Ex. 1. Translate the following text about the future of railroads. Write your translation and read it in your English group.

Ex.7. Retell the TEXT according to the following plan.

Ex.6. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. К концу 20 века железные дороги достигли высокого уровня развития и могли успешно конкурировать с автомобильным, воздушным и морским транспортом.

2. Использование новых технологий для строительства высоко качественной путевой инфраструктуры и комфортабельных пассажирских вагонов, применение сложнейших систем сигнализации и автоматического контроля, строительство сверхскоростных магистральных линий – это лишь некоторые итоги развития железных дорог в 20 веке.

3. Переход на дизель-электрическую и электрическую тягу, установка систем централизованного диспетчерского контроля, использование длинных сварных рельсов привело к значительному снижению эксплуатационных затрат и существенно повысило надежность, безопасность и скорость железных дорог.

4. Японские линии Shinkansen сыграли важную роль в создании национальной сети скоростных железных дорог в стране.

5. Франция – мировой лидер по строительству сверхскоростных магистральных линий для пассажирских поездов дальнего следования.

6. После преодоления финансовых, геологических и экологических проблем, программы по строительству скоростных железнодорожных линий были приняты в Германии, Италии, Испании, Южной Корее, Канаде, США.

7. Программы по электрификации железных дорог во Франции, Германии, Великобритании, Италии, Испании, Японии, Китае, России, Канаде значительно увеличили скорости движения поездов и пропускную способность линий.

8. Это повысило роль железной дороги как главного перевозчика пассажиров и грузов на большие расстояния.

1. The most significant events of the XX century:

a) change of traction;

b) creation of Centralized Traffic Control (CTC);

c) use of continuous welded rails.

2. The extensive railroad construction programs of China and Russia.

3. High-speed passenger trains of the Japanese Shinkansen.

4. The French national program of super-speed trains.

5. Development of railroads in Germany, the UK, Italy and Spain.

TEXT 2 THE FUTURE OF RAILROADS

For more than a century the railroad was the dominant form of land transportation in much of the world. It was and remains the one land carrier that can carry almost anything anywhere, and do it at a cost lower than other types of land or air traffic.

Today, however, other modes of transport have been developed to the point at which they can do certain transportation jobs more effectively than the railroads. Pipelines can carry liquids and some solids over long distances economically. Airplanes, with their great speed, can carry some types of light, valuable freight at a saving. Trucks offer speed and flexibility, especially for short and medium hauls. Private automobiles, running over modern highways, and the airplanes have taken over much passenger traffic formerly handled by rails. Modern barges, operating on improved inland waterways, can move a lot of commodities over specific routes at very low costs.

Undeniably, these competitors of the railroad can do a better job on some types of transportation tasks. The development of these newer modes has changed the role of the railroad from that of the general-purpose carrier to that of a more specialized carrier.

The future role of railroads will vary in different countries. In general, however, the railroad is particularly strong in the following areas.

1. It is especially effective in moving large volumes of bulk commodities, such as coal, ores, chemicals and grain. When there are facilities for rapid train loading and unloading, the railroad can be competitive over short distances. In Britain, one such coal – mine – to – electricity – generating – station operation involves a distance of only 30 miles. Railroads can also move large volumes of finished goods economically at relatively high speeds over medium to long distances.

2. The railroad can efficiently handle containers of large volumes between major centers in some countries. For this purpose, special trans-shipment terminals equipped for easy and rapid transfer from railcar to truck have been created. Commodities to be transferred include steel, forestry, paper products and new automobiles.

3. Railroads in the industrialized world have learned that to compete with trucks for high-value freight, such as components for automobile industry or food for retail markets, they must not only promise fast transit times but also keep to schedule with the same precision as passenger trains.

4. The railroad is the best mode of transport for moving commuter passengers between big metropolitan centers and the outlying suburban areas.

5. Very-high-speed intercity passenger services can be successful with modern equipment at medium to long distances. In Western Europe, Japan and the New York City – Washington, D.C., corridor of the USA, railroad intercity passenger business has been successfully increased due to a combination of high speed, more comfortable and smoother-riding cars and greater frequency of service. With its TGV operation, the French National Railways have proved that trains can regain considerable traffic from airlines over intercity distances of up to 400 miles. There are plans to raise the distance at which air travel is powerfully challenged to 650 miles.

In short, the railroad under modern conditions is at its best as a high-volume high-speed carrier of both passengers and freight.

* * * * *

In looking at the future place of railroads, three other factors should be noted.

1. Railroads disturb the natural environment less than highways or air transport systems. They produce less pollutants than either automobiles or airplanes. These factors have become more significant as society increasingly concerns itself with the need to preserve the environment and to reduce air, water and noise pollution.

2. Railroads are more efficient in the use of fuel than either highway or air transportation. Concern over the best use of these resources forces many countries to place more emphasis on rail transportation.

3. While much public money has gone into technological research on the newer forms of transportation and into constructing facilities for them, in all but a few countries relatively little has been spent to improve railroad technology and infrastructure. Thus, even the most advanced of today’s railroads and services, with very few exceptions, do not represent the best that is possible from the railroad.

Дата добавления: 2017-02-01