Read the text and find out peculiarities in the underground railway systems of different countries.

The phenomenal growth of traffic flow in mega cities has fuelled the rapid expansion of the metro because the drivers and passengers, who waste their time in traffic congestion and lose their health and even lives in daily traffic accidents, want safer, faster and top-quality services. Cities of more than one million inhabitants see the metro as a sustainable means of meeting the surging demand for mobility, particularly with the recent sharp increase in fuel prices. In recent years, the interest in metros has grown substantially as the expected growth of street traffic will cause not only chronic holdups and bottlenecks, but the level of vehicle noise will exceed the allowable limit. It is quite evident, that in addition to other beneficial effects, underground railway systems can settle the problems of traffic jams, air and noise pollution, and thus offer a real alternative while providing an environmentally friendly option. Therefore, the metro is much more than a means of moving people around, it is also a showcase, a tool for prestige in the face of rival cities.

Twenty-eight countries in more than 90 cities all over the world are developing their underground transportation networks though their construction, within the urban area, is a rather expensive and complicated engineering work. The metro differs from the railway by the track gauge, the overall dimensions of the rolling stock and the current collection equipment. The underground railway system includes subsurface lines; ground based lines which can be seen at the terminal stations of the underground railway (fig. 19.1a, b and c) and elevated lines located on trestle bridges.

The underground railway carrying capacity depends on the number of cars that comprise the trains, which ranges from two to eight per train, the seating capacity which ranges from 90 to 270 passengers per car and the frequency of trains running. The time intervals range from ninety seconds to six minutes.

Underground railway systems, all over the world, use two types of line intersections. Some foreign metros use one level line (fig. 19.1d). Passengers can get to their stop without changing trains. The metro lines in Russia are laid in different levels providing an absolutely safe service without any train collisions. Passengers traveling within underground systems can change their lines using connecting passenger tunnels at the stations. Confusing situations at stations and entries/exits are cleared up using information displays, boards and direction signage on the walls of underground stations at 5-10 m distance, and on the car’s windows. Besides, so they do not lose their way, passengers can get free copies of information brochures with plans and maps.

The idea of the underground railway system has been developing, and Dockland Light Railway (DRL) is the innovating company in London. The railway transport system involves several ground metro lines, which formally do not belong to the Tube, but were integrated into it. Standard travel tickets, monthly and seasonal tickets are used on these lines with no limitation. It looks like the Moscow light rail metro but with some differences. The driverless trains are operated by computer. There is no cab in the first car, and the front passenger seats are placed immediately before the car windshield. However the vehicle cannot manage without an operator at all. A uniformed metro official enters the car at certain stations and provides safe travel between station-to-station distances. He or she makes complicated switches using the control console. Then he or she leaves the car and the train returns to computer-aided control.

The Metro gives good service being a form public transport, and provides stimulating competition to the surface transport system. Its purpose is to provide safe, reliable and convenient passenger travel. Customers do not care about the competition between different means of transport; they only care about price and quality.

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