August 2008 in rail transport

Events

August 1 - August 2

;August 1:* flagicon|China – Officials in China hold two opening ceremonies, one in Beijing and another in Tianjin, to officially open the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway line. The opening makes the new line the first in the world to regularly host trains traveling up to convert|350|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on. The first regular service train departed Beijing South Station at 10:40 AM local time, while another train left Tianjin at 10:42 AM. [cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7536576.stm| title=China launches high-speed train| work=BBC News| date=2008-08-01| accessdate=2008-08-01| ] [cite news| url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/01/content_8888638.htm| title=China opens Beijing-Tianjin railway one week ahead of Olympics| work=Xinhua| date=2008-08-01| accessdate=2008-08-01| ] [cite news| url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/china/article4442873.ece| title=China inaugurates 220mph fastest rail service in world in time for Olympics| work=Times Online| author=Fletcher, Hannah| date=2008-08-01| accessdate=2008-08-01| ] :* flagicon|United Kingdom – 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. [cite web|url=http://www.a1steam.com|title=A1 Steam Locomotive Trust|accessdate=2008-08-27]

August 3 - August 9

;August 8:* flagicon|Czech Republic – A EuroCity train, traveling at convert|134|km/h|abbr=on|lk=on 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. [cite news| url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26086768| title=10 killed in train crash in Czech Republic| author=Associated Press| work=MSNBC| date=2008-08-08| accessdate=2008-08-21| ] [cite news| url=http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0808/czech.html| title=10 dead in Czech rail crash| work=RTÉ News| date=2008-08-08| accessdate=2008-08-21| ]

August 10 - August 16

;August 13:* flagicon|USA – 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 convert|1500|ft|adj=on|lk=on 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. [cite news| url=http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--oldtraintunnel0814aug14,0,3989868.story| title=Part of early NY railroad tunnel unearthed upstate| date=2008-08-14| accessdate=2008-08-21| ]

August 17 - August 23

;August 17:* flagicon|China – 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. [cite news| url=http://english.cri.cn/2946/2008/08/17/1221s395297.htm| title=E. China Maglev Project to Start in 2010| work=CRI| author=Xinhua| date=2008-08-17| accessdate=2008-08-19| ] [cite news| url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2008-08/18/content_6945773.htm| title=Maglev project to begin construction in 2010| work=China Daily| author=Xinhua| date=2008-08-18| accessdate=2008-08-19| ]

;August 19:* flagicon|Norway – 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. [cite web |url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/hordaland/1.6182670 |title=Nye tog til fire milliarder kroner |author=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-08-19 |accessdate=2008-08-19 |language=Norwegain] [cite web |url=https://www.nsb.no/om_nsb/aktuelt/article29964-2707.html |title=NSB med historisk togkjøp |author=Norges Statsbaner |date=2008-08-19 |accessdate=2008-08-19 |language=Norwegain]

;August 20:* flagicon|Venezuela – 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. [cite news| url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/21/content_9565433.htm| author=Xinhua| title=Venezuela, Argentina begin construction of railway linking their capitals| work=China Daily| date=2008-08-21| accessdate=2008-08-21| ]

August 24 - August 31

References