The Train Ticket

Hugo reached the station with twenty minutes to spare. He was travelling to Valencia to visit his cousin and had saved the ticket on his phone. The departure boards were crowded with information, and several trains were leaving at similar times.

Hugo glanced at the screen and saw a train departing at 10:15 from platform four. That matched the time on his ticket, so he joined the queue. He was almost at the door when the announcement mentioned Valladolid. Hugo stopped. He was sure his ticket said Valencia.

He stepped away from the queue and looked at the ticket properly. It showed Valencia, coach six, seat forty-two and platform five. The train on platform four happened to leave at exactly the same time, but it was going somewhere completely different.

To be certain, Hugo asked a station worker where platform five was. She pointed towards a staircase behind him and confirmed that the Valencia train had not started boarding yet. Hugo thanked her and walked over without running.

Once on the correct train, he found his seat and put his suitcase on the luggage rack. He sent his cousin a message: “On the train. Nearly got on the wrong one!” His cousin replied with a laughing face and a reminder to check the destination, not just the time. Hugo smiled. He would certainly remember that advice on the journey home.