Learn Hardcore German: Der Zug wartet auf Gleis drei. - The train is waiting on track three.

Warten means “to wait.” Wartet is the 3rd-person-singular present form, so it translates as “waits” or “is waiting,” indicating that the train is currently waiting.

What does the prepositional phrase auf Gleis drei express, and why is auf used here?

Auf Gleis drei means “on platform three.” The preposition auf followed by a noun can express location (“where something is”), so it tells you where the train is waiting.

Does auf take the accusative or dative case in auf Gleis drei?

Since auf here indicates a static location (no movement), it takes the dative case. In full form it would be auf dem Gleis drei, but the article is dropped in announcements.

Why is there no article before Gleis drei?

In station announcements and timetables, German often omits the article before platform numbers—much like English signboards say “Platform 3” instead of “the Platform 3.”

Why does drei come after Gleis instead of before it?

When a noun is labeled by a number in German (e.g. platform number), the noun comes first and the number follows: Gleis drei = “platform three.”

Could you also say Der Zug wartet am Gleis drei?

Yes. Am is a contraction of an dem, so am Gleis drei (“at platform three”) is perfectly correct in everyday speech. Announcements often drop the article for brevity.

Can you write the number in numeral form (e.g. Gleis 3)?

Absolutely. On signs and in printed timetables you’ll often see Gleis 3, but when speaking you pronounce it Gleis drei.

Why is Gleis capitalized in German?

All German nouns are capitalized, and Gleis (“platform” or “track”) is no exception.