In a Number of Countries Some

Lilie King
Written by Lilie

7.5 in Academic Writing

September 24, 2021

In a number of countries, some people think it is necessary to spend large sums of money on constructing new railway lines for very fast trains between cities. Others believe the money should be spent on improving existing public transport. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

This essay question is from Cambridge IELTS 12 Test 7 Writing Task 2.

Sample Essay

Some countries are spending heavily on building new high-speed rail. While this might drive their economies forward, I believe the money should go toward upgrading public transport systems that already exist because they have a greater effect on people’s daily lives.

On the one hand, high-speed trains can be a key economic driver. This is because they allow people to travel at much lower prices than flights and in a much shorter time than traditional trains. Such fast, inexpensive travel can encourage people to visit other cities, injecting vast sums of money into the local economies. However, I think there might be little demand for some routes and those unprofitable ones could make it hard for governments to pay off the debt, which could prevent them from investing in other projects to improve the economies.

On the other hand, public transport that already exists plays a more important part in people’s daily lives. Many people use high-speed trains only occasionally but take buses or subways every day, making them an indispensable part of their daily lives. If, for example, the problems with delays and overcrowding in New York City subways are resolved, many New Yorkers can arrive at work on time in a better mood. Therefore, I think improving existing public transport will be worth the money.

In conclusion, although building high-speed rail networks might be good for the economy, I think the money would be better spent on the improvement of existing public transport systems because they play a more important role in people’s everyday lives. (257 Words)

How to Vary Your Language

Railway Lines for Very Fast Trains
  • High-speed rail

Here, “rail” is uncountable. If you look very closely at the rails (the steel bars that, as a pair, make up a railway line), you will see that they barely move at all, and certainly cannot be called “high speed”. Here “rail” means the method of transport and therefore is uncountable

  • High-speed rail projects
  • High-speed rail networks
  • Bullet trains
Existing Public Transport
  • Public transport systems that already exist

2 CommentsLeave A Comment

    1. “Rail” is uncountable in “high-speed rail”. If you look very closely at the rails (the steel bars that, as a pair, make up a railway line), you will see that they barely move at all, and certainly could not be called “high speed”. Here “rail” means the method of transport and therefore is uncountable.

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