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1.Have you ever travelled by train? If yes, where did you go? 2. What do you think trains in the old days were powered by? 3. Do you think a train can travel as fast as a bullet? We use many means of transport such as planes, ships, trains, cars, etc. The train which was invented in the nineteenth century is still widely used today. Starting from its time of invention, trains can be categorized into three: surface trains, underground trains and skytrains. These trains are powered by steam, electricity and diesel. In the year 1804 in England, Richard Trevithick, an engineer and inventor, designed and developed the first steam locomotive, the engine that pulls the train to be used to transport coal or minerals. His engine hauled 10 tons of iron and 70 men for ten miles at a speed of five miles per hour. In 1829, George Stephenson, a Britishengineer, developed the steam-powered locomotive to haul, for the first time, passengers and freight from Liverpool to Manchester. Steam locomotives, or railway engines, were used until about 1940. Electric trains are powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or on-board energy storage like a battery. They are used on freight routes or in areas with advanced rail networks, and they are ideal for commuter rail service with frequent stops. The locomotive of the first known electric train was built in 1837 by Robert Davidson of Aberdeen, and it was powered by galvanic cells (batteries). The chief disadvantage of an electric train is the high cost of infrastructure: overhead lines or third rail, substations, and control systems. electric train In 1860, work on the first Underground began in England. The London Underground was constructed as a response to the city's rapid growth. The first underground railway on which carriages were pulled by steam engine was opened in 1863. Steam engine trains retained their importance in transportation until about 1896, when electric-powered locomotives were used for the subway. Many cities in the world have underground railway nowadays,as underground trains are more convenient, cheaper andquicker for commuters. Underground trains are commonly used in New York, Mexico City, Paris, Madrid, Shanghai,Beijing, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Seoul, Moscow, Hong Kong,Tokyo, and Singapore. It was only in the 20th century that surface trains with diesel- electric locomotives known popularly as diesels, came into use. These diesel trains offered greater flexibility and performance than steam trains, as well as substantially lower operating and maintenance costs. After the Second World War, turbine-electric locomotives were developed, but they were found to be uneconomical and were not used or developed further. Among the different types of train, the skytrain runs above the surface. It is fully-automated,driverless, rapid transit system in the world. The skytrain system is a quality rapid transit system that is fully separated from vehicle traffic, and is an alternative for people to avoid being stuck in congestion. The Light Rapid Transit SkyTrain was opened in January 1986, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Skytrains can be seen in the USA, Germany, Japan, China, Australia, and South Africa. In Thailand, skytrains started operating in 1999. Today, high-speed bullet trains are becoming popular and common. The first bullet train in Japan travelled 130 miles per hour. Today the Hayabusa (Falcon) bullet train can travel 186 miles per hour. Bullet trains are now quite common in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain,Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China, and Japan. The invention of the train is a significant milestone in the history of human development. Trains are very eco-friendly, and though are expensive to produce and maintain, they are still an important system of transport in many countries of the world.