English Unlimited HTL 4/5, Schulbuch mit Audio-CD und CD-ROM

157 Thinking about the future 12 LANGUAGE SKILLS EXPLORE EXTRAS Explore speaking: A revolutionary invention? Topic area: The environment /Technology Focus: The future of transport / Public transport Situation: You are an intern working at a Brussels-based company which produces high-speed rails. You have been asked to conduct a study on recent developments in Chinese transport systems as China represents a major market for your company. Individual long turn (4–5 minutes): In a project meeting today, you will present a promising high-speed train to your colleagues. Use the two articles below to:   outline China’s plans for constructing a high-speed rail line.   argue why you think  the ZEFIRO 380 is / isn’t a revolutionary invention.   speculate about other popular future means of transport. Interaction (8–10 minutes): After the meeting, you have a chat with a Belgian colleague about the public transport situation in Austria. In your conversation, you should:   inform him/ her about the public transport infrastructure in Austria (in rural and urban areas).   comment on people’s satisfaction with public transport in Austria (see the bar chart on the next page).   suggest measures to improve public transport in your area. 29 The world’s longest high- speed rail line Chinesemedia reports claimthat China andRussia are considering the construction of the world’s longest high-speed rail line to connect Moscow and Beijing, dramatically reducing overland travel times between the capital cities of the two adjacent super- powers. According to a report in The Beijing Times , the proposed line would run a distance of more than 7,000 kilometres, over three times the length of the world’s current longest high- speed railway line, which con- nects Beijing to the Guangdong province of Guangzhou in southern China.  Overland travel times along theTrans-Siberianroutebetween Beijing and Moscow would be slashed by two thirds, reducing it from six days at present to just two.  The estimated cost for the project is $230 billion, given that the cost of each kilometre of high-speed rail built by the Chinese is $33 million. If the funds are raised as planned, the line could be completed in five years. The Chinese will soon enjoy the privilege of travelling by high-speed train The Chinese government has hired Bombardier’s Chinese joint venture Bombardier Sifang Transportation Ltd to provide 80 ZEFIRO 380 high-speed trains. China’s fast-growing network of high-speed rail lines will steer the country towards a faster and greener future with these extremely fast and efficient trains.  A ZEFIRO 380 train will use three types of cars: motorised end cars, intermediate trailer cars with and without pantograph, and intermediate motorised cars. This super-speed mode of trans- port is capable of reaching speeds of 380 kilometres per hour.  Based on Bombardier’s next- generation ZEFIRO high-speed rail technology, the trains are powered by the Bombardier MITRAC propulsion and control system.TheECO4energy-saving technology creates operating efficiencies with substantial overall energy savings of up to 50%. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv