Two sentences taken from First Certificate Language Practice by Michael Vince, 4th edition, p. 104, ex. 4, n° 3, and p. 105, ex. 5, n° 5:
"Excuse me, is this the right way to the station?"
"Am I going the right way for Downwood?"
(to be transformed into, says the key: "Is this the right way for Downwood?")
Why use the preposition 'to' in one case, and 'for' in the other? Aren't a town and a station two places?
Best Answer
My inclination is to say that with
You are traveling to the station; whereas with
The train is traveling to Downwood, and you are looking for the train. Within the station, you may be moving in every possible direction, including directly away from Downwood, in order to reach the train. But the point is really that you are not going to Downwood directly under your own power, but rather seeking out something that will take you there.