Railway system

In 1894, the Russian Empire opened a metre gauge railway between Pokrovskaya Sloboda (present day Engels, Russia) and Uralsk. About 130km of this railway were within the borders of present day Kazakhstan.

The first section of the first line was opened on the territory of Kazakhstan in 1904. It was built to connect the major cities of Kazakhstan. From the date of opening of this line, Kazakhstan Railways celebrated their centenary in 2004.

On the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Kazakhstani administration inherited a railway system of over 15,000 km, with international connections to Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It also includes a newly completed link with China.

The railway network was privatized in 2001. Extensions and improvements continue to take place in rail transport field of Kazakhstan.

A joint stock company KTZ’s was founded by the government in 2002. Its task is to develop, operate, and maintain railway transportation in Kazakhstan. Related stock companies own the rolling stock, the hauling equipment, and the passenger transport division. Repair facilities have been privatized. Private companies may own or rent rolling stock.

3. Translate the following word combinations:

The total length of the railway, to carry a great volume of traffic, to provide passengers with lots of comforts, the suburban service, to take steps to full automation, to build a large railway network, to work out a project, industrial centers connected by a railway, a main line-track, to get all the necessary equipment, to pay great attention to the railway, the trains drawn by powerful locomotives

4. Answer the questions:

1. Is Kazakhstan a big rail country?

2. When did the Russian Empire open a metre gauge railway between Pokrovskaya Sloboda (present day Engels, Russia) and Uralsk?

3. When was the first section of the first line opened on the territory of Kazakhstan?

4. After which event did the Kazakhstani administration inherit a railway system of over 15,000km?

5. When was the railway network privatized in Kazakhstan?

6. What task has a joint stock company KTZ?

5. Agree or disagree with the statements given below:

1. Kazakhstan is a great rail country.

2. The engineers of Kazakhstan contributed to the development of railway transport.

3. The trains of Kazakhstan carry freight and passengers with great safety.

4. Automation and computing machines will stimulate the progress of railways.

5. Kazakhstan has a dense railway network connecting its industrial centers.

6. Powerful locomotives pull all freight and passenger trains.

7. Our trains cannot develop high speeds.

8. The Kazakhstani railways play an important part in the national economy of the country.

9. The Kazakhstani railways cannot carry a large volume of traffic.

10. Greater changes will take place on the railways of the country in the future.

11. Faster locomotives will be put into service in Kazakhstan.

12. Automation and computing machines will provide a safer transportation of freight and passengers.

13. The horsepower is still used on Kazakhstani railroads for transporting coal and timber.

6. Complete the sentences:

1. In 1894, the Russian Empire opened ……….

2. On the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Kazakhstani administration inherited ……..

3. In 2001 the railway network ……...

4. KTZ’s task ……….

5. Private companies may own or rent ……….

Prepare a topic “Rail System of Kazakhstan” using the following word combinations. Do you consider current railways in Kazakhstan perfect and why? Give arguments of your opinion. What is it necessary to do to improve them?

Railway network, total length, volume of traffic, powerful locomotives, automation, to develop high speeds, to provide a safe transportation, a dense railway network, to connect major industrial centers, to be electrified, special kinds of trains, freight and passenger trains, to play a very important part in the economic development of Kazakhstan, great changes, to be put into service, to carry a great number of passengers, the most popular means of transport, in good condition, trains “Talgo”, high speed, domestic trains, comfortable carriages, all conveniences, computerization, to take place