2008 in rail transport

• {{flagicon|Japan}} January 16 – The Tozai Line in Kyoto is extended {{Convert|2.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} from Nijo to Uzumasa-Tenjingawa.{{cite web |author=Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau |date=October 17, 2007 |script-title=ja:地下鉄東西線二条～太秦天神川間が1月16日に延伸開業 |url=http://www.city.kyoto.jp/kotsu/news/2007/2007106.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021034000/http://www.city.kyoto.jp/kotsu/news/2007/2007106.htm |archive-date=21 October 2007 |access-date=6 November 2007 |language=ja}}

• February 27
• {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} – Official opening of Santo Domingo Metro.
• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} – National Express changes the name of the railway operating company one to National Express East Anglia as part of a company-wide rebranding exercise.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/BackIssues/Issue109HIGH.pdf|title='one' Railway to vanish as National Express begins major rebranding exercise|date=2007-11-17|access-date=2007-11-17|publisher=Railway Herald|page=Page 9|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071127221005/http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/BackIssues/Issue109HIGH.pdf |archive-date = 2007-11-27}}{{cite journal|author=Clinnick, Richard|title=NX ditches 'one' brand with East Anglian overhaul promise|journal=Rail|volume=587|date=March 12–25, 2008|pages=12–13}}

• {{flagicon|United States}} March 9 – Sprinter starts service between Oceanside and Escondido, California,{{cite news | title=Passenger train sprints into service | work=U-T San Diego | first=Michael | last=Burge | url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20080310-9999-1m10sprint.html| date=March 10, 2008 | access-date=2008-03-10}} reinstating passenger service on the Escondido branch line.
• {{flagicon|Japan}} March 15 – The Osaka Higashi Line is scheduled to open in Osaka, Japan;{{Cite web |date=17 March 2008 |title=おおさか東線が開業 |trans-title=Osaka Higashi Line opens for service |url=https://railf.jp/news/2008/03/17/150700.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129052242/https://railf.jp/news/2008/03/17/150700.html |archive-date=29 November 2023 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |language=ja}} the opening was originally scheduled for 2006, but delayed due to problems acquiring land.
• {{flagicon|UK}} March 27 – Heathrow Terminal 5 station opens in London.
• {{flagicon|Japan}} March 30 – Yokohama Municipal Subway's Green Line is opened for regular operations.{{Cite web |last=Ohno |first=Masato |date=31 March 2008 |title=地上も走るリニア式地下鉄 - ヨコハマの新たな足、横浜市営地下鉄グリーンラインが開業 |url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080331-green/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427123312/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20080331-green/ |archive-date=27 April 2022 |access-date=30 January 2024 |website=MyNavi Corporation |language=ja}}
• {{flagicon|India}} – Kolkata Metro is extended from Tollygunge station to Pranabnagar station.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

• {{flagicon|Japan}} April 1 – The Miki Railway Miki Line in Japan, which connected Yakujin Station in Kakogawa and Miki Station in Miki, is closed.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2008 |title=三木鉄道ミキ300-105が樽見鉄道へ |trans-title=Miki Railway 300-series unit 105 transferred to Tarumi Railway |url=https://railf.jp/news/2008/12/12/084600.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806141809/http://railf.jp/news/2008/12/12/084600.html |archive-date=6 August 2017 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |language=ja}}
• {{flagicon|United States}} April 26 – FrontRunner, a new commuter rail service, begins running in Utah.
• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} April 28 – Wrexham & Shropshire begin to run passenger services between London Marylebone station, the West Midlands, Shropshire and north-east Wales.{{cite journal|title=Setback for new Wrexham service|journal=Railway Magazine|volume=153|issue=1273 |page=12 |date=May 2007}}{{cite web|title=New direct rail service launches this April|publisher=Wrexham & Shropshire|url=http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/item.php?id=22&type=1|access-date=2008-04-02|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080601170010/http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/item.php?id=22&type=1 |archive-date = June 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}{{cite journal|author=Clinnick, Richard|title=40 years on – Wrexham and Shropshire takes to the rails|journal=Rail|volume=591|date=May 7–20, 2008|pages=6–7}}

File:CRH3.JPG unit for Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway]]

• {{flagicon|UK}} June 2 – An unexploded bomb from World War II is found near where the District and Hammersmith & City lines cross the Prescott Channel, not far from Bromley-by-Bow tube station, causing disruption to trains.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7432348.stm|work=BBC News|title=Wartime bomb find disrupts Tube|date=2 June 2008|access-date=27 April 2010}}
• June 2–6 – AfricaRail 2008 Conference.{{Cite web |url=http://www.terrapinn.com/2008/railza/programme.stm |title=Africa Rail 2008 - programme. |access-date=2008-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706143830/http://www.terrapinn.com/2008/railza/programme.stm |archive-date=2008-07-06 |url-status=dead }}
• {{flagicon|Japan}} June 14 – Opening of the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Subway Line between Shibuya and Ikebukuro ({{Convert|8.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}).{{Cite web |date=27 March 2008 |title=副都心線・有楽町線のダイヤが決定！ |trans-title=Fukutoshin Line and Yurakucho Line timetables have been decided! |url=http://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2008/2008-17.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718015046/http://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2008/2008-17.html |archive-date=18 July 2017 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=tokyometro.jp |language=ja}}

• {{flagicon|Venezuela}}{{flagicon|Colombia}}{{flagicon|Ecuador}} July 5 – Meeting between Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador regarding a proposed rail link for freight and passengers between the three countries, also connecting the Pacific with the Atlantic.

