Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express

 

The Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express launched in May 7, 2007is Russia’s first luxury private train. It is a joint Russian-British project, which cost $25 million and took 7 years. The train serves the world's longest railway line from Moscow to Vladivostok as well as specially developed routes. One of them, the Silk Road goes on through Kazakhstan, stopping at Baikonur Space Centre, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, across Asia's largest and coldest Gobi desert in China with Beijing as the final destination.

The highest level of comfort and service offered to the train passengers justifies describing Golden Eagle as a real five-star hotel on the wheels. Prince Michael of Kent, one of the authors of the project, said at a reception at the British Embassy in Moscow that it was a dream for any Brit to drive a train, and added that two of his dreams, Russia and trains, had been united in the Golden Eagle project.

The Golden Eagle Express consists of 12 Gold and Silver class sleeping cars. The maximum capacity of the Golden Eagle is 132 passengers. There is 64 staff on board the train.

The six Gold class carriages have 5 spacious sleeping compartments equipped with individual air conditioning and heating, lavatories, showers, under floor heating, wardrobe spaces, fridges, armchairs and tables. There are also LCD TV screens, state-of-the-art DVD/CD players, audio systems, Web access, attendant call buttons. The Silver class compartments have all of the same mod cons¹ but are slightly smaller.

The train includes a 35-seat bar car (the bar remains open until the last person leaves), two dining cars seating 64 each, a kitchen car, a laundry car and a storage car. Doctor and barber services are available to passengers as well. The menu of the Trans-Siberian dining cars features Russian and Siberian cuisine, from borsch to black caviar with vodka.

The Golden Eagle leaves from Moscow, traveling almost 10,000 km at an average speed of80 kmhto its final destination on the Sea of Japan. The route includes visits to Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal, Ulan Ude, the Mongolian capital Ulan-Bator, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.

 

Notes: ¹modcons – современные удобства

 

(B) Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих фраз.

1. частный поезд повышенной комфортности

2. Шёлковый Путь

3. специально разработанные маршруты

4. пятизвездочный отель на колёсах

5. управлять поездом

6. багажный вагон

7. кнопка вызова проводника

8. к услугам пассажиров есть врач и парикмахер

9. вагон-буфет на 35 мест

10. ехать со средней скоростью

 

(C)Ответьтенавопросыктексту. Ответыпереведите.

1. When was the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express put into operation?

2. Is it a joint Russian-British or Russian-Chinese project?

3. Why is Golden Eagle described as a real five-star hotel on the wheels?

4. How many sleeping cars does the Golden Eagle Express consist of?

5. How many passengers can the Golden Eagle take?

6. What mod cons are there in sleeping compartments?

7. Is there any difference between Gold and Silver class compartments?

8. What cars (apart from sleeping cars) does the train include?

9. What does the menu of the Golden Eagle dining cars feature?

10. Can passengers enjoy services of doctor and barber on board the train?

 

ВАРИАНТ 4

 

Упр. 1. Формы Continuous (Present, Past, Future) и Perfect (Present, Past, Future) вдействительном (Active) истрадательном (Passive) залогах.

(A) Перепишите предложения и переведите их. Выпишите сказуемые и укажите их видовременные формы.

Model: The train has already arrived at the station. Поезд уже прибыл на станцию.

has arrived – Present Perfect Active (to arrive)

 

1. Railway construction beganin China late in the 19^th century and by World War II, more than 25,000 km of track had been laid down mainly in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country.

2. Rush hour is a period at the beginning and end of the working day when large numbers of people are traveling to or from work.

3. Arizona has recently adopted the law, according to which the length of trains is limited to 14 passenger cars or 70 freight cars in the interests of safety.

4. The program of railway reforms is being carried out now in Russia. Under this program, suburban and regional passenger services will be financed from local budgets.

At the same time, the government has promised to fund inter-city passenger service.

 

(B) Перепишите предложения, поставив глагол в нужную форму, и переведите их.

1. The new American turbotrain(to cover – Present Perfect Active) a 230-mile distance between Boston and New York in 3 hours 15 minutes with four stops.

2. She (to tell – Past Simple Passive)in the enquiry office that the schedule of this commuter train (to change – Past Perfect Passive).

3. This railway line (to upgrade –Present Continuous Passive) to carry heavier volumes of freight and passenger traffic.

4. New models of lightweight carriages(to introduce – Present Perfect Passive)on the Japanese Railways. They(to consume – Present Simple Active)50% less power than old models.

5. We (to arrive – Past Simple Active) at the railway station when the train (to approach – Past Continuous Active) the platform.

 

Упр. 2. Модальные Глаголы

Составьте предложения из двух частей, обращая внимание на перевод глаголов must, should, can, may, need .

1. All trains must be regularly serviced, … 2. To prevent wooden sleepers from decay, … 3. Passengers may pay the subway fare with tokens or … 4. The experience of operating fast trains on the Moscow-St.Petersburg line … 5.Because electric locos can accelerate more rapidly,…

a) more trains can run on the same track. b) should be applied to other railways. c) so that passengers can be sure that they are traveling in safety. d) they may purchase a pass for a specific period of time. e) they must be treated with creosote.

 

Упр. 3. Причастие I