Write a short story that takes place on a train.

Posted in High School on Oct 26, 2022

Submissions are closed

Sorry, we are not accepting submissions for this prompt as it is not part of an active contest. Make sure you don't miss our next contest by creating your free Reedsy Prompts account.

Or create a new Reedsy account:

Why not check out our active contest?

✍️ 128 stories

“Painting a Picture” by Wendi Zhou

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #27

Jill stared out the window, gazing at the drab scenery passing her by. Or rather, that she was passing by, as the scenery was not strictly moving. The train she was on was speeding smoothly. It was a mopey kind of day, and Jill couldn’t bring herself to do anything but listen to the pitter patter of raindrops and take in the grayness of the landscape. She sighed. This trip was supposed to be a scenic getaway, taking the long-haul train across Canada from Toronto on her way to visit her cousin in Saskatoon. Instead, less than halfway int...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Her” by Katt Ester

Submitted to Contest #27

I was nervous, of course I was. It’s weird to think about sometimes, how I can still get nervous even after all I‘ve fought, but here we are. I adjusted my satchel bag and squeezed it’s leather strap in a hidden attempt for reassuranc, then realized with a sigh, that I had nothing to be anxious about. That didn’t help it, obviously, but I tried. Peering around, I decided to take a look at any fellow commuters. I felt a little out of place, seeing as they all looked casual and calm compared to me, but whatever. A girl caught my eye just as a ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“KALYANI” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

Submitted to Contest #27

Sindhu was travelling from Chennai to Mumbai for attending an official conference. The office had arranged for her train ticket and stay arrangements. Since she thought that she would overstay at Mumbai after her office work was done, she had requested that she might be permitted to get her return journey ticket as per her convenience and it was agreed also. But in her daily chores and other preoccupations, she totally forgot about her return journey rail ticket reservation. Only on boarding for Mumbai, she remembered that she was yet to arr...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Train Story” by Valerie Larouche

Submitted to Contest #27

The first step was always the hardest. The problem did not lie in the step itself: it was a large enough step for one to place their foot comfortably upon it. It was also the proper height; not so high as to make you trip when you'd try to reach it, and not so low as to make your heart skip a beat when you thought for a second that you were falling through the floor. Ergo, the problem did not lie in the step itself. The problem did not lie in the doorway either. It was a fine, regular-looking doorway: the sas-like entrance to any mode of tra...

2 comments 2

Read story

“Crossing the Tracks” by Lex Matthysse

Submitted to Contest #27

Usually bustling with travelers and commuters going about their daily business the station was eerily empty and silent. The ticket master’s box was empty and shuttered, no trains were expected for hours yet. Only one man sat on a bench, checking his watch now and again, his foot tapping the wooden platform. He didn’t have any luggage with him, only a coat draped over his arm even though the night was chilly. Sweat was forming beads on his forehead and he swiped at it in an absent way, his eyes on his watch. Rumor said, that there was a thirt...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Rush Hour Daydreaming” by Emma Preston

Submitted to Contest #27

The 17.17 train had been cancelled, so the 17.37 was stretched to full capacity. Reg pushed his way through a crowded vestibule at the head of a hoard of boarding commuters and found – against all logic and expectation – an empty seat, one of four clustered around a table. On any other day, he would rather have stood (surely, he reflected, the designers had no grasp of the British public, if they thought that spending a journey trying to avoid eye contact with strangers was preferable to staring at the back of a seat), but today he couldn’t ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Fae class” by Thomas Richards

Submitted to Contest #27

It was gloomy, out. Typical English weather. I sighed. That’s the problem with trains. Sure, you get to kick back – by which I mean sit as straight as a board – in an inadequately cushioned chair that you paid half a limb for, instead of being stuck in a chain of glares – by which I mean you and several dozen other people in your cars – waiting for that red light to turn green so that you can do it all over again twenty seconds later. The downside is that you have to walk to and from the station. On a sunny day, awesome; on a gloomy day with...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Two People On A Train” by Savannah Bainter

Submitted to Contest #27

“Okay, okay. I’ll be there in 25 minutes, at least. If I catch the train on time.”“Uh, wait. You still take the train? When are you going to get your car fixed? It saves so much time and you could actually get here early. Nevermind, don’t answer that. Worry about getting here on time. I have to get back to work. I'll see you in 25 minutes.” “Wait-” *Beep beep beep* ‘And she hung up.’ Natalie said to herself. Natalie had to take the train because she was issues with her car and she was scared to drive it. Some say she’s just paranoid, so...

0 comments 0

Read story

“A Brief Encounter On The 97” by G. Miller

Submitted to Contest #27

It never fails, after half an hour or so sitting in coach, I reach the point where I can't handle the chatter going on around me. So, I grab my bag and head for the club car. My usual table is open. I drop my gear, set up my computer, get on the Internet and head for the bar. I order the usual, double Bloody Mary, spicy. I hadn't noticed the woman seated across from me, on the other side of the aisle, until she got up and set down directly across from me at my table. Very attractive, maybe in her late 50s or early 60s, with very expressive e...

