"He is on the train." vs "He is in the train."

Question

"He is on the train." vs "He is in the train."

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'He is on the train' is the more common and natural way to express that someone is traveling by train. 'He is in the train' can also be correct, but it implies that the person is physically inside the train, not just traveling on it.

Last Updated: March 29, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is currently traveling by train, sitting inside the train, or standing on the train platform.

Examples:

He is on the train to London.
She waved goodbye as he stood on the train.
I saw him on the train this morning.
They are on the train heading to the airport.
Are you on the train yet?

Alternatives:

He is traveling by train.
He is taking the train.
He is riding the train.
He is aboard the train.
He is catching the train.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone is physically inside the train, such as sitting in a seat or standing in the aisle.

Examples:

He is in the train compartment.
She left her bag in the train.
I saw him in the train carriage.
They are in the train waiting for departure.
Are you in the train already?

Alternatives:

He is inside the train.
He is within the train.
He is occupying a seat on the train.
He is standing in the train.
He is on board the train.

Answer 1

He is on the train.

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate that someone is traveling by train.

Answer 2

He is in the train.

This phrase is also correct but less commonly used. It implies that the person is physically inside the train, not just traveling on it.

"He is on the train." vs "He is in the train."

He is on the train.

He is in the train.

Related Comparisons