Supplementary Text a High-speed Trains Versus Automobiles and Airplanes

There are constraints on the growth of the highway and air travel systems, among them traffic congestion or capacity limits. Airports have limited capacity to serve passengers during peak travel times, so do highways. HSR is able to relieve congestion due to potentially very high capacity on its fixed corridors.

HSR has the advantage over automobiles in that it can move passengers at speeds far faster than those possible by cars, while also avoiding congestion. High-speed travel means less pollution, less energy consumed, in addition to being less stressful, more productive and more reliable than car journey.

While high-speed trains generally do not travel as fast as jet aircraft, they have advantages over air travel for relatively short distances (of less than 650km). The process of checking in and going through security screening at airports, as well as the journey to the airport itself makes the total journey time comparable to HSR. Trains can be boarded more quickly in a central location, eliminating the speed advantage of air travel. Rail lines also permit far greater capacity and frequency of service, and rail schedules find fewer weather-related interruptions than do airline schedules. Another plus point of HSR is comfort: the journey involves fewer modal changes, less standing and queuing, and more spacious seats.

High-speed trains are more environmentally friendly, especially if the routes they serve are competing against clogged highways.

A side effect of HSR is opening up of previously isolated regions to fast economic development.

The problem with high-speed trains is that high speed means high costs comparable with air transportation costs. While the anti-HSR lobby says people will never be parted from their cars, the principle remains that powering one engine to transport hundreds of people is better economically and environmentally than powering a car with one person.

Exercise 31 Discussion.

Notwithstanding the high-speed revolution in Europe and Asia, there are countries reluctant to develop HSR. The USA, for instance, is cautious about very high speeds. Governor Jeb Bush of Florida is opposed to the latest plans to build a high-speed line in his state, and is doing everything he can to derail the project. Similarly, in Germany there is a growing opposition to building a Transrapid Maglev system. Of course, the economic situation differs between the countries, but how can high-speed rail be seen as a benefit in Spain, but a liability in the United States?

What do you think about these facts?

Divide into two groups of opponents and proponents of HSR in Ukraine. Present your arguments for and against. Use the arguments from the text above and the phrases from Exercise 29 to convince your counterpart.

For ideas: enhance rail’s image; shorten journey times; attract customers from competing modes; reduce (increase) environmental impact; boost economic development; encourage growth and investment in distant regions; encourage mobility linking different regions of the expanded EU.

Supplementary Text B