Английский язык. Жесткова М.В - 124 стр.

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Examples of heavy rapid transit are subways and elevated railways, or combinations of the two,
such as the systems found in Chicago, New York, London, Moscow, and Paris. They are electrically
powered, on the same principle as the streetcar, except that the cars pick up current from a third rail
alongside the running rails instead of from an overhead line. These systems operate in trains of up to
ten cars and are completely separated from other traffic. As a result, they can run at high speeds and
carry many passengers: heavy rapid-transit systems can transport up to 60,000 passengers per track,
per hour; conventional street railways can move only 2,000 to 9,000, and LRT systems only 5,000
to 15,000.
Before 1920 (and in some metropolitan areas as late as 1950) it was common for street railway
extensions to serve suburban areas, while interurban electric railways joined cities. Today the new
LRT and rapid-transit lines continue to run well out into the suburbs. They are the modern suburban
and interurban railroads.
In recent years there has been a worldwide renovation of old electric railway systems. In
countries such as the United States, Austria, Germany, and The Netherlands, existing lines are being
repaired and reequipped. In addition, new LRTsystems have opened in Bonn and Cologne, in
Germany; Göteborg, Sweden; Newcastle upon Tyne, England; Calgary and Edmonton, Alta.;
Zürich, Switzerland; and in a number of cities in the western United States.
In the late 1990s there were more than 325 street railway and LRT systems operating
worldwide. Russia had the largest number with 121 lines; Germany had 58; and the United States
had 14 LRT lines built or under construction. Traditional mixed-traffic street operation of any
significant volume is now found only in a couple of cities in the United States and in parts of
Germany, Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, Egypt, and India.
Notes
:
1
street railway – городская железная дорога
2
cable car system – воздушно-канатная дорога
3
overhead wire – воздушный провод
4
light rail transit – высокоскоростная железная дорога местного значения
To be read after Lesson 5
[8] BUILDING THE RAILROAD
Before a railroad is built there are usually several alternative routes to be considered. Maps,
aerial photographs, and profiles
1
showing the features of each route are prepared and carefully
studied. Experts then choose what they consider to be the best route. The choice they make has
much to do with the success or failure of the new railroad line. One route may be fairly level,
requiring only a few cuts through hills and fills through valleys. Such a route, however, may require
a long tunnel to get through an intervening mountain or several expensive bridges to get over rivers.
This would make it more costly in the end than one with moderate cuts and fills all the way.
Another route, though less expensive to build, may run through unsettled country. Hence it may be
wiser to build the more expensive line for the sake of the greater local business it can get.
The selected route is then surveyed carefully, and building commences. Sometimes work parties
begin at each end and build toward the middle, as was the case with the transcontinental railroad in
the United States. The constructed sections of track carry trains with supplies for the construction
workers. Today parties can be stationed at various points and receive supplies from other railroads
already built nearby. This method gets the road finished and earning money much more quickly.
The first step is the preparation of the roadbed
2
. Following the stakes
3
and plans set up by the
surveyors, the working parties clear away trees, make cuts and fills, and otherwise prepare the way.
Other workers set up bridges and dig tunnels. As fast as the roadbed is ready, crossties and rails are
laid, either by hand or by machines. Working on level ground, tracklayers can complete several
miles in a day. Finally, the track must be ballasted, preferably with gravel, cinders
4
, or broken stone.
In the United States the usual practice was to build a single-track line with as few tunnels,
bridges, and expensive cuts and fills as possible. Then the track was doubled, first at portions where

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