August 2008 in rail transport

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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

• – 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

1. "China launches high-speed train". BBC News. 2008-08-01. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
2. "China opens Beijing-Tianjin railway one week ahead of Olympics". Xinhua. 2008-08-01. Archived from the original on 6 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
3. Fletcher, Hannah (2008-08-01). "China inaugurates 220mph fastest rail service in world in time for Olympics". Times Online (London). Retrieved 2008-08-01.
4. "A1 Steam Locomotive Trust". Retrieved 2008-08-27.
5. Lattu, Kirsi (5 August 2008). "Elektriraudtee avab Laagris uue peatuskoha". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
6. Associated Press (2008-08-08). "10 killed in train crash in Czech Republic". MSNBC. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
7. "10 dead in Czech rail crash". RTÉ News. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
8. "Part of early NY railroad tunnel unearthed upstate". 2008-08-14. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
9. Xinhua (2008-08-17). "E. China Maglev Project to Start in 2010". CRI. Archived from the original on 18 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
10. Xinhua (2008-08-18). "Maglev project to begin construction in 2010". China Daily. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
11. Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (2008-08-19). "Nye tog til fire milliarder kroner" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2008-08-19.
12. Norges Statsbaner (2008-08-19). "NSB med historisk togkjøp" (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2008-08-19.
13. Xinhua (2008-08-21). "Venezuela, Argentina begin construction of railway linking their capitals". China Daily. Retrieved 2008-08-21.