Italy’s new high-speed train line – EASY

Italy is making a new, fast train line. It is in the south of Italy.

The train will go between two cities, Naples and Bari. Naples is on the west side of Italy. Bari is on the east side.

Now, the train takes four hours. The new fast train will take two hours. It is much faster. The new train line is 145 kilometers long.

The money for the new train comes from Italy and the EU (European Union). It costs 6 billion euros.

Italy’s train company (FS) will operate the new train. The new train line will be ready in 2028.

There will be a new station in Irpinia. They will also improve the old stations.

Many young people leave the south to find work. Leaders hope the new train helps people in the south. They think it will make new jobs. It can help people live in small towns and go to big towns for work.

Vocabulary

• Train line – a path for a train to travel on; the direction a train goes; route
• South – A direction; the bottom part on most maps; ⬇️
• West – A direction; the left side on most maps, where the sun sets; ⬅️
• East – A direction; the right side on most maps, where the sun rises; ➡️
• The European Union (EU) – 27 countries in Europe that work closely together
• Billion – 1,000,000,000 = one-billion
• Euro – €; The currency of the European Union
• Operate – to manage; run; use; to control or use a machine; conduct
• Improve – to make something better; to get better
• Young – Not old; 
• Leave – to go away; to depart; to stop being part of something; 
• Leader – someone who is in charge of a group, organization or country; a boss or manager; a person who guides, directs, or commands a group
• Hope – something good that you want to happen in the future; a confident feeling about what will happen in the future; wish
• Town – A place smaller than a city where people live and work

Discussion Questions

• Is it good to spend a lot of money on a new, fast train? Why?
• Do you think this new train will really help people in the south get jobs?
• The train saves two hours of travel time. Is this very helpful for people? Why?
• Do you think more young people will stay living in the south because of this train?
• Would you like to live in a small town and take a fast train to work in a big town? Why?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

www.reuters.com

Italy’s new high-speed rail line looks to reverse depopulation, lift southern economy

Italy’s high-speed railway is finally pressing into the heart of the underdeveloped south, using European Union funds in the hope that the new network will help reverse years of depopulation and lift the lacklustre economy.

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

Italy is _____ a new, fast train line. It is in the south of _____ .

The train will go between two _____ , Naples and Bari. Naples is on the west side of Italy. Bari _____ on the east side.

Now, the train takes _____ hours. The new fast train will take two hours. It is much _____ . The new train line is _____ kilometers long.

The money for the new train _____ from Italy and the EU (European Union). It costs _____ billion euros.

Italy’s train company (FS) _____ operate the new train. The new train line will be ready in _____ .

There will be a new station in Irpinia. _____ will also improve the old stations.

Many young people _____ the south to find work. Leaders hope the new train _____ people in the south. They think it will make new _____ . It can help people live in small _____ and go to big towns for work.