EUROPEAN TRANSPORT SYSTEMS 1990-2010
What have been the trends and what are the prospects for European transport systems
A
It is difficult to conceive of vigorous economic growth without an efficient transport system. Although modern information technologies can reduce the demand for physical transport by facilitating teleworking and teleservices, the requirement for transport continues to increase. There are two key factors behind this trend. For passenger transport, the determining factor is the spectacular growth in car use. The number of cars on European Union (EU) roads saw an increase of three million cars each year from 1990 to 2010, and in the next decade, the EU will see a further substantial increase in its fleet.
B
As far as goods transport is concerned, growth is due to a large extent to changes in the European economy and its system of production. In the last 20 years, as internal frontiers have been abolished, the EU has moved from a ‘stock’ economy to a ‘flow’ economy. This phenomenon has been emphasised by the relocation of some industries, particularly those which are labour-intensive, to reduce production costs, even though the production site is hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from the final assembly plant or away from users.
C
The strong economic growth expected in countries that are candidates for entry to the EU will also increase transport flows, in particular road haulage traffic. In 1998, some of these countries already exported more than twice their 1990 volumes and imported more than five times their 1990 volumes. And although many candidate countries inherited a transport system that encourages rail, the distribution between modes has tipped sharply in favour of road transport since the 1990s. Between 1990 and 1998, road haulage increased by 19.4%, while during the same period rail haulage decreased by 43.5%, although – and this could benefit the enlarged EU – it is still on average at a much higher level than in existing member states.
D
However, a new imperative-sustainable development – offers an opportunity for adopting the EU’s common transport policy. This objective, agreed upon by the Gothenburg European Council, has to be achieved by integrating environmental considerations into Community policies, and shifting the balance between modes of transport lies at the heart of its strategy. The ambitious objective can only be fully achieved by 2020, but proposed measures are nonetheless the first essential step towards a sustainable transport system which will ideally be in place in 30 years‟ time, that is by 2040.
E
In 1998, energy consumption in the transport sector was to blame for 28% of emissions of CO2, the leading greenhouse gas. According to the latest estimates, if nothing is done to reverse the traffic growth trend, CO2 emissions from transport can be expected to increase by around 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020, compared with the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990. Once again, road transport is the main culprit since it alone accounts for 84% of the CO2 emissions attributable to transport. Using alternative fuels and improving energy efficiency is thus both an ecological necessity and a technological challenge.
F
At the same time, greater efforts must be made to achieve a modal shift. Such a change cannot be achieved overnight, all the less so after over half a century of constant deterioration in favour of the road. This has reached such a pitch that today rail freight services are facing marginalisation, with just 8% of the market share, and with international goods trains struggling along at an average speed of 18km/h. Three possible options have emerged.
G
The first approach would consist of focusing on road transport solely through pricing. This option would not be accompanied by complementary measures in the other modes of transport. In the short term, it might curb the growth in road transport through the better loading ratio of goods vehicles and occupancy rates of passenger vehicles expected as a result of the increase in the price of transport. However, the lack of measures available to revitalise other modes of transport would make it impossible for more sustainable modes of transport to take up the baton.
H
The second approach also concentrates on road transport pricing but is accompanied by measures to increase the efficiency of the other modes (better quality of services, logistics, technology). However, this approach does not include investment in new infrastructure, nor does it guarantee better regional cohesion. It could help to achieve greater uncoupling than the first approach, but road transport would keep the lion’s share of the market and continue to concentrate on saturated arteries, despite being the most polluting of the modes. It is therefore not enough to guarantee the necessary shift of the balance.
I
The third approach, which is not new, comprises a series of measures ranging from pricing to revitalising alternative modes of transport and targeting investment in the trans-European network. This integrated approach would allow the market shares of the other modes to return to their 1998 levels and thus make a shift of balance. It is far more ambitious than it looks, bearing in mind the historical imbalance in favour of roads for the last fifty years, but would achieve a marked break in the link between road transport growth and economic growth, without placing restrictions on the mobility of people and goods.
1. Paragraph A
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viii. The rapid growth of private transport
Sự phát triển nhanh chóng của phương tiện giao thông cá nhân
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Câu 4 For passenger transport, the determining factor is the spectacular growth in car use
Đối với vận tải hành khách, yếu tố quyết định là sự tăng trưởng ngoạn mục về sử dụng ô tô |
Keywords Car use = private transport Rapid growth = the spectacular growth |
2. Paragraph B
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iii. Changes affecting the distances goods may be transported
Những thay đổi ảnh hưởng đến khoảng cách hàng hóa có thể được vận chuyển |
Câu 1 As far as goods transport is concerned, growth is due to a large extent to changes in the European economy and its system of production Đối với vận tải hàng hóa, tăng trưởng phần lớn là do những thay đổi trong nền kinh tế châu Âu và hệ thống sản xuất của nó Câu cuối production site is hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from the final assembly plant or away from users. địa điểm sản xuất cách xa hàng trăm, thậm chí hàng nghìn km so với nhà máy lắp ráp cuối cùng hoặc cách xa người dùng.
