August 2008 in rail transport

This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in August 2008.

Events

August 1

• – Officials in China hold two opening ceremonies, one in Beijing and another in Tianjin, to officially open the Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railwayway line. The opening makes the new line the first in the world to regularly host trains traveling up to 350 km/h (220 mph). The first regular service train departed Beijing South Railway Station at 10:40 AM local time, while another train left Tianjin at 10:42 AM.^[1][2][3]
• – LNER-design Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado makes first official move under its own steam at Darlington where it was constructed, the first main line steam locomotive built in Britain since 1960.^[4]

August 6

• – A new stop named "Urda" is opened on the Elektriraudtee's western route in Laagri.^[5]

August 8

Wikinews has related news: Train hits collapsed bridge in Czech Republic, killing ten

• – A EuroCity train, traveling at 134 km/h (83 mph) en route from Kraków, Poland, to Prague, Czech Republic, collides with a bridge that had collapsed onto the track in front of the train near Studénka. Some initial reports indicate that part of the bridge fell onto the train while others state that the bridge was already collapsed. The bridge was still under construction at the time of the accident. At least ten people have died in the accident, and about 100 others aboard the train were injured. About 400 people were aboard the train.^[6][7]

August 13

• – Under the direction of Schenectady's City Historian, construction workers excavate a portion of one of the first railway tunnels in the United States. Eventually, plans are for a portion of the tunnel to be restored and opened for public display. The tunnel was initially dug in 1832, providing a 1,500-foot (460 m) passage through which horse-drawn trains traveled; the tunnel was closed and filled in 1838. It is believed that the original track through the tunnel remains in place but further excavation will be needed to determine this.^[8]

August 17

• – Shanghai-Hangzhou Maglev Train construction to begin in 2010. Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project will be 199.43 km long, nearly 25 km longer than previously reported. Preparatory work should be done by the end of this year.^[9][10]

August 19

• – Norges Statsbaner ordered 50 Flirt electric multiple units from Stadler Rail. Delivery for the five-car units will start in 2012, costing NOK 4 billion. The trains will be used as part of the Oslo Commuter Rail and on intercity services.^[11][12]

August 20

• – The Argentine Ambassador to Venezuela Alicia Castro and Venezuelan Infrastructure Minister Isidro Rondon preside over ceremonies at La Rinconada station in Caracas to officially launch a project that will connect the capitals of the two nations by rail. In a speech at the ceremony, Rondon called the line that would travel southward from Caracas through Brazil to Buenos Aires, "a realizable utopia." The three nations' governments hope the new line would encourage trade and foster further integration between them.^[13]

References