rent loading, which is especially important when supplies must be taken from the widely spaced 220-kV power transmission grid.

The prototype electric locomotives and train using 6 kV are also of great interest. They have successfully passed tests and soon will be placed in operation.

Improvements planned over the next years will include the replacement of porcelain insulators by other materials and the wider use of polymers.

Vocabulary Notes

network – сеть reliability – надежность

power supply – энергоснабжение overhead contact system – контактная сеть substation – подстанция

freight – груз

to introduce – вводить current – ток

feed – питать

equipment – оборудование

to be of great interest – представлять большой интерес loading – нагрузка

to pass tests – пройти испытания

Text 4

Moscow-St. Pete Train Sets New Record

Last week, the ER-2000 express, departing from Moscow for St. Petersburg, arrived at its destination half and hour earlier than scheduled. By covering the distance between Russia's northern and southern capitals in 3 hours and 54 minutes, engineer Sergei Bobrov set an absolute record for this route.

"There is no one to meet us,'' people in the driver's cabin noted with deep satisfaction." No wonder: Neither the passengers nor their friends and family in St. Pete who expected them to arrive 26 minutes later had an inkling that this was a special train

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