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C2  ·  25 words

Railway operations in Portuguese

How a network of single-track ways becomes a timetable.

Practise this list

From these 25 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

The tenth entry is o intervalo entre comboios, and Portuguese names it in the plainest way available: the interval between trains. The English term of art is a single word, « the headway », and it is a word that most speakers own without ever using it on its own. Away from the railway, « headway » survives almost only inside one phrase, « to make headway », which is to get forward against something that resists: « we are making headway with the paperwork », « the talks made little headway ». The noun is made, not had, and it takes no plural. The railway borrows the same word and turns it into a measurement, the time, or sometimes the distance, between one train and the train behind it, as in « a two-minute headway ». It belongs to the old sea family of « way », the movement of a vessel through the water, which also gives « under way » and « sternway ». So a reader who knows only the idiom hears progress where the timetable means a gap, and a gap is the opposite of getting on.

The words

Noun (m) (13)

Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo

o cantão de blocothe block sectionNoun (m)C2
Só um comboio de cada vez ocupa o cantão de bloco.Only one train at a time occupies the block section.
o posto de sinalizaçãothe signal boxNoun (m)C2
O posto de sinalização comanda os sinais de toda a estação.The signal box controls the signals of the whole station.
o aparelho de mudança de viathe set of pointsNoun (m)C2
O aparelho de mudança de via congela no inverno.The set of points freezes in winter.
o circuito de viathe track circuitNoun (m)C2
O circuito de via deteta o comboio pelas rodas.The track circuit detects the train through its wheels.
o contador de eixosthe axle counterNoun (m)C2
O contador de eixos só liberta o troço quando as contas batem certo.The axle counter releases the section only when the figures agree.
o sistema de proteção do comboiothe train protection systemNoun (m)C2
O sistema de proteção do comboio trava sozinho se o maquinista não reagir.The train protection system brakes on its own if the driver does not react.
o intervalo entre comboiosthe headway between trainsNoun (m)C2
O intervalo entre comboios decide quantos cabem na linha.The headway between trains decides how many fit on the line.
o canal horáriothe train pathNoun (m)C2
Cada operador compra o seu canal horário.Every operator buys its own train path.
o atraso propagadothe knock-on delayNoun (m)C2
Um comboio parado gera atraso propagado a tarde inteira.One stopped train produces knock-on delay for the whole afternoon.
o gabarito de cargathe loading gaugeNoun (m)C2
O gabarito de carga decide se o contentor passa no túnel.The loading gauge decides whether the container clears the tunnel.
o pantógrafothe pantographNoun (m)C2
O pantógrafo encosta ao fio com uma força medida.The pantograph rests against the wire with a measured force.
o intervalo de trabalho na viathe engineering possessionNoun (m)C2
O intervalo de trabalho na via é pedido com meses de antecedência.The engineering possession is asked for months in advance.
o regime degradadothe degraded mode of workingNoun (m)C2
Em regime degradado o despacho passa a ser dado por escrito.In degraded mode the authority to proceed is given in writing.

Noun (f) (12)

Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo

a formação do itineráriothe setting of the routeNoun (f)C2
A formação do itinerário tranca as agulhas antes de o sinal abrir.Setting the route locks the points before the signal clears.
a sinalização na cabinathe in-cab signallingNoun (f)C2
A sinalização na cabina dispensa os sinais ao lado da linha.In-cab signalling makes the lineside signals unnecessary.
a curva de frenagemthe braking curveNoun (f)C2
A curva de frenagem diz a que velocidade o comboio pode seguir.The braking curve says at what speed the train may carry on.
a resolução de conflitos de circulaçãothe resolution of conflicting movementsNoun (f)C2
A resolução de conflitos de circulação decide quem espera.Resolving conflicting movements decides who waits.
a manobra de vagõesthe shunting of wagonsNoun (f)C2
A manobra de vagões faz-se de noite, com a estação vazia.The shunting of wagons is done at night, with the station empty.
a lomba de triagemthe hump in a marshalling yardNoun (f)C2
Na lomba de triagem os vagões descem sozinhos para a via certa.On the hump the wagons roll down to the right track by themselves.
a carga por eixothe axle loadNoun (f)C2
A carga por eixo limita o peso do comboio de mercadorias.The axle load limits the weight of the freight train.
a catenáriathe overhead contact lineNoun (f)C2
A catenária partida deixa a linha parada durante horas.A broken overhead contact line leaves the route at a standstill for hours.
a mudança de sistema de traçãothe change of traction systemNoun (f)C2
A mudança de sistema de tração acontece na fronteira.The change of traction system happens at the border.
a esmerilagem do carrilthe rail grindingNoun (f)C2
A esmerilagem do carril tira as ondas que fazem barulho.Rail grinding takes away the waves that make the noise.
a restrição de velocidadethe speed restrictionNoun (f)C2
A restrição de velocidade ficou meses depois da obra.The speed restriction stayed for months after the works.
a locomotiva de socorrothe rescue locomotiveNoun (f)C2
A locomotiva de socorro puxou o comboio até à estação seguinte.The rescue locomotive pulled the train to the next station.

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