Comments (please refer to paragraphs 1 - 23 above) Paragraph 4. The Russian generic term for a driver is
водитель. However, the
following terms (specific for each kind of public transport) are in more common use:
tram-driver -
вагоновожатый [va-go-na-va-'zha-t.yy],
bus-driver -
шофёр [sha-'fyor],
trolleybus-driver -
водитель [va-'di-tyel']
train-driver -
машинист [ma-shi-
'
nist],
taxi-driver - either шофёр or водитель. Paragraphs 6 & 11. In these Paragraphs we mentioned a coach. However, a bus
is certainly not your only option when you want to go out of town. You may prefer
to use
пригородный поезд ("a local train"). But please be sure that you have a
ticket before you get aboard because you can buy it only
на вокзале "at a railway
station".
Контролёр [kan-tra-'lyor] (inspector) can get on the train at any station; and if
you do not have a ticket, you will be fined on the spot. If you are not able to pay
the fine, you may wind up
в отделении милиции ("in a police station").
Long-distance trains travelling between different cities are known in Russia as
поезда дальнего следования. Tickets on such trains are checked by a guard.
But the guard (in Russian
проводник) will not only check your ticket. He will also
give you a cup of tea, bring in your sleeping compartment pillows, sheets and
blankets, and wake you up in the morning so you do not miss your destination.
151
Paragraph 22. A literal translation of direct speech used in this paragraph was
impossible. But I hope its meaning and style have not been lost.