Infrastructure sends politicians berserk(发狂的，疯狂的). Propose more money for the health service or reopening youth clubs and frowns break out all round. Can we afford it? But shout infrastructure and cheers go up. The word suggests glamour, chest-beating(捶胸自夸，逞强) and “growth”. Reason flies out of the window.
基础设施这个词能让政客们发狂。你要是提议给医疗系统多拨点钱，或者重新开放青年俱乐部，四周立刻皱起眉头：我们负担得起吗？可你一喊“基础设施”，欢呼声就起来了。这个词暗示着魅力、豪情和“增长”。理性被抛到了窗外。
The saga(长篇故事，一连串事件) of Heathrow’s third runway beggars belief(令人难以置信). A foreign-owned private company wants to make more money out of its cramped(拥挤的，狭小的) west London investment. The airlines are sceptical(怀疑的，持疑态度的) and passengers will have to pay surcharge(附加费，额外费用)s higher than any in Europe. Meanwhile fields lie empty round its rival, Gatwick, and capacity at London’s third airport, Stansted, is underused(未充分利用的).
希思罗第三跑道的这出闹剧简直令人难以置信。一家外资私营公司想从它位于伦敦西部、拥挤不堪的投资项目中榨取更多利润。航空公司对此持怀疑态度，乘客则要支付比欧洲任何地方都高的附加费。与此同时，它的竞争对手盖特威克机场周边田地荒置，而伦敦第三大机场斯坦斯特德的运力也远未充分利用。
The third runway is a nightmare. The official price tag(标价，价格标签) is now a staggering(惊人的，令人震惊的) £49bn but the overall budget for Heathrow’s expansion and operating expenditure(支出，开支) could soar beyond £100bn. An unknown proportion of this will fall on the taxpayer(由纳税人承担). The proposal has been debated for 20 years and the opening constantly postponed.(这项提案已经争论了20年，启用日期一再推迟。) A date of 2035 has now become 2039. I would not take bets on 2045.
第三跑道是一场噩梦。官方标价如今已高达490亿英镑，而希思罗扩建与运营的总预算可能飙升至1000亿英镑以上。其中有多少要由纳税人承担，谁也说不清。这项提案已经争论了20年，启用日期一再推迟。原本的2035年如今变成了2039年。至于2045年，我可不敢打赌。