1. Find the English equivalents in the text:

1. сооружение, помещение

21. пересекающийся

22. виды транспорта

23. считать, рассматривать

24. отправляться, уезжать

25. охватывать 8 часовых поясов

26. разнообразие

27. табло прибытия и отправления поездов

28. стоянка такси

29. автобусный парк, стоянка автобусов

2. Read the text and say if these statements true (t) or false (f):

   1. The world oldest station built for steam locomotives is located in the USA.

   2. The longest railway routes across Russia start at Komsomolskaya Square.

   3. Leningradsky Rail Terminal is the oldest of Moscow`s rail stations.

   4. Yaroslavsky Rail Terminal connects Moscow and Murmansk.

   5. Stations include different facilities: ticket offices, shops, restaurants, waiting rooms and others.

3. Choose the best variant -ing or infinitive:

1. My friends really enjoy listening/to listen to the MP3s that I have given them.

30. How did she learn speaking/to speak Chinese so well?

31. David finally managed finding/ to find his passport before the train departure.

32. They are looking forward to visiting/ visit New Zealand.

33. There`s no answer at the office. Let`s try calling/to call Lucy`s mobile.

34. Sam has just taken up cycling/to cycle to work.

35. Stop pretending being/to be asleep! Get up or you will be late!

4.Tag questions. Form the proper tag for each question:

1. I am completely crazy about skateboarding, ___________?

36. Tony`s dad used to be quite fit, __________?

37. That sounds like a joke, __________?

38. There aren`t any sports centers nearby, __________?

39. They haven`t given the baby the name yet, ________?

40. This year more than a million tourists will visit our region, __________?

41. It`s going to rain, ________?

42. People shouldn’t drop the litter in the street, ________?

5.Discussion Corner. Choose any statement and prepare a short talk (5-7 sentences):

1. Rome wasn`t built in a day.

43. East or West, home is best.

44. A tree is known by its fruit.

45. Jack of all trades is master of none.

46. Haste makes waste.

References:

www.wikipedia.com

UNIT 4. RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION

Vocabulary

a track – железнодорожный путь

a permanent way – верхнее строение пути

a sleeper – шпала

a subgrade – земляное полотно

pre-stressed concrete – преднапряженный бетон

to weld – сваривать

a baseplate – плита

fasteners – крепления

axle load – осевая нагрузка

via – через, посредством

a joint – стык

friction – трение

a tieplate – накладка рельса

a pad – нашпальная прокладка

The track on a railway also known as the permanent way which consists of rails, fasteners, sleepers and ballast, plus the underlying subgrade.

Section through railway track and formation

The dominant track form worldwide includes flat-bottom steel rails supported on timber or pre-stressed concrete sleepers, which are rested on crushed stone ballast. Most railroads with heavy traffic use continuously welded rails supported by sleepers attached via baseplates which spread the load. A plastic or rubber pad is usually placed between the rail and the tieplate where concrete sleepers are used.

For much of the 20th century, rail track used softwood timber sleepers and jointed rails. Pre-stressed concrete sleepers are often used where tonnage or speeds are high. Steel is used in some applications. The track ballast comprises crushed stone, in order to support the sleepers and allow free drainage.

A disadvantage of traditional track structures is the heavy demand for maintenance, particularly surfacing and lining to restore the desired track geometry and smoothness of vehicle running. This can be overcome by using ballastless track. In its simplest form this consists of a continuous slab of concrete with the rails supported directly on its upper surface.

Rail is graded by weight over a standard length. Heavier rail can support greater axle loads and higher train speeds without causing damage than lighter rail, but at a greater cost. The traditional method of joining the rails is to bolt them together producing a jointed track. For more modern usage, particularly where higher speeds are required, the lengths of rail may be welded together to form continuous welded rail (CWR). Because there are few joints, this form of track is very strong, gives a smooth ride, and needs less maintenance; trains can travel on it at higher speeds and with less friction. Welded rails are more expensive to lay than jointed tracks, but have much lower maintenance costs.

Answer the questions:

1. What does the permanent way consist of?

47. What components does the dominant track have?

48. Where are pre-stressed sleepers used?

49. Traditional track structures have some drawbacks, don`t they?

50. When were the first welded tracks applied?

Exercises: