Kazakhstani transport system

Kazakhstan borders on five countries. Its territory is 2.7 million square kilometers. Economic and geographic features of Kazakhstan such as its vast territory, landlocked position and uneven distribution of population and of natural recourses make its transport industry one of the largest in the world.

Kazakhstan has a total road network of more than 93,000 km. Most of roads in Kazakhstan are in poor condition and need modernization and repair. The country has an old transport infrastructure and technologies. There are too many car accidents on our roads. Automobiles are the main source of noise and air pollution in cities. Our cities become more and more inconvenient for living because of traffic congestions. Traffic congestions have many negative effects: wasting time, late arrival for work and education, air pollution, wear and tear of vehicles, reducing health of people.

In 2009, the country started to take part in construction of the international highway “Western Europe – Western China”. This highway is of great importance for economic growth, globalization and business. The total length of the highway is about 8,500km. About 3,000 km cross the territory of Kazakhstan. The thickness of asphalt and concrete pavement is 80cm. The expected life span of the highway is 25 years. The highway includes a number of bridges, tunnels, road maintenance facilities, bus stop areas.

Kazakhstan has a big railway system. Railway transport is one of the most popular means of transport in Kazakhstan. KTZ is the main railway company. Trains transport most of freight in the country. Nowadays container traffic is of great importance. Large boxes of standard size in which goods are packed can easily be lifted onto a train. Railways connect all the industrial centers of Kazakhstan. There are trains, which can develop high speed and provide passengers with some conveniences.

The total network of air routes makes up 61,000 km. Kazakhstan has 97 airports. The large area and long distances make air travelling a very important part of domestic travelling in Kazakhstan. Air Astana is the main air carrier of the country. It offers domestic and international services on 56 routes. It started flights on 15 May 2002. In 2012, at Farnborough Air Show, Air Astana was named as the best air company in India and Central Asia.

Kazakhstan has navigable waterways. There are also pipelines for transportation of gas and oil.

3. Pronounce the following words and word combinations correctly:

Territory, million, square kilometers, economic, geographic, feature, vast, landlocked position, uneven distribution, population, natural recourses, transport industry, total road network, more, in poor condition, modernization, repair, transport, infrastructure, technology, Europe, China, international importance, economic growth, globalization, length, thickness, asphalt, concrete pavement, centimeters, expected life span, project, tunnels, road maintenance facilities, areas, company, to connect, industrial centers, comfort, distance, domestic, service, route, Farnborough, India, Central Asia, navigable, repair, highway, pipelines, waterways, industry, rail traffic, carriages, air carrier, keep safety regulations, public transport, fast train, steam engine

4. Translate terms:

Repair, highway, freight, pipeline, waterway, transport industry, rail traffic, carriage, to develop a high speed, air carrier, keep safety regulations, public transport, fast train, freight train, steam engine, traffic congestions, wear and tear of vehicles

5. Answer the questions:

1. How many countries does Kazakhstan border on?

2. How large is its territory?

3. Why is its transport industry one of the largest in the world?

4. How many kilometers does a total road network of the country make up?

5. Why do most of roads in Kazakhstan need modernization and repair?

6. Why does the automobile transport become more and more dangerous?

7. When did the country start to build the highway “Western Europe – Western China”?

8. How long is the total length of the highway?

9. How many kilometers of the highway are within the territory of Kazakhstan?

10. How thick is the asphalt and concrete pavement of the highway?

11. How long is the expected life span of the highway?

12. Why is the railway one of the most important kinds of transport?

13. Why is air traveling a very important part of domestic travelling?

6. Complete the sentences:

1. The fastest type of transport is ……..

2. The safest means of travelling is …….

3. The trains “Talgo” run much faster than ……..

4. Many changes will take place in …….

5. Express trains can develop …….

6. The total network of airlines in Kazakhstan is …...

7. Air Astana offers domestic and international services on …….

7. Open the brackets using the right word, and translate the sentences:

1. It is (different, main, safe) to cross the street here.

2. We can use this (sea, concrete, wind) for construction of this road.

3. This is an old way, but it is well (received, maintained, produced).

4. The most common road vehicle is the (bicycle, train, automobile).

5. A car (follows, carries, moves) faster than a tractor.

6. Roads are smoothed and paved to allow an (important, easy, interesting) travel.

8. Tell about automobile transport in Kazakhstan, using the following words and word combinations:

In poor condition, to need modernization and repair, old infrastructure, the highway “Western Europe – Western China”, the total length, asphalt and concrete pavement, to cause air pollution, a great number of automobiles in big cities, to become more and more dangerous, reducing health of people, heavy traffic, many accidents, old foreign-made cars, traffic congestions, the main source of noise and air pollution, wasting time, late arrival for work and education, wear and tear of vehicles, to solve a problem, transportation of people and freight, in every field of economy, convenient in daily use

9. Tell about rail transport in Kazakhstan, using the following words and word combinations:

To carry people, to transport freight, to play a great part, economic development, a popular means of transport, the safest means of transport, modern trains, powerful locomotives, comfortable carriages, to develop super-high speeds, to be operated by computers, trains “Talgo”, to connect big cities, to provide passengers with comfort, cheap travelling, a big railway company, to offer mainly domestic services, great distances, different types of carriages, container traffic

10. Tell about air transport in Kazakhstan, using the following words and word combinations:

The fastest means of transport, the freight of great value, for transportation of people, great territory of Kazakhstan, a popular means of travelling, 97 airports, the total network of air routes, Air Astana, the best air company, to offer domestic and international services, globalization, the most dangerous means of transport, plane crashes, powerful airplanes, an expensive way of travelling, to save time