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Keywords Changes = changes in the European economy and its system of production the distances goods may be transported = production site is hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away from the final assembly plant or away from users. |
3. Paragraph C
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xi. Transport trends in countries awaiting EU admission
Xu hướng giao thông ở các quốc gia đang chờ gia nhập EU |
Câu 4 The strong economic growth expected in countries that are candidates for entry to the EU will also increase transport flows Sự tăng trưởng kinh tế mạnh mẽ dự kiến ở các quốc gia là ứng cử viên gia nhập EU cũng sẽ làm tăng lưu lượng vận chuyển
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Keywords Countries awaiting EU admission = countries that are candidates for entry to the EU Transport trends = transport flows |
4. Paragraph D
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i. A fresh and important long-term goal Một mục tiêu dài hạn mới và quan trọng |
Câu 4 The ambitious objective can only be fully achieved by 2020, but proposed measures are nonetheless the first essential step towards a sustainable transport system which will ideally be in place in 30 years‟ time, that is by 2040. Mục tiêu đầy tham vọng chỉ có thể đạt được hoàn toàn vào năm 2020, nhưng các biện pháp được đề xuất dù sao cũng là bước thiết yếu đầu tiên hướng tới một hệ thống giao thông bền vững, lý tưởng nhất là sẽ được thực hiện trong thời gian 30 năm, tức là vào năm 2040. |
Keywords Goal (n) = Objective (n) Fresh (adj) = first (adj) Important (adj) = essential (adj) |
5. Paragraph E
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v. The environmental costs of road transport Sự tổn hại về môi trường của giao thông đường bộ |
Câu 4 According to the latest estimates, if nothing is done to reverse the traffic growth trend, CO2 emissions from transport can be expected to increase by around 50% to 1,113 billion tonnes by 2020, compared with the 739 billion tonnes recorded in 1990. Theo ước tính mới nhất, nếu không làm gì để đảo ngược xu hướng tăng trưởng giao thông, lượng khí thải CO2 từ giao thông có thể tăng khoảng 50% lên 1.113 tỷ tấn vào năm 2020, so với 739 tỷ tấn được ghi nhận vào năm 1990. |
Keywords Environmental cost: emissions from transport can be expected to increase |
6. Paragraph G
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x. Restricting road use through charging policies alone Hạn chế sử dụng đường bộ chỉ thông qua các chính sách thu phí |
Câu 4 The first approach would consist of focusing on road transport solely through pricing. Cách tiếp cận đầu tiên sẽ bao gồm việc chỉ tập trung vào vận tải đường bộ thông qua định giá. In the short term, it might curb the growth in road transport Trong ngắn hạn, nó có thể kìm hãm sự tăng trưởng của vận tải đường bộ |
Keywords Charging policy = pricing Alone = solely Restricting road use = curb the growth in road transport |
7. Paragraph H
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ii. Charging for roads and improving other transport methods Một mục tiêu dài hạn mới và quan trọng |
The second approach also concentrates on road transport pricing but is accompanied by measures to increase the efficiency of the other modes (better quality of services, logistics, technology). Cách tiếp cận thứ hai cũng tập trung vào định giá vận tải đường bộ nhưng đi kèm với các biện pháp để tăng hiệu quả của các phương thức khác (chất lượng dịch vụ, hậu cần, công nghệ tốt hơn). |
Keywords Charging for roads = road transport pricing Improving = increasing the efficiency Transport methods = modes |
8. Paragraph I
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iv. Taking all the steps necessary to change transport patterns Thực hiện tất cả các bước cần thiết để thay đổi mô hình vận chuyển |
Comprises a series of measures ranging from pricing to revitalising alternative modes of transport and targeting investment in the trans-European network Bao gồm một loạt các biện pháp khác nhau, từ định giá đến khôi phục các phương thức vận tải thay thế và nhắm mục tiêu đầu tư vào mạng lưới xuyên châu Âu This integrated approach would allow the market shares of the other modes to return to their 1998 levels and thus make a shift of balance Cách tiếp cận tích hợp này sẽ cho phép thị phần của các phương thức khác quay trở lại mức năm 1998 và do đó tạo ra sự thay đổi |
Keywords Taking all the steps necessary = Comprises a series of measures = this integrated approach Change transport patterns = make a shift
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