Set your entire story in a car, train, or plane.

Posted in Short Story on Mar 7, 2025

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✍️ 43 stories

“Reflections” by Trudy Jas

Submitted to Contest #293

Reflection.The land hadn’t changed. She had.What she saw from the dirty train window was the same land she had left so many years ago. The train track meandering through the valley, followed the river. On both sides the hills slowly grew taller. Meadows with placidly regurgitating cows, gave way to small vineyards. Ancient villages dominated by churches with tall, slender steeples clung haphazardly to the hillside and larger towns with high rises and factories crowded closer to the tracks.Her eyes glazed over, lost their focus. She didn’t se...

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“The midnight ride” by Laura Camacho Frias

Submitted to Contest #293

It was a dark night, one of those without any stars to look at and a dark moon. Not even the Universe was interested in what was about to happen. There was no spotlight over me nor a guiding light to help me escape. As I ran to my car, one of my heels broke, and I twisted my ankle. I took out the shoes and limped to the door while looking for the keys in my purse. Damn big fancy bags. This whole scenario would have been much easier with jeans and sneakers, but that was not something I could change, and dreaming about better times would not h...

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“A Man Died on the Train Today” by Rebecca Hurst

Submitted to Contest #293

A man died on the train today. I have never wanted to see a dead body, or to ease the passing of someone so close to the angels. I know how to do CPR, but I am wary of performing such an intimate and selfless act in the service of another.He was in the opposite aisle, one seat down and facing me. These are the people you study the most on a train, because to observe someone directly opposite you is so boldly confrontational. I have seen him before because we both favour the same carriage, although it’s ridiculous, because they’re all alike.I...

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“Lucien in the Sky with Diamonds” by Kim Olson

Submitted to Contest #293

I really should have realized how vindictive Heather could be. What is that saying? Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. When she found out I was seeing someone else and had traded her in for the other woman – a younger, prettier model, I just know that it was that very moment that she decided to exact her revenge. Unfortunately, Heather knows all of my secrets, including the biggest one of all – the fact that I am a world renowned jewel thief who has recently completed one of the largest heists of the century – the theft of the Weat...

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“The First Frost” by Kashira Argento

Submitted to Contest #293

The cold bites through his new uniform, still stiff with factory creases. Ken pulls his collar up, remembering last winter’s cashmere coat, now sold on eBay along with his Brooks Brothers suits. Nowadays, he doesn’t need them; neither his job nor his surroundings would explain such high-end garments. The security company’s uniform allowance covered one set of shirts, pants, and a jacket. He’d bought a second set with his own money – a habit from his management days. Always be prepared.The evening bus stop gathers its usual crowd beneath the ...

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“The Gloryship of Gerguloid” by Audrey Elizabeth

Submitted to Contest #293

“Attention, crew! This is your Supreme Commander, Gerguloid, speaking! Welcome aboard The Gloryship—the finest, time-bending spaceplane in all the universes! We prepare for take-off. Let us soar like cosmic warriors! We shall plunder and pillage!”A hand rose. “Sir, uh, we’re just scientists looking for a rare crystal.”The commander exhaled, his eye twitching furiously. “Fine.” He waved a hand. “No plundering or pillaging today. But we WILL rise victorious! And no more interruptions!” His veins bulged dangerously.Gerguloid’s voice boomed as h...

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“The Metro North” by Story Time

Submitted to Contest #293

She was telling Sheila all about the divorce. The Goodes and their Bad Divorce. She was pleased with herself. Something had always seemed to Carol to be off about the Goodes. They were all smiles, all laughter, but Carol knew that kind of marriage had its dark side. She and Tony weren’t like that. They didn’t smile or laugh, but they loved each other, and Carol took umbrage with couples who pretended like what they had was so precious when secretly they were dying to get the hell away from each other. That’s why Carol was friends with Sheila...

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“Tickets Please!” by Lee Kendrick

Submitted to Contest #293

Ticket PleaseBy Lee Kendrick Angus was perspiring as he heard the whistle for his 18:30 p.m. train to depart. He had just managed with his suitcase to jump on board the steam train…The Royal Highlander, a Sleeper train at platform 1 from London's Euston Station to Inverness, in the Scottish Highlands…A nonstop journey, that would take him over 14 hours to 8:45 a.m. the next morning. He had been travelling on this journey for the past four years and always looked forward to travelling on the train because it was cosy. Angus ...

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“Unexpected Turbulence ” by Stefanie Grace

Submitted to Contest #293

Unexpected Turbulence I catch myself staring into the bright blue space of nothingness as I instinctively prepare another cup of tea. Balancing myself with a wide stance, the tea swoops up around the cup teasing a spill as I manage to place it down for the woman in 12D. Her legs stretch out in front of her as she makes the most of the emergency exit row. I move down the next few rows, filling plastic cups with water and stale coffee. My mind is once again invaded with their final words to me, “You're just asking for it now being another...

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“The Chase on the Rails” by Andrew Hixson

Submitted to Contest #293

A pre-World War One calm masked the coming global upheaval. Amidst this backdrop, a train chugged steadily through the English countryside, its destination: Dover. Aboard the 1914 vessel, a passenger captivated many.The air was thick with a mix of excitement and unease as the train thundered down the tracks, its rhythmic chugging creating a comforting backdrop to the day’s unfolding drama. Outside, the view was a mosaic of vibrant green meadows and charming hamlets, smelling fresh earth wafting through the windows, contrasting with arguing t...

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“Fahar, Our LAX Limo Driver” by Rocco Demateis

Submitted to Contest #293

Fahar, Our LAX Limo Driver“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”—Maya Angelou November 2018 Even if our Cathay Pacific flight to Bangkok had been canceled right at the check-in counter, the limo ride we took that day would have been memorable enough to be its own adventure. It wasn’t just the drive; it was Fahar, our limo driver, who made those sixty minutes en route to LAX f...

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“The Overnight Train” by Emma Russell

Submitted to Contest #293

I’d never been on an overnight train before. I’d only seen the cramped carriages in movies –two characters sharing one or two small beds pressed right against the wall, barely enough room to stand between them, people stacked together like sardines in tiny compartments. The train company caring more about emptying wallets than the quality of the carriages. But this one wasn’t like that. I had a bed that was big enough for me to comfortably stretch out facing a large, square window with shades I could pull down during the night, similar to th...

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“Traffic Calming” by Keba Ghardt

Submitted to Contest #293

Ray braced against the horn, teeth clenched through the prolonged blare as the offending crosser calved away from the sidewalk. “Move, you old bitch!”The woman—was it a woman?—turned to look at him. She was curled in on herself, hunched over under the weight of a massive black-green coat, a spindly walker supporting her doubled frame. Her skin was black, the color of cracked leather, and her head was crowned by a black helmet of a turban. Thick black goggles like glass ashtrays covered her eyes, and the gnarled hands gripping the walker were...

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“An Icy End” by Liza Clarke

Submitted to Contest #293

The gentle swaying of the train as it raced over the tracks could lull her to sleep if she let it. Though the noise was a bit much for her, the clacking of the wheels as they rolled, the cranks and rods moving up and down all made a racket. The scent of burning coal was strong in the air but at least in first class, there was no ash or visible smoke. Cora didn’t want to be on the train, but it hadn’t been her choice. She was only sixteen and thus not old enough to live alone apparently. She’d like to argue otherwise but no one was will...

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“Train to Peace” by Donna Power

Submitted to Contest #293

Clack, clack, clack’ The noise from my favourite pink rollie suitcase echoed as I hurried through the Sydney tunnels heading towards the Country Link terminal.If only I bought a new suitcase after the last disastrous holiday. Now the wheel was clacking and the risk of it falling off was becoming a real possibility.I had some time before I needed to board the Indian Pacific and begin my journey to Perth.Getting rid of the noisy bag was my first step. My suitcase limped into the checkin department, finally loosing the battle and its wheel...

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Set your entire story in a car, train, or plane.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 43 stories

“Reflections” by Trudy Jas

“The midnight ride” by Laura Camacho Frias

“A Man Died on the Train Today” by Rebecca Hurst

“Lucien in the Sky with Diamonds” by Kim Olson

“The First Frost” by Kashira Argento

“The Gloryship of Gerguloid” by Audrey Elizabeth

“The Metro North” by Story Time

“Tickets Please!” by Lee Kendrick

“Unexpected Turbulence ” by Stefanie Grace

“The Chase on the Rails” by Andrew Hixson

“Fahar, Our LAX Limo Driver” by Rocco Demateis

“The Overnight Train” by Emma Russell

“Traffic Calming” by Keba Ghardt

“An Icy End” by Liza Clarke

“Train to Peace” by Donna Power

🌟 Similar prompts

Center your story around someone who realizes they’ve left something behind.

Write about someone who strikes up a conversation with a stranger during a flight.

Start or end your story with someone looking out a car or train window.

Write a story with the line “I’m late!” or “We’re late!”

Contest #293

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

393

Contest entries

141

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: