V. Role – play:

Imagine that you’re a station superintendent or a master. Tell the students who came to have practice about the assignment of stations. The students ask different questions about the types of stations, they are going to have practice at, and the assignment of these stations, tracks and sidings.

Make up a dialogue. Work in groups of 5-6 students.

Topics for discussion:

1. Types of stations and their assignment.

2. Railroad structure.

3. The assignment of terminal sidings.

UNIT 4

I. Text 4a. A passenger station

Read and translate the text:

1. A passenger station or a terminal is a place where passengers commence and terminate their rail journey. Passenger stations are usually located in large cities and their assignment is to serve passengers. Here terminal staff receive incoming and depart outgoing passenger trains.

Let's look at the picture of a busy railroad station. A train is standing at one of the platforms ready to leave. Some of the passengers are looking out of the windows watching late-comers who are hurrying along looking for empty seats.

The engine is ready to draw the train out of the station. On another platform a train has just arrived. Some passengers are getting out, others are getting in. They are hurrying through pedestrian subways which provide easy access from the station building to the platforms. For convenience of passengers there are porters who carry their luggage.

2. This is a scheme of the passenger station building. It comprises the main concourse and two wings with amenities: such as waiting rooms, rooms for mothers and children, refreshment rooms, news-stands, medical service, telephone booths, an inquiry office, a telegraph office and different booking offices including advanced and suburban trains booking offices.

Those passengers who have not taken the precaution of getting their tickets beforehand have to wait in queues at the booking offices. At the book-stalls people can choose books, magazines or newspapers for the journey.

At the cloakroom and coin-operated left luggage lockers they have their luggage registered or withdrawn. Further along there are refreshment rooms crowded with people snatching a hasty meal, while those with time to spare can sit in the waiting rooms. Refreshment rooms may vary from snack-bars to restaurants.

Direction signs indicate the situation of all amenities. Moreover, passengers are served by loudspeakers announcing the time of trains' arrival and departure.

Terminal operation presents various problems. They include loading and unloading baggage and mail, repair of wagons and their technical inspection. All these operations must be carried out quickly and skillfully by qualified railroad personnel.

A C T I V E V O C A B U L A R Y

1. terminal staff – персонал станции

2. to look for empty seats – искать свободные места

3. to get in / out – входить в вагон (выходить)

= to board – садиться в вагон

4 . pedestrian subway – пешеходный подземный переход

5. access – доступ, проход

6. porter – носильщик

7. luggage van – багажный вагон

8. concourse – центральный зал вокзала

9. amenities (pl.) – удовольствия, удобства

10. refreshment room = buffet

= a snack bar – буфет, закусочная

11. to snatch a hasty meal (snack) – перекусить

12. advanced booking office – предварительная билетная касса

13. news-stand – книжный киоск

14. telephone – booth – телефон-автомат

15. inquiry office = information bureau – справочная

16. to take precaution – предпринять предосторожность

17. beforehand = in advance – заранее

18. queue = line – очередь

19. cloakroom = left-luggage office – камера хранения

20. coin-operated left luggage locker – автоматическая камера хранения багажа

21. to have one’s luggage registered – сдавать вещи в камеру

= to deposit хранения

22. to withdraw = to take away – забирать багаж

23. compartment – купе

24. long-distance train – поезд дальнего следования

25. through train – поезд прямого назначения

26. express train – скорый поезд

27. upper berth – верхнее место

28. lower berth – нижнее место

29. to be off = to depart – отправляться

30. luggage rack – полка для вещей

31. to run to schedule = timetable – идти по расписанию

32. to be behind schedule – опаздывать ( о поезде )

33. to change trains – делать пересадку

34. When does it get in ...? – Когда он прибывает в ...?

35. to arrive in / at – прибывать в

36. coach car = passenger car – пассажирский вагон

(economy class) (экономический класс)

37. club car (first class) – вагон 1-го класса

38. Which train do I take for ...? – На каком поезде мне доехать до...?

39. single ticket – билет в одну сторону

40. return ticket – билет туда и обратно

41. fare – плата за проезд

42. guard = conductor – проводник

43. direction signs – указатели направления

Comprehension questions:

1. Where do passengers begin and end their journey?

2. What are the duties of terminal staff?

3. How do passengers get to the platforms?

4. What amenities does the concourse provide? What helps passengers to find these amenities?

5. Where can passengers book their seats?

6. What kinds of trains do passengers travel?

7. Where can passengers snatch a hasty meal?

8. Where do passengers have their luggage registered and withdrawn?

9. What problems does the terminal operation present?