Exercise 32 Answer the following questions.

1. What does the term Maglev mean? 2. Describe the functioning principles of Maglev systems. 3. Compare the Maglev projects in Japan and Germany. 4. Where are Maglev systems used? Are they commercial?

Exercise 33 What do you know about high speed trains in Russia? Look through the text below and be ready to comment on it.

Supplementary Text C

Russian / German High-Speed Pact

In April 2005, Russian Railways (RZD) and Siemens signed a contract in Hanover, Germany to develop 300km/h trains for operation in Russia. The contract covers the development and configuration of the trains, and the part Russian companies will play in their manufacture, as the trains will be produced mainly in Russia.

A contract to deliver up to 60 high-speed trains to RZD is expected to be worth 1.5 billion. The first train should be completed in 2007 and in operation in 2008 with a journey time between Moscow and St Petersburg (670km) of 2h 49min. The trains will also operate between Moscow and the Finnish capital, Helsinki, and could also operate between Moscow and Nizhhy Novgorod, and Omsk and Novosibirsk.

Moscow and St Petersburg have a total population of 25 million, accounting for 18% of the Russian population. RZD will invest roubles 14.8 billion (US 532 million) to modernize the Moscow–St Petersburg line by 2007. The estimated total net profit from the project is roubles 100 billion in 30 years. Estimated payback period is nine years.

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