• August 1
• {{flagicon|China}} – China officially opens the Beijing–Tianjin intercity railway line, the first in the world regularly to host trains traveling up to {{convert|350|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{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|access-date=2008-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802004836/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7536576.stm|archive-date=2 August 2008|url-status=live}}{{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|access-date=2008-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806030605/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/01/content_8888638.htm|archive-date=2008-08-06|url-status=dead}}{{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|access-date=2008-08-01|location=London}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} – LNER-design Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado makes first official move under its own steam, the first main line steam locomotive built in Britain since 1960.{{cite web|url=http://www.a1steam.com|title=A1 Steam Locomotive Trust|access-date=2008-08-27}}

File:60163 Tornado 1.jpg, August 2008]]

• {{flagicon|Japan}} October 19 – The Nakanoshima Line operated by Keihan Railway opens for service between Nakanoshima and Temmabashi in Osaka, Japan.{{Cite web |date=31 October 2008 |title=京阪中之島線が開業 |trans-title=Keihan Nakanoshima Line opens |url=https://railf.jp/news/2008/10/19/165800.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121114223/https://railf.jp/news/2008/10/19/165800.html |archive-date=21 January 2022 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |language=ja}}

• {{flagicon|United States}} November – Voter approval of Measure M in Los Angeles County, California, commits additional tax dollars to transit projects.

• {{flagicon|United States}} December 27 – The first section of the new Valley Metro Rail system, part of Valley Metro in Phoenix, Arizona, opened.Associated Press (reprinted by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, February 16, 2005), [http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=12827 Phoenix begins work on light rail] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050514192812/http://www.ble.org/pr/news/headline.asp?id=12827 |date=2005-05-14 }}. Retrieved February 16, 2005.{{cite web| url=http://www.valleymetro.org/Rail/projectschedule/index.htm| title=Construction schedule| author=Valley Metro| access-date=2006-09-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060923225613/http://www.valleymetro.org/Rail/projectschedule/index.htm |archive-date = 2006-09-23}}{{cite news | first=Sean | last=Holstege | title=Plan has light rail on track | date=2006-06-30 | url =http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0630railsked0630.html | work =Arizona Republic | access-date = 2008-02-26 }}

• {{flagicon|China}} – The project to rebuild and upgrade Guiyang Southern Station to more than double its capacity is expected to be completed.CRI Online (December 28, 2005), [http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/855/2005/12/29/501@39792.htm Building of Railway Hub in SW China Started]. Retrieved December 29, 2005. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117202308/http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/855/2005/12/29/501%4039792.htm |date=January 17, 2006 }}

{{Multiple issues|section=yes|

{{update section|date=October 2020}}

{{More citations needed|section|date=October 2020}}

}}

• {{flagicon|India}} – Indian Railways expects to complete the conversion of its electrified section in Mumbai from a 1,500 volt DC system to 25,000 volts AC; this will make the Mumbai section's electrification consistent with the rest of Indian Railways' network.
• {{flagicon|Vietnam}} – Vietnam expects to complete construction on the Hanoi–Lào Cai railway line upgrade.Xinhua (September 25, 2005), [https://web.archive.org/web/20110514133732/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-09/25/content_3542906.htm France to fund Vietnam in upgrading busiest railway route]. Retrieved September 27, 2005.
• {{flagicon|Russia}} – The city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, will begin construction of a new intercity light railway beginning with a {{convert|26.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} section between Baltiyskaya Zhemchuzhina and the Obukhovo{{Ambiguous|date=October 2020}} metro station.{{cite news| publisher=ITAR-TASS|url=http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11311063&PageNum=0| title=Construction of intercity light railway to begin in St Pete in 2008|date=2007-03-06| access-date=2007-03-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930205824/http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11311063&PageNum=0 |archive-date = September 30, 2007|url-status=dead}}

• {{Flagicon|China}} April 28 – 2008 Shandong train collision: Sixty-six people are killed and almost 250 injured when a passenger train from Beijing careers off the rails and slams into another train in eastern China. The rail accident, the worst in China in more than a decade, happens near the city of Zibo in Shandong province.
• {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} August 8 – 2008 Studénka train wreck: A EuroCity train en route to Prague strikes a part of a motorway bridge that has fallen onto the track near Studénka station and derails, killing 8 people and injuring 64 others.
• {{flagicon|United States}} September 12 – 2008 Chatsworth train collision: A Metrolink commuter train, having passed a signal at danger, collides head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles, killing 25 and injuring 130.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/13/train.collision/|title=Human error led to fatal train collision, spokeswoman says| work=CNN| access-date=2010-04-22|date=2008-09-14}}

{{2008 railway accidents|state=uncollapsed}}

• March 16 – John Shedd Reed, president of Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway 1967-1986 (born 1917).{{cite news|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8600351|title=John Shedd Reed, rail executive|work=San Jose Mercury News|agency=Associated Press|date=2008-03-17|access-date=2008-03-17}}{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/obituaries/chi-hed-shedd-reed-17mar17,0,6634355.story|title=John Shedd Reed, 1917 - 2008|publisher=Chicago Tribune|author=Shah, Tina|date=2008-03-17|access-date=2008-03-17}}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

; Awards presented by the Japan Railfan Club

• 2008 Blue Ribbon Award: JR Central & JR West N700 Series Shinkansen
• 2008 Laurel Prize: JR East/Sendai Airport Transit E721 series/SAT721 EMU and JR East KiHa E200 DMU

{{reflist}}