0 comments 0

Read story

“It happen on a train” by Vicki Ellison

Submitted to Contest #27

It was extremely cold night I was taking the Aces train to Las Angeles California from New York, for a week long vacation of rest and relaxation. I could have caught the plane to LA, but I like sightseeing so I took the train. I brought puzzle books, national geographic magazines and games on my phone to keep me busy while I was on my journey,at on of the stops the train made which is many on a long trip as this is,a tall handsome middle age man,very masculine hot body boarded the train. Looking straight at me caught my eye,he walked up and ...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Eger” by Brittany Lapidus

Submitted to Contest #27

I let out a huge sigh of relief and nestled into an empty window seat. Two hours. I had two full hours to relax and enjoy the scenic ride into northern Hungary. This was the first time in a week I didn’t have to worry about navigating throughout a foreign city without speaking the language. And since sitting is my favorite activity of all time, these next two hours were ideal. My plan was to read my handy Rick Steves’ guide book to refresh my memory about all the exciting things that awaited me in Eger. I also wanted to make sure I took in t...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Train Mystery” by Fabiana Castillo

Submitted to Contest #27

Shoot, I'm going to be late I told myself even though I knew it wasn't going to help. Grabbing my keys off the side of the cabinet and running out the door. It slammed behind me, and as I went to run down the steps, I remembered I left my phone in my bedroom. As I tried sliding the key to that small keyhole the apartment held, I realized I took the wrong key. You have to be kidding, of any day bad luck chooses to strike this day. Wha...

0 comments 0

Read story

“Charlotte's Journey” by Anna Alikin

Submitted to Contest #27

As soon as she stepped onto the platform, she remembered what it felt like when she first got to ride on a train. That was a long time ago, when she had been a little girl of ten, with brown pigtails. But strangely nothing seemed to change. The train was still the same shiny red she remembered, the steam billowing out of the locomotive, the familiar whistle, and the station being as busy as it was all those years ago. Charlotte Brewer was now in her eighties, and she had returned. She herself looks different now. The brown hair she onc...

1 comment 1

Read story

“The Passenger” by Isla Vance

Submitted to Contest #27

The Passenger This is my first train ride. A year of firsts. The train has a waiting room quality. A faux modern look. It’s not as noisy as I expected. Quiet conversations around me are welcome distractions from my thoughts. I’m glad I don’t know anyone here. I'm shit at waiting room chitchat. The kind that is expected on long journeys in close quarters. I am grateful to be seated alone. I feel slightly nauseous and want the freedom to get up quick if needed. Without trip...

0 comments 0

Read story

“The Journalist” by Abbee Black

Submitted to Contest #27

The door opens and you step onto the train--shake the snowflakes out of your golden hair. It’s warm in here, you shiver slightly at the change in temperature. There’s an open seat next to me, but it doesn’t belong to you. You walk past me without meeting my gaze. You stop by the row in front of me. “I think that’s my seat,” you say with a smile. Crinkles appear at the sides of your chocolate eyes. The man stands to allow you to pass. He holds out his hand. “George Baker.” You’re taller than him in your heels. You take...

0 comments 0

Read story

Load more stories

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about a jury of people tasked with making a decision. (It doesn't necessarily need to be a court jury.)

Adults – 29 stories

Write a short story in which a specialist is called upon to carry out a job.

High School – 36 stories

Write a short story that ends with a twist.

Mystery – 155 stories

Write a short story that takes place in a quaint, idyllic, English village.

Fiction – 31 stories

Contest #27

Enter our weekly contest!

This week's theme: Agatha Christie

$50

Prize money

379

Contest entries

0

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Feb 07, 2020 EST

Won by Natalie Frank 🏆

Title: Seaglass

View details

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Menu

CONNECT

BLOG

APPS

TOOLS

ABOUT

Write a short story that takes place on a train.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 128 stories

“Painting a Picture” by Wendi Zhou

“Her” by Katt Ester

“KALYANI” by SHYAMALA BHUVANACHANDRAN

“A Train Story” by Valerie Larouche

“Crossing the Tracks” by Lex Matthysse

“Rush Hour Daydreaming” by Emma Preston

“Fae class” by Thomas Richards

“Two People On A Train” by Savannah Bainter

“A Brief Encounter On The 97” by G. Miller

“It happen on a train” by Vicki Ellison

“Eger” by Brittany Lapidus

“Train Mystery” by Fabiana Castillo

“Charlotte's Journey” by Anna Alikin

“The Passenger” by Isla Vance

“The Journalist” by Abbee Black

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a short story about a jury of people tasked with making a decision. (It doesn't necessarily need to be a court jury.)

Write a short story in which a specialist is called upon to carry out a job.

Write a short story that ends with a twist.

Write a short story that takes place in a quaint, idyllic, English village.

Contest #27

Enter our weekly contest!

$50

Prize money

379

Contest entries

0

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: