Text 7 . Rail Freight Operation
Railways are often thought of as comfortable means of travel. But they are a great help in freight transportation. Rail freight plays a significant part in the economic development of any country.
Under right circumstances, transporting freight by train is highly economical. It is also more energy efficient than transporting freight by road or any other way. Rail freight is most economical when goods are carried in bulk and over long distances. It can help businesses keep costs down and stay competitive. No wonder that customer demand for rail freight is increasing.
Another point is that rails are more environmentally friendly than other modes of transport. Carrying the same tonnage, rail produces less harmful substances. European studies highly value the environmental benefits of rail freight. That’s why many governments are now trying to encourage more freight onto trains.
The main disadvantage of rail freight transportation is its lack of flexibility. For this reason, rail has lost much of its freight business to road.
There are many types of freight trains which are used to carry different goods. Container trains are one of the most common types on modern railways. Containers can be lifted on and off the train by cranes and loaded off or onto trucks or ships. This type of freight trains has largely replaced the traditional “box wagon” type in which cargo is loaded or unloaded manually. In some countries “piggy back” trains are used. Trucks can drive straight onto the train and drive off again at the end destination. They are also known as “trailers on flat cars” or TOFC trains.
Freight cars (UK: “wagons”) exist in a wide variety of types. The most common freight cars are boxcars, flatcars, gondolas, and tank cars. All of them are adapted to the ideal carriage of different things. For example, gondolas are railway cars with an open top but enclosed sides and end, for bulk commodities and other goods that might slide off. Refrigerator cars represent a refrigerated subtype of boxcars. Flatcars are for larger loads that don't load easily into a boxcar. Hoppers are gondolas with bottom dump doors for easy unloading of things like coal, ore, grain, cement, and track ballast. There are two varieties: open top and closed top. Tank cars are designed for carrying liquids.
Questions for discussion:
1. Does rail freight transportation play a significant part in countries’ economy?
2. Under what conditions is rail freight operation most economical?
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3. Railways are more environmentally friendly than other modes of transport, aren’t they?
4. What is the main disadvantage of railway freight transportation?
5. Is demand for rail freight growing? Why?
6. What are the main freight trains?
7. What distinguishes piggy back trains from other freight trains?
8. What special wagons are designed for freight carriage?
9. What are hoppers?
10. What are tank cars designed for?
Text 8 . Passenger Service
Since the invention of railways, people have travelled by train. Naturally, the first passenger trains didn’t run very far. But they could haul a lot more passengers for a longer distance than any wagons pulled by horses. The first passenger cars were constructed in England.
Later there appeared carriages which looked more like today’s cars. They were lighted by oil lamps, heated by stoves, and had wash-rooms at both ends.
One of the most important railroad inventions is surely a sleeping car. The modern sleeping car was invented by George M. Pullman in 1859. It was suitable for long-distance travel. Passengers gladly paid extra money for travelling in it.
Pullman also provided passengers with food. He was the first to design and built the so-called “hotel” car, which was followed by a “restaurant” car. The hotel car contained a small kitchen from which passengers were served meals in their seats. Pullman’s restaurant car is the forerunner of the modern dining car found practically in all long-distance trains.
Now there are a lot of different types of passenger cars. They are a coach, a sleeping car, a dining (restaurant) car, a lounge car, a combine car (a combination of coach and baggage car). Sometimes for long journeys other types are used, such as a disco car, a theatre or a movie theatre car. As for the observation cars, they were usually put into the rear of many famous trains, so that the passengers could view the scenery. They became popular, and special dome cars were constructed to provide passengers with better view. They had a glass enclosed upper level above the roof.
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Many innovations have been introduced in car construction since the early days. Modern carriages are made of light-weight steel, aluminum and plastics. At present, most long-distance trains are furnished with fluorescent lighting and air-conditioning. So the problem of comfort is solved. Now passenger cars are lighter, but they can carry heavier loads at high speed.
Questions for discussion:
1. Where did the first passenger car appear?
2. Were the early trains comfortable?
3. Did the early trains have any lighting and heating?
4. Who was the inventor of the first sleeping car?
5. When was the first sleeping car built?
6. Why did passengers pay extra money for travelling in Pullman’s cars?
7. What types of passenger cars do you know?
8. What are observation cars designed for?
9. Are modern passenger cars lighter?
10. What innovations have been introduced in car construction?
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