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III Discussing relative performance

5a In pairs, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of air and highspeed rail travel.
Focus on trips of between 500km and 1,500km, the journey length over which planes and
trains often compete for the same passengers.
b Read the extract from an article about transport in a popular science and technology
magazine and answer the following questions.

1 What factors should be considered in the comparative analysis described?
2 What is the purpose of the comparative analysis?
3 What suggestion is made about Europe?

Speed, convenience, efficiency, and environmental-friendliness: four factors with which to
assess the relative effectiveness of different long-distance, mass-transport solutions for
passengers. Technology: the key criterion in determining what transport solutions are available.
And distance: the main consideration when categorising routes. Blend these variables together in
varying quantities, and you have a model for calculating the optimum way of moving people.
On a European scale, whichever way you mix the various criteria,
the most advantageous way of getting people around the heart of the
continent seems to be on high-speed, electric trains.

c Find words in the text in Exercise 5b to match to the
following definitions. Which one of the words has a plural form?
1 standard by which you judge something
2 fact or situation which influences the result of something

3 number, amount or situation which can change

6a What do you know about France’s high-speed train, the
TGV? What is its normal operating speed? What is the
approximate length of the train?

b Read the facts about the world speed record set by the TGV. Compare the world record
journey with a normal TGV journey, using your answers in Exercise 6a.

World Speed Record for an In-Service Passenger Train
Date April 3,2007
Location France: Paris to Strasbourg line on slightly modified track
Train Standard TGV with fewer coaches
Record 574.8 km/h

c ► 10.3 Andrej, a consulting engineer specialising in rail technology, is talking about the
TGV world speed record. Read the talk and answer the following questions.
1 Overall, how heavily modified was the train?
2 How long was the record-breaking TGV?
3 Why was some of the bodywork modified?
4 Why was the diameter of the wheels changed?

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