Basic Vocabulary

The US railway network spreads into all sections of the country, but the web of railways is much denser in the eastern half of the United States. Primary rail transportation in the United States today consists of freight shipments. Passenger service, once a large and vital part of the nation's passenger transportation network, now plays a limited role as compared to transportation patterns in many other countries. Amtrak (the National Railroad Passenger Corporation), a federally subsidized concern, operates almost all the inter-city passenger trains in the United States. Amtrak has over 40 years of rich American history. Today, the company is operating a national system that comprises long-distance, state-supported services and the high-speed Acela Express that connects communities, regions and modes of transportation across the country.

The present American Railroading can be divided into a number of sections. There are today 31 Class 1 railroads such as the Santa Fe and the Norfolk and Southern each earning more than 92 million Dollar. In addition there are 31 Regional railroads such as the Providence and Worcester each earn over 40 million or operate over 350 miles of track. In addition there are over 200 short line roads such as the Aberdeen and Rockfish in the US. The Class 1 railroads operate 81 percent of the total US mileage, employ 90 percent of the work force, and collect 91% of the revenues. Amtrak is the Government Corporation that provides almost all passenger service. Amtrak has been remarkably successful, in both operating the North East Corridor profitably and attracting passengers on its long haul routes that are often booked months in advance. Unfortunately Amtrak still seems to require large government subsidies to operate. Finally one must take note of the large commuter railroads such as the Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York, carry millions of commuters a year.

Union Station in Los Angeles is a hub for Metrolink commuter trains and Amtrak services to faraway cities such as Chicago and Seattle. These trains have to pull in and then back out in a clumsy manoeuvre. But there are plans for through tracks in time to carry the high-speed services that California is desperate to have by 2020 under an ambitious $42 billion plan to connect San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.

America’s railways are the mirror image of Europe’s. Europe has an impressive and growing network of high-speed passenger links, many of them international, like the Thalys service between Paris and Brussels or the Eurostar connecting London to the French and Belgian capitals. These are successful—although once the (off-balance-sheet) costs of building the tracks are counted, they need subsidies of billions of dollars a year. But, outside Germany and Switzerland, Europe’s freight rail services are a fragmented, lossmaking mess. Repeated attempts to remove the technical and bureaucratic hurdles at national frontiers have come to nothing.

Amtrak’s passenger services are sparse compared with Europe’s. But America’s freight railways are one of the unsung transport successes of the past 30 years. They are universally recognized in the industry as the best in the world.

A special rail expressway for freight, the Alameda Corridor, was opened in 2002 to link the ports to the big national rail routes, by passing the 200 level crossings (grade crossings, in America) on the original branch lines that used to cause huge traffic jams on the roads as mile-long freight trains rumbled across. The corridor, one of the biggest infrastructure projects in modern America, was completed on time and on budget for $2.4 billion by a public-private partnership considered by many to be a model for other rail schemes, such as California’s proposed high-speed passenger line.

Practical tasks:

Ex.1. Complete the sentences with one of the following words.

1. The railway …………is much denser in the eastern half of the United.

2. Amtrak is the Government Corporation that has been ………… successful.

3. Amtrak’s passenger services are …………compared with Europe’s.

4. The Class 1 railroads operate 81 percent of the total US ………….

5. America’s freight railways are one of the ………… transport successes of the past 30 years.

6. The Alameda Corridor was opened in 2002 to link the ports to the big national rail ………….

7. There are plans to build through ………… for the high-speed services in California.

8. One of the important railway ………… is Union Station in Los Angeles.

Ex.2. Complete the sentences with one of the following verbs in the correct form.

a) US railways ………… to handle about 37.5 per cent of the total freight traffic annually.

b) Amtrak ………… almost all the inter-city passenger trains in the United States.

c) Today American Railroading ………… of a number of sections.

d) Long haul routes ………… months in advance.

e) America’s freight railways ………… universally recognized in the industry as the best in the world.

f) A special rail expressway for freight, the Alameda Corridor ………… in 2002.

Ex.3. Choose a, b, or c, in each question below. Only one choice is correct.

1. The service of Class 1 railroads is very...

a) effectful.

b) effortless.

c) efficient.

