#77 Visiting a Business Client｜French Business Conversation
Izumi French Garden
#169 Asking About the Reason for a Train Delay｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi
When traveling abroad by train, delays or changes in service may occur.
In particular, if you have a transfer to catch or an important appointment tied to your arrival time, it is essential to confirm the reason for the delay accurately.
In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for asking station staff or information officers about train delays, following the natural flow of an actual conversation.
Contents
Dialogue
Excusez-moi, mon train devait partir à 14h, mais il est toujours à l’arrêt.
（Excuse me, my train was scheduled to depart at 2:00 p.m., but it is still stopped.）
Oui, nous avons un léger retard.
（Yes, there is a slight delay.）
Pourriez-vous m’indiquer la raison du retard ?
（Could you tell me the reason for the delay?）
Il y a un problème technique sur la ligne.
（There is a technical issue on the line.）
Je vois. Est-ce que vous savez combien de temps cela va durer ?
（I see. Do you know how long it is likely to last?）
Pour le moment, nous estimons un retard d’environ vingt minutes.
（At the moment, we estimate a delay of approximately twenty minutes.）
D’accord, merci pour les informations.
（All right, thank you for the information.）
1. Explaining the Current Situation
When asking about the reason for a delay, I recommend briefly explaining which train you are referring to and what the current situation is. This makes it easier for the staff member to understand.
Example
- Mon train devait partir à 14h, mais il est toujours à l’arrêt.
（My train was scheduled to depart at 2:00 p.m., but it is still stopped.）
The expression “devait partir” means “was supposed to depart” and clearly indicates a gap between the scheduled plan and the current situation.
In addition, “être à l’arrêt” objectively describes that the train is stopped. It allows you to state the facts calmly, without sounding emotional or accusatory.
2. Asking About the Reason for the Delay
To ask about the cause of a delay, the following expression is commonly used.
Example
- Pourriez-vous m’indiquer la raison du retard ?
（Could you tell me the reason for the delay?）
The verb “indiquer” means “to explain” or “to inform” and is frequently used in stations, airports, and service counters.
By using “pourriez-vous … ?” (could you … ?), you avoid sounding confrontational and instead present your question as a polite request for information.
Another possible expression uses “Pourquoi … ?” (why … ?)
Example
- Pourquoi le train est-il en retard ?
（Why is the train delayed?）
However, this phrasing can sound slightly direct. In more formal or official situations, I recommend using a “pourriez-vous” structure for a more courteous tone.
3. Receiving an Explanation from Station Staff
Explanations given by station staff often follow set patterns.
Example
- Il y a un problème technique sur la ligne.
（There is a technical problem on the line.）
The phrase “un problème technique” is very common when explaining train delays. It broadly covers issues related to signals, rolling stock, power systems, and other technical infrastructure.
Related Expressions
- Un incident sur la voie
→ A problem on the tracks (such as an obstacle or inspection) - Un retard du train précédent
→ A delay caused by the previous train - Des conditions météorologiques défavorables
→ Adverse weather conditions (strong winds, heavy rain, snow, etc.)
These expressions frequently appear in station announcements and on electronic information boards, so becoming familiar with them can be very helpful.
4. Confirming the Length of the Delay
If you have subsequent plans, it is important to know how long the delay is expected to last.
Example
- Est-ce que vous savez combien de temps cela va durer ?
（Do you know how long it is likely to last?）
The phrase “combien de temps” is a standard expression used to ask about duration.
Example
- Nous estimons un retard d’environ vingt minutes.
（We estimate a delay of approximately twenty minutes.）
Both “estimer” (to estimate) and “environ” (approximately) indicate that the time given is not fixed, but rather a practical estimate.
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Mon train devait partir à ～, mais il est à l’arrêt.
→ Used to explain that a train has not departed as scheduled. - Pourriez-vous m’indiquer la raison du retard ?
→ A polite way to ask station staff for the reason for a delay. - Problème technique / incident sur la voie
→ Common vocabulary used when explaining train delays. - Combien de temps cela va durer ?
→ Used to ask how long the delay is expected to continue.
