Англ. / Практикум 1 курс - устные темы(Апрес

4.When and why did British Rail introduce HST and APT?

5.What do the abbreviations “HST” and “APT” mean?

6.What speed do “HST” and “APT” trains achieve?

7.What happened in the British railway services between 1994 and 1997?

8.What were the reasons of the railway accidents after privatization?

9.What did the authorities do to improve the situation on the rail track?

10.What do British railways compete with?

Text 4: Russian Railways

Railway systems are essential to the economy and infrastructure of any country. A highly developed railway network is vital to Russia as well, partly because of its huge territory. Rail connects Russia’s regions and provides services to main cities and towns. Much of the population relies on the railways because of rather cheap transportation.

Russian railways are one of the largest in the world. The total length of track is 85,500 km. The majority of railways in Russia are electrified. The national gauge standard is 1,524 mm. Modern Russian railways are transcontinental, they provide international passenger and freight service between Europe and Asia. The Russian railway system transports most of the country's industrial goods and raw materials. It also carries the bulk of passenger traffic. More than 1 billion passengers and 1 billion tons of freight travel via Russian Railways annually.

Actually, the rail network of Russia comprises 17 railways such as Oktyabrskaya Railway, Northern Railway and Moscow Railway. This division is based on historical and regional principle.

However, the density of the railways in Russia is still comparatively low. The country should enlarge its railway system, especially in the East with its relatively poor road connection.

The rolling stock used on Russian railways is reliable in operation and environmentally friendly. For instance, the

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locomotives possess high performance in quick acceleration and in tractive and braking power. The passenger coaches are modernised and comfortable. They also may have some extra facilities - conditioning, toned windows, or TV. High-speed railway transportation is the priority goal of the breakthrough development of rail transport in Russia.

To conclude, new technologies and equipment as well as high quality of service make Russian railways a competitive mode of transport.

Questions for discussion:

1.Railways are essential to the economy of any country, aren’t they?

2.Why does the population of Russia rely on railways?

3.What is the length of Russian railways?

4.Are modern Russian railways transcontinental?

5.Are Russian railways electrified?

6.What freight and passenger turnover does the Russian rail account for?

7.How many railways does the Russian rail system consist of?

8.Is the rolling stock used on Russian railways reliable and modern?

9.Why should Russia enlarge its railway network?

10.What makes Russian railways a competitive mode of transport?

Text5: Joint Stock Company Russian Railways

In the past Russian railways were built as part of the national development plan for strategic and security reasons. The system entirely belonged to the Railways Ministry, a state within a state. It was completely owned, regulated and operated by the government. However, the funds from the government became insufficient to keep the railway in good operating condition. In response to the increasing needs of economy, the system was completely renovated.

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Reforms started in September 2003 with the establishment of the joint stock company Russian Railways (RZD). The Russian Federation became the only shareholder of the company and delegated shareholder control to the Government.

Being a large monopoly of vital strategic importance, JSC Russian Railways is regulated by several governmental bodies with different functions. Thus, the Ministry of Transport and Communication is responsible for the regulation and licensing of the railway industry. The Ministry of Economics Trade and Development approves RZD strategic plans and the key budget parameters. The Federal Tariff Service answers for the tariff policy and electrification of the railway industry. The Ministry of Finance is responsible for taxation and subsidies.

JSC Russian Railways is the sole owner and operator of the railway infrastructure in Russia. The company's assets include track depots, stations, switching facilities and dispatch centres. The company has the largest freight rolling stock and operates all the passenger service rail assets. It has the largest locomotive fleet.

RZD is constantly expanding and upgrading its domestic and international services. The company provides maximum comfort and reliability for all passengers, including new rail-air links, luxury compartments and suburban transit trains.

The new high speed Sapsan trains are the pride of the company. The trains were developed by Siemens specialists with the involvement of RZD representatives and higher education institutes. The Sapsan trains fully comply with the Russian Federation safety standards. Their design ensures reliability, energy, efficiency, safety and comfort for passengers and personnel.

Nowadays RZD is successfully integrating into Eurasian transport infrastructure. Russian railways cooperate with European and Asian railways and have common routes with them.

Questions for discussion:

1.How were Russian railways managed in the past?

2.When and why was JSC Russian Railways established?

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3.What governmental bodies regulate JSC Russian Railways?

4.What corporate structure does the company Russian Railways have?

5.What are RZD assets?

6.Why do you think RZD is a company of vital strategic importance?

7.What does the company Russian Railways provide for passengers?

8.Who worked on the project of the Sapsan trains?

9.Why do you think the Sapsan trains are fully reliable and energy efficient?

10.How is RZD integrating into Eurasian transport infrastructure?

Text 6. Railway Reforms in Russia

In 1991 the Soviet Railway System broke into the individual national railways of CIS countries. The Ministry of Railways remained the only structure in Russia to control state regulations and economic activities of Russian railways. However, severe competition between other transport modes and railways made the latter completely renovate their system. It became clear that successful reforms in the railway sector required separating regulation from business. In 1998, President Yeltsin approved a concept for the structural reforming of the Federal Railway Transport. It consisted of three different phases.

Phase I was completed in the autumn of 2003, with the establishment of the Joint Stock Company Russian Railways (RZD). The company assumed the assets and the functions of the former Ministry of Railways.

RZD primary mission is to satisfy the market demand in transportation services, to increase effectiveness of operations and to improve the quality of services. Much of this work is still to be done.

Phase II is close to completion. RZD is forming multiple subsidiaries for passenger service, non-core business and

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refrigerator transportation. Retaining its monopoly on infrastructure, locomotive fleet and freight business the company is phasing out cross-subsidies from profitable freight operations to passenger service.

Phase III is a subject to modification, depending on the industry condition. However, its task lies in selling operating licenses for selected passenger services and independent operators. RZD is planning to increase competition from private rail operators through partial privatisation of Russian railways or some of their enterprises.

Safe control and supervision of the national railway usage is ensured by the Federal Law of Management and Disposal of Railway asserts.

Questions for discussion:

1.What happened to the former Soviet Union Railway System?

2.What was necessary to do for successful reforms in the railway transport sector?

3.What concept did President Yeltsin approve?

4.What happened in the autumn of 2003?

5.What did Russian Railways get from the former Ministry of Railways?

6.What is the current mission of RZD?

7.What are the main targets of Phase II?

8.Why is Phase III a subject to modification?

9.What is the main task of Phase III?

10.What is RZD planning to increase?

Text 7. Logistics

Logistics is the art and science of managing and controlling the flow of goods, energy, information and other resources like products, services, and people, from the source of production to the marketplace. It is difficult to accomplish any marketing or manufacturing without logistical support. It involves integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging. The operating responsibility of logistics is geographical repositioning of raw materials, work in process, and inventories. They are required at the lowest cost.

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Logistics as a concept evolved from the military's need to supply the Armed Forces moving from their base forward. In ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires, there were military officers with the title “Logistikas”. They were responsible for financial and supply distribution matters. Military logistics first appeared in the 19th century. However, only in World War II logistics theory and practice became sophisticated. As the conflict was carried out with an unprecedented deployment of personnel, equipment and supplies, logistics played a central role in ensuring success for the Allies. Logistics as its own concept in business appeared only in the 1950s. This was mainly due to the increasing complexity of supplying business with materials and shipping out products in an increasingly globalised supply chain.

The main functions of a logistics manager include purchasing, transporting, warehousing, organising and planning. Logistics managers combine general knowledge of each function to coordinate the resources of the organisation. There are two fundamentally different forms of logistics. The first one optimises a steady flow of material through a network of transport links and storage nodes. The other coordinates a sequence of resources to carry out some projects.

Questions for discussion:

1.What is logistics?

2.What integration does logistics involve?

3.How can you describe the operating responsibility of logistics?

4.What did logistics as a concept evolve from?

5.What did the word “Logistikas” mean?

6.How can you characterize the role of logistics in World War II?

7.When did business logistics appear?

8.What factors caused the appearance

9.What are the primary functions of a logistics manager?

10.What are the main forms of logistics?

Module V: Ecology

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Text 1: Ecology and Environmental Protection

Ecology is the study of the environment and the way plants, animals, and humans live together and affect each other. This word came from the Greek ‘oikos’ which means ‘home’.

The problem of protecting nature is of primary importance today. Through their daily activities people pollute water, air, soil. If we do not stop these activities the damage may become irreversible.

The Earth is suffering many ecological problems. One of them is air pollution. Urban air pollution continues to expand as a result of the increased number of motor vehicles. Exhaust fumes from the engines of automobiles contain a number of polluting substances. Tokyo has such a serious air-pollution problem that oxygen is supplied to policemen who direct traffic at busy interchanges. Milan, Ankara; Mexico City, and Buenos Aires face similar problems. Air pollution destroys the ozone layer which protects the Earth from the dangerous light of the Sun. In accordance with the Kyoto agreement it was suggested to introduce a special carbon tax in order to reduce the greenhouse effect.

One of the climatic effects of air pollution is acid rain. It is damaging to water, forest, and soil resources. It is blamed for the disappearance of fish from many lakes, for the widespread death of forests in European mountains, and for damaging tree growth throughout the world. Acid rain has been reported in areas as far apart as Sweden and Canada, and in parts of the Russian Federation from Moscow to the Urals.

