Service – (зд.)движение

fall into disuse – выходить из употребления

Auto-Train

The car-sleeper train, called the Auto-Train, is a new concept train. The Auto-Train presents the modern paradox that many people like to have their cars with them but do not enjoy driving them.

Such trains, under various names (Auto-coach, Motorail, etc) have been a great success in Europe for they enable holidaymakers to take their families and their cars hundreds of miles to the sunshine without the strain and the risk of driving those miles. Paris to Milan, Hamburg to Verona, London to Cornwall, the North Sea and Channel ports to the Mediterranean are just a few of the routes now offered to motorists. The basic routine is always the same. The motorist presents his car to the loading station where it is put on a car-carrier vehicle while the car’s occupants go to the sitting or sleeping accommodation in the train. All the car carriers are coupled to the passenger section of the train, which then moves to its destination. The next morning the passengers step out of the train and find their car waiting for them.

The USA was a little late in this field, but when the first Auto-Train service began it was rather different from the European services. It was provided not by railroad companies but by a private corporation. The role of the railroads was simply, for a price, to move the train over their tracks between the two terminals. Now the train is intended to serve holidaymakers from the northeastern states who wants to avoid the long drive to Florida. The starting point is not far from Washington. The distance is 1,377 km (856 miles) and the train leaves at 16 to arrive the next day at 9. Passenger accommodation includes some observation cars, sleepers, reclining cars with free blankets and pillows; buffet dining facilities and cinema and night-club attractions. Typically the train consists of nine passenger cars and about thirty car-carriers. The whole train, including the two diesel locomotives, is painted white with red and purple stripes. On arrival at the terminal, passengers are received by Auto-Train personnel in brightly-coloured uniforms.

Notes:

offer - предлагать

load - груз

vehicle - транспортное средство

destination - место назначения

step out - выходить(из)

services - транспортные услуги

accommodation - место

couple - (зд) сцеплять

but - (зд) а

recline - откидываться назад

Advanced Passenger Train

The concept was to exploit the potential of existing British Rail (B.R.) main-line passenger routes rather than build new lines at too high cost, as in Japan. This would be possible by the operation of Advanced Passenger Trains (APTs), whose technology would make possible the combination of a high maximum speed – up to 155 mph – and, compared with conventional trains, an ability to maintain higher speeds on curves, typically 20-40 per cent above existing limits.

The initiative for the APT project was developed from BR research during the early 1960s into the dynamics of rail vehicles. This indicated that the critical speed of a vehicle was related to the suspension system and track parameters.

In 1967, after a series of experiments a proposal was made for a high-speed train whose tilting mechanism would allow much higher curving speeds.

Further research led to the concept of the APT Experimental (APT-E) gas turbine–powered train whose construction was authorized in 1969.

Promising results from test running of the APT-E led to the building of three 25 kv a.c. electric APT–P (Prototype) trains and these began trials in 1979. After an unhappy start in public service in 1981 there were further modifications and running tests but the project was abandoned in 1986. A program of route modernization to ease track curvature was preferred.

The designers of APT predicted that the train would give the fastest, the quietest and smoothest ride in the world. The train was expected to develop speeds of up to 250 km/h, but after extensive laboratory testing the experimental train underwent running trials in 1975, breaking the 250 km/h barrier with a new world record of 243 km/h.

As oil price rise had put an end to gas-turbine development, it was decided not to fit any of the future prototypes with gas-turbine equipment. So, commercial service at 200 km/h began between London and Glasgow.

Notes:

rather than – а не

conventional – обычный

critical speed –предельная скорость

suspension – подвеска

Air-conditioning on British Railways

Carriages may be described as air-conditioned when fitted with an automatic system by which air entering them has been filtered and brought to a pre-determined humidity and temperature, which is then maintained within the vehicle. A comfortable atmosphere should be established, without objectionable draughts, and for effective working when the windows are sealed.

Fully air-conditioned passenger stock was in service in the USA during 1930. However, a partial air-conditioning system, better described as pressure ventilation was fitted to royal saloons built by the East Coast companies in 1908. From the early 1930s the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) made increasing use of pressure ventilation for prestige stock, principally first-class sleeping cars. Such carriages retained opening windows. At first, the heating and ventilation system was all electric but the LNER found that it was more practical to retain steam heating to ensure adequate warmth at the start of a journey. Comprising filters, fans and thermostat equipment was usually mounted on the underframe and electrically powered from the carriage batteries. Air was distributed to the carriage interior through ducting, usually at floor level. A set of pressure ventilated carriages entered service between London and Newcastle in 1934 and prestige LNER train sets built in 1935-1939 were so equipped.

Notes:

objectionable draughts – нежелательные сквозняки

(rolling) stock – подвижной состав

pressure ventilation – принудительная вентиляция

power – (зд.) питаться

ducting – вентиляционный канал

Дата добавления: 2015-07-19