И. А. Курбасова Е. И. Силантьева

TEXT 8. THE CMEA COUNTRIES

AND RAILWAY TRANSPORT
(1) The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) has been set up as an economic organization. Its aim is to strengthen the position of the socialist countries in the world economy and to gain the victory in their economic compe­tition with capitalism.

(2) Railway transport plays a very important part in extending economic ties and deepening socialist economic integration within the socialist community.

(3) Contrary to the widespread opinion in some coun­tries that the "golden age" of railways has passed, this mode of transport has not lost its importance up to now. For example, in the countries of the socialist community 55 per cent of the total freight traffic is carried by rail.

(4) According to the Long-Term Programme worked out. by the CMEA countries great attention is given to the main international routes: Moscow—Brest — Warsaw—Ber­lin, Bendery — Kishinev—Bucharest — Sofia and others. The socialist countries are to complete the electrification of the lines and equip them with modern signalling and electronic computers. They are planning to lay heavier rails and put more powerful locomotives and new specialized cars into service. These innovations will make it possible to increase the maximum speed of freight trains to 100 kph and that of passenger trains to 120-140 kph.

(5) There exists close co-operation among the socialist countries in rolling stock construction. Here are but a few examples. The Novocherkassk Locomotive Building Works actively co-operates in designing modern electric locomo­tives with works and factories in Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland and the German Democratic Republic (G.D.R.). As: to the Soviet diesels they have won a wide recognition in Czechoslovakia, the G.D.R., Hungary as well as in the Korean People's Democratic Republic.

(6) On the other hand, the diesels and electrics produced in Czechoslovakia are in wide use on Soviet Railways. Of interest is one of the latest Czech-made electric locomo­tive of 8,360 h. p. It is specially designed for heavily-used main lines and will haul long passenger trains of 24 and later of 32 cars. Poland supplies railway cars, electric train units and locomotives to the socialist countries including the USSR. The passenger cars specially produced in the G.D.R. for Soviet Railways meet the world's best stand­ards.

(7) Soviet metro builders help the CMEA countries in building and equipping their metro systems. In fact, the specifications, technology and machinery of the Soviet metro builders have been used in Prague, Budapest, Bucharest, Warsaw and Sofia.