Final answer:
Madame Schachter was upset at the beginning of the train ride because she was experiencing hallucinations and believed they were heading towards a concentration camp.
Step-by-step explanation:
Madame Schachter was so upset at the beginning of the train ride because she had been experiencing hallucinations and was delusional. She kept seeing visions of fire and destruction, and she believed that they were heading towards a concentration camp. Her fear and distress caused her to scream and cry throughout the journey, disturbing the other passengers.
This is evident in the text when Mr. Sieppe shouts at her to be quiet, and when other passengers try to calm her down. Her state of mind was a result of the trauma and stress she had experienced prior to boarding the train. This also foreshadows the horrors that the characters will later encounter in the concentration camps.