The second important problem is water pollution. Plants and factories put trash into seas lakes and rivers. Many birds and fish die because of the polluted water.

Another acute problem is water shortage resulting from the abuse of arable lands in agriculture.

People also concern over the dangers resulting from massive releases of radioactive materials from nuclear weapons, which, if used on a major scale, could seriously endanger all of humanity. Another concern is accidents at

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nuclear power plants. In 1978 a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered a severe accident leading to partial meltdown of its radioactive core. In 1986 the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Kiev suffered a fire and partial meltdown, resulting in a major release of radioactive particles. Much of northern and eastern Europe experienced heavy nuclear fallout.

Industries located along waterways downstream contribute a number of chemical pollutants, some of which are toxic. Another form of pollution typical for industrial societies is noise.

Waste is an enormous problem too. One third of all waste is burnt which leads to contamination of air, water and soil. That is why waste recycling is so important in most European countries

In recent years the pollution problems have received great publicity. The media have begun to campaign against tin cans and trash. Protection of natural resources and wildlife is becoming a political programme in every country. Numerous anti-pollution acts adopted in different countries have led to considerable improvements in environment. Non-political environmental organisation Greenpeace has gained widespread trust and support.

In many countries purifying systems for treatment of industrial waters have been installed and measures have been taken to protect rivers and seas from oil waters.

To protect nature people should change their attitude to it. Man should stop taking from it everything he needs, he must give it his love instead. Otherwise the payoff will be too high. It is good that eventually people started to realize that they should keep air and water clean by establishing strict pollution control. Efforts are being made to reduce pollution from automobiles by developing pollution-free engines which may eventually eliminate more serious air pollution problems. Moreover, the strong public reaction can facilitate the exercise of the absolute pollution control in various contaminated industries.

Questions for discussion:

1.How do people pollute land, water and air?

2.Why does urban air pollution continue to expand?

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3.What was suggested to introduce in order to reduce the greenhouse effect.

4.What do acid rains cause?

5.What accidents at nuclear power plants are mentioned in the text?

6.When were the attempts to control pollution initiated?

7.What systems have been installed in many countries?

8.What is being made to reduce pollution from automobile engines?

9.What should people do to protect nature?

10.What can facilitate the exercise of the absolute pollution control?

Text 2 Transport Ecology

Every human activity has a minor or major effect on the environment. Railway transport industry also impacts negatively on nature by building railroads and industrial enterprises. The operation of railways and rolling stock lead to great fuel and energy consumption and exhaust fumes from diesel locomotives contain a lot of harmful substances.

Construction and functioning of railways is connected with pollution of natural complexes by emissions, drains and waste which break the balance in ecological systems. However, in comparison with other means of transport railways are more environmentally friendly. Thus, electrified railways can carry large volumes of passengers with essentially no pollution at the train, while diesel-powered trains generate fifteen times less harmful substances than automobiles for the same traffic.

The origin of noise from rail traffic usually comes from the engine of rolling stock, wheel-rail interaction, pantograph-contact wire and aerodynamic effects during the movement of the train.

The most efficient way for the reduction of rail noise is the proper track layout and reduction of noise of the diesel engine. However, if the rail nose cannot be reduced in origin, then the solution is in noise barriers. They should be placed as close as

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possible to the track and have a height no less than 2 meters. In addition noise barriers should be made of special absorbing materials for additional noise reduction.

The transport sector consumes annually 1/3 of the total energy in the world community. Railways have the lowest unit energy consumption compared to other transport modes. Besides, in electrified railways, energy can come from clean forms such as hydro power stations rather than from oil. People have already assessed the advantage of electrified railways especially now when the oil reserves are becoming exhaustible.

Finally, land occupation is much less for rail transport than for other transport modes and specifically three times less than for road transport. For the purposes of comparison with airplanes, it is important to mention that the high-speed Paris-Lyons line (a distance of 427 km), occupies as much space as the Paris airport at Roissy. Different methods based on new technologies can help people use railway transport in the most efficient way.

Questions for discussion:

1.Does human activity effect on the environment?

2. How does railway transport industry impact on nature? 3.How is construction and functioning of railways connected with pollution of natural complexes?

4. What does the operation of railways lead to?

5.What transport is considered to be environmentally ? friendly?

6.What is the origin of noise from rail traffic?

7.How do railways try to reduce noise?

8.How much energy does the transport sector consume? 9.What forms of energy can be used for electrified railways.?

10. What can help people use railway transport more efficiently?

Text3 Green IT

The world's ICT carbon emissions are thought to be equal to the emissions of the aviation industry. The amount of electricity required to send read and delete all the spam email in the world

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