2. America’s railways are … of Europe’s.

a) repetition

b) reflection

c) reaction

3. The trains have to do... manoeuvres at Union Station.

a) ugly

b) awkward

c) dull

4. The... of railways is much denser in the eastern half of the United States.

a) nut

b) neat

c) net

5. Today American Railroading... into a number of sections.

a) splash

b) spoils

c) splits

6. California looks... to having the through tracks to carry the high-speed services.

a) up

b) through

c) forward

7. Freight railroads play an important role in U.S. economy,... for moving imports and exports using containers.

a) in general

b) especially

c) obviously

8. New York City itself is noteworthy... for high usage of passenger rail transport.

a) noteworthy

b) busy

c) tired

9. The USA... the passenger rail transport.

a) luck

b) lack

c) look

10. U.S. freight railroads operate in a highly... marketplace.

a) competitive

b) commuter

c) common

Ex.4. Match the words in bold with their explanation.

1. scattered or scanty; not dense

2. a person who travels to work from the suburbs to the centre of a city

3. an obstacle to be overcome

4. unusually or extraordinarily

5. the gross income from a business enterprise

6. a person travelling in a car, train, boat, etc., not driven by him

7. the focal point

8. a financial aid supplied by a government

Ex.5. Choose the right variant.

1. According to the text, the federal government............ subsidies to Amtrak.

2............. there are 31 Regional railroads such as the Providence and Worcester.

3. The high-speed tracks will............ in California by 2020.

4. The Alameda Corridor was built to............ huge traffic jams on the roads.

5. Passenger service now plays a limited role as compared............. transportation patterns in many other countries.

a) at b) to c) by d) in

6. The passenger rail industry............. as governments put money into the construction of highways and airports.

a) has been declined b) declining c) declined d) was declined

7. The first Amtrak train to offer free Wi-Fi service to passengers............ the Downeaster in 2008.

a) was b) are c) were d) is

8. Amtrak is a corporation striving to deliver a high quality, safe, on-time rail passenger service.............exceeds customer expectations 24 oblasts.

a) that b) who c) those d) this

Ex.6. Put in the correct preposition: under, in, over, for, about, with, out, by

1. The US railways used to handle............ 37.5 per cent of the total freight traffic annually.

2. The long haul routes are often booked months............. advance.

3. Each regional railroad operates............ 350 miles of track.

4. Union Station in Los Angeles is a hub............ Metrolink commuter trains.

5. Trains have to pull in and then back............ in a clumsy manoeuvre.

6. California is desperate to have the high-speed tracks............ an ambitious $42 billion plan.

7. Amtrak’s passenger services are sparse compared............ Europe’s.

8. the Alameda Corridor was completed on time............ a public-private partnership.

Ex.7. Match the opposites.

Ex.8. Translate the following sentences into English.

1. Павутиння залізних доріг набагато щільніше на сході країни.

2. Більшу частину прибутку приносять першокласні залізні шляхи.

3. З’єднати важливі міста Каліфорнії високошвидкісними коліями – це амбіційний план, вартістю $42 мільярда доларів.

4. До відкриття нового коридору, стара вітка чинила затори на дорогах.

5. Вантажне перевезення в Америці більш ефективне, ніж у Європі.

6. Для роботи концерну «Амтрак» потребуються федеральні субсидії..

7. Для збереження і розвитку пасажирського залізничного сполучення була створена державна залізнична корпорація «Амтрак».

8. У штаті Аляска є ізольована залізниця великої довжини.

9. Найбільш завантаженим напрямом «Амтрак» є Північно-Східний коридор між Вашингтоном і Бостоном.

10. Усі потяги «Амтрак» мають власні імена.

Ex.9. Complete the sentences using comparative/superlative forms.

1. The web of railways in Europe is much dens… than in the United States.

2. The train tickets in the USA are... expensive than in Ukraine.

3. America’s freight railways are recognized as the … in the world.

4. The trains are slow… than the planes.

5. The fast… growing rail traffic segment is currently intermodal.

6. In terms of ton-miles, railroads annually move m… than 25% of the United States' freight.

7. Commuter rail systems exist in m… than a dozen metropolitan areas.

8. Seats of the First Class are larg… than those of Business Class.

9. The sleeping car can accommodate all its passengers in beds to make night time travel … restful.

10. Some of the … luxurious types of cars have private compartments.

Ex.10. Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)?

1. Amtrak is a federally subsidized concern that operates the inter-city passenger trains in the United States.

2. The long haul routes are never booked months in advance.

3. Amtrak needs large government subsidies for its operation.

4. California doesn’t have convenient connections between San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.

5. The Class 1 railroads employ 90 people.

6. The Alameda Corridor is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in modern America.

7. Outside Germany and Switzerland, Europe’s freight rail services are very profitable.

8. The Santa Fe and the Norfolk are the regional railroads.

9. There are 31 Regional railroads.

10. The web of railways is much denser in the northern half of the United States.

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