on / in the train (bus...)

Question

1. Next day I went off to Birmingham in a train.2. Next day I went off to Birmingham on a train.3. Next day I went off to Birmingham by train.What's the difference between the three sentences?Thanks very much for your help.

Paco2004 · Accepted Answer

Hello Teo

1. (x) Next day I went to Birmingham in a train.
2. (o) Next day I went to Birmingham on a train.
3. (o) Next day I went to Birmingham by train.

paco

K.O. · Answer

#1 is not correct because save 'in' for use with smaller objects like car.

Davkett · Answer

Teo
What's the difference between the three sentences?

Paco states one critical difference: Which ones are correct and which one is not.

The difference between the correct nos. 2 and 3 interests me, because it is a subtle one, and most native speakers would use one or the other without reflecting on why. I believe that I might tend to say no. 2 when I wish to put some emphasis on how I am going. As always, context will have a role to play in which version is used. I just feel 'on a train', 'on a horse', 'on a motorcycle', makes the nature of the ride itself a little more important.

on / in the train (bus...)

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