesn't really make it look any better to me. Still not been to Swansea since early January 2008, and I've heard it's been changed a fair bit since then so I'll keep the memories there too.

 

[duesselmartin]

In German it gets curious. A Railway station is a "Bahnhof" . A bus-station is a Busbahnhof (Bus-Railway station).

 

[Deerfold]

In German it gets curious. A Railway station is a "Bahnhof" . A bus-station is a Busbahnhof (Bus-Railway station).

There's already been some discussion in this thread about whether that is the case.

 

[HowardGWR]

There's already been some discussion in this thread about whether that is the case.

What to do with 'gare' though. No bus-gare in French! La gare is where all buses go anyway in my experience, travelling in France, and it gives the clue to what 'integration' really means!

 

[Deerfold]

What to do with 'gare' though. No bus-gare in French! La gare is where all buses go anyway in my experience, travelling in France, and it gives the clue to what 'integration' really means!

There isn't?

There's la gare d'autobus or for a coach station la gare routière

 

[HowardGWR]

There isn't?

There's la gare d'autobus or for a coach station la gare routière

Oh, I thought it was 'bus-station', clearly my translator is no good!

Still, the point about 'gare' being self-explanatory holds. Thanks for the info.

 

[Deerfold]

Oh, I thought it was 'bus-station', clearly my translator is no good!

Still, the point about 'gare' being self-explanatory holds. Thanks for the info.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see "le bus station" too.

 

[HowardGWR]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see "le bus station" too.

I did see it, as I had never come across the terms you mentioned - and that's what Google French translation gave me.

 

[poshfan]

Reporting the damage to the line at Dawlish, the BBC are referring to it as "the main train line to Cornwall". Ignoring the fact that "main" implies that there is another less important line available, it appears the BBC are determined never to use the word "railway". :roll: Still, I think train line is perhaps slightly preferable to the BBC's usual horrible term, which is "rail link", as in "there are problems tonight on the main London to Edinburgh rail link".
If the railways are ever re-nationalised, I fully expect it to be called "British Rail-links".

 

[Mick13]

To those who say it is a train station, is it a sidewalk or is it a pavement? Is it a trash can or a rubbish bin? And do you speak like this: (If not, why not?)
It was a bright Fall morning and I had to get to work early. I work Mondays through Fridays. Before driving to the train station I checked the oil in my automobile. To do this I lifted up the hood to see how low the oil was. Then I put my luggage in the trunk and drove my car to the parking lot. Along the way I stopped to put more gas in my automobile. To get to the station I drove the car along the highway, drove counter-clockwise round the roundabout and carefully avoided parking on the sidewalk. As I walked to Track Nine I put my garbage in the trash can as I did not want to be arrested by the bull. While waiting for my train I observed a manifest thundering through the station. I clearly saw the engineer waving to me. This was followed by a coal drag. As I felt hungry I bought some cookies with a bill. The ride along the railroad was smooth and comfortable and I soon reached my destination. I work as a movie director. One of my movies was recently aired on primetime TV. My latest movie is all about a truck driver who majored in Transportation Studies at College. One of his lines is "It's railway station, period."

 

[Craglad1975]

I just call it the station

 

[westv]

Railway station is for the posh types. Train station for those of us who have tea in the evening rather than dinner.

 

[Muzer]

To those who say it is a train station, is it a sidewalk or is it a pavement? Is it a trash can or a rubbish bin? And do you speak like this: (If not, why not?)
It was a bright Fall morning and I had to get to work early. I work Mondays through Fridays. Before driving to the train station I checked the oil in my automobile. To do this I lifted up the hood to see how low the oil was. Then I put my luggage in the trunk and drove my car to the parking lot. Along the way I stopped to put more gas in my automobile. To get to the station I drove the car along the highway, drove counter-clockwise round the roundabout and carefully avoided parking on the sidewalk. As I walked to Track Nine I put my garbage in the trash can as I did not want to be arrested by the bull. While waiting for my train I observed a manifest thundering through the station. I clearly saw the engineer waving to me. This was followed by a coal drag. As I felt hungry I bought some cookies with a bill. The ride along the railroad was smooth and comfortable and I soon reached my destination. I work as a movie director. One of my movies was recently aired on primetime TV. My latest movie is all about a truck driver who majored in Transportation Studies at College. One of his lines is "It's railway station, period."

You say this, but many of the words we use and take for granted started out life as Americanisms. You don't see many people avoiding words like "placate", "antagonise", "transpire", "anyway" and "standpoint", and the phrase "just how many", for example, but these were all once considered Americanisms (as far as I can tell). You have to draw the line somewhere - while I still avoid it myself, you cannot deny that "train station" is in common usage, much more common than most of the words/phrases you mentioned (perhaps barring "movie" and a few others).

 

[Strat-tastic]

Railway station is for the posh types. Train station for those of us who have tea in the evening rather than dinner.

I say railway station, have tea in the evening, and say scone to rhyme with stone; I ain't posh!

 

[Yew]

^^
That's my take, perhaps it's an age thing too?

I expect the next thing to come along will be the "Fire Engine Station"

It is more accurate, they dont actually store fire at a fire station


Personally I use railway station for a big station, and train station for a small one

 

[45669]

As far as I'm concerned it has always been 'railway station' and 'railway line' and so it will remain.

I once asked someone the way to the railway station. He looked a bit confused and asked me whether I meant the t***n station? I said no, the railway station, and he said that it was straight on and to take the first turning on the left.

 

[ComUtoR]

I always refer to it as [location] Station (Victoria Station) Some don't even get "Station" added (London Bridge) My local is Orpington so I always say "Orpington Station" Most places I regularly go only have a 'Train' station. Bus Stations seem to be a thing of the past. If anyone asked where Orpington Station is they would be directed to the correct place. Croydon is weird in that you have East Croydon or West Croydon and people generally asked "Which one ?"

When I use "Railway" I use it to refer to the Railway as a whole or as an industry.