2012 in rail transport

• {{flagicon|China}} 9 January – Shenyang Metro Line 2 opened.
• {{flagicon|Singapore}} 14 January – The Marina Bay Extension of the Circle MRT line in Singapore opens for service.{{cite web|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1168024/1/.html|title=Bayfront, Marina Bay stations on CCL to begin soon|first=Hetty|last=Musfirah|work=channelnewsasia.com|date=28 November 2011|accessdate=2 January 2013|archive-date=15 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215092911/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1168024/1/.html|url-status=dead}}

• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 4 February – National Express East Anglia's passenger service franchise expires; from the following day services are taken over by Abellio Greater Anglia.
• {{flagicon|Argentina}} 22 February – Buenos Aires rail disaster: A buffer stop collision at Once railway station kills 51.

• {{flagicon|Poland}} 3 March – Szczekociny rail crash: A head-on collision in Poland kills 16.
• {{flagicon|United States}} 25 March – The North Shore Connector extension of the Pittsburgh Light Rail system opens.

• 1 April
• {{Flagicon|Japan}} The Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line is abolished, ending 89 years of service between Misawa and Towadashi Stations in Aomori Prefecture.{{cite news |date=April 1, 2012 |title=十和田観光電鉄線：惜別 歴史刻み廃止 運行８９年、三沢駅で式典 ／青森 |trans-title=Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line: Ending of services after 89 years, ceremony at Misawa Station / Aomori |url=http://mainichi.jp/area/aomori/news/20120401ddlk02040037000c.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403185418/http://mainichi.jp/area/aomori/news/20120401ddlk02040037000c.html |archivedate=April 3, 2012 |accessdate=April 1, 2012 |newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun |language=Japanese}}
• {{Flagicon|Japan}} The Yashiro Line on the Nagano Electric Railway is abolished in Nagano Prefecture after 89 years of operation.{{cite web |date=2 April 2012 |script-title=ja:長野電鉄屋代線が廃止される |trans-title=Nagano Electric Railway Yashiro Line Closes |url=http://railf.jp/news/2012/04/02/143100.html |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate=5 April 2012 |work=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |language=Japanese |location=Japan}}
• {{flagicon|United States}} 13 April – The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (San Francisco Bay Area) grants the Downtown San Francisco Extension top priority for federal funding. This would extend the Caltrain line {{convert|1.3|mi|km}} from the current terminus at 4th & King (close to AT&T Park) to Downtown San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center and be used by California High-Speed Rail as its terminal.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/15/BAIA1O2L17.DTL|title=Caltrain downtown extension gets top billing for top dollar|last=Cabanatuan|first=Michael|date=16 April 2012|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=2 January 2013}} {{As of|2020}} the extension does not have a planned completion.
• {{flagicon|United States}} 23 April – Boston's MBTA Commuter Rail Providence/Stoughton Line extension to Wickford Junction (MBTA station) opens.
• 28 April
• {{flagicon|Italy}} – Open-access operator Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori begins operation of its .italo high-speed trains.{{cite news|title=Italo supera il muro dei 2 milioni di passeggeri nel 2012|url=http://www.ntvspa.it/it/ntv/pagine/1403/-Italo-supera-il-muro-dei-2-milioni-di-passeggeri-nel-2012.html|access-date=2013-02-21|work=ntvspa.it|date=2013-01-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330182706/http://www.ntvspa.it/it/ntv/pagine/1403/-Italo-supera-il-muro-dei-2-milioni-di-passeggeri-nel-2012.html|archive-date=2013-03-30}}
• {{flagicon|United States}} – The first phase of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Expo Line opens for service. The line runs from downtown LA to Culver City. The next phase of the project will extend the line to Santa Monica.{{cite magazine|last=Hymon|first=Steve|title=More on the Expo Line opening|url=http://thesource.metro.net/2012/03/23/more-on-the-expo-line-opening/|magazine=The Source|accessdate=23 March 2012}}
• {{flagicon|China}} – Suzhou Metro opens.
• {{flagicon|United States}} 30 April – Oakton-Skokie station on the Chicago Transit Authority's Yellow Line opens.

• {{flagicon|Estonia}}{{flagicon|Russia}} 27 May – GoRail starts operating on Tallinn–Saint Petersburg line after a four-year hiatus.{{cite news|last=Kuul|first=Marek|title=Gorail taasavas Tallinna-Peterburi rongiliini|url=http://uudised.err.ee/index.php?06253772|accessdate=27 May 2012|newspaper=ERR|date=27 May 2012|language=Estonian}}

• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 13 June – The Manchester Metrolink light rail system opens the first phase of its Oldham & Rochdale Line over the former Oldham Loop Line to a temporary terminus at Oldham Mumps.{{cite web|url=http://www.tfgm.com/tfgm_news.cfm?news_id=9009280?submenuheader=4 |title=Metrolink line to Oldham opens today |date=13 June 2012 |accessdate=2 January 2013 |publisher=Transport for Greater Manchester }} {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{flagicon|United States}} 15 June – The SacRT light rail Green Line Phase 1 to River District opens. A future extension is planned to extend this line to the Sacramento International Airport but is not expected to be completed until sometime during the 2020s.{{cite web|title=Green Line to the River District|url=http://www.sacrt.com/dna/mos-1/default.html|publisher=Sacramento Regional Transit District|accessdate=25 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229131156/http://www.sacrt.com/dna/mos-1/default.html|archive-date=29 February 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Sacramento Green Line Open|date=16 June 2012|publisher=Light Rail Transit Association|url=http://www.lrta.org/news/12/news1211.html|accessdate=19 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307053458/http://www.lrta.org/news/12/news1211.html|archive-date=7 March 2016|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|China}} 28 June – Kunming Metro opens.

• {{flagicon|China}} 1 July – Tianjin Metro Line 2 opens.
• {{flagicon|United States}} 28 July – Construction was completed and service commencing on the AirportLink line of the Miami Metrorail, extending service to Miami International Airport via the Miami Intermodal Center{{cite web| author=Miami-Dade Transit| author-link=Miami-Dade Transit| url=http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/improve_airport_schedule.asp| title=AirportLink Schedule| accessdate=16 June 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141445/http://www.miamidade.gov/transit/improve_airport_schedule.asp| archive-date=11 June 2011| url-status=dead| df=dmy-all}}

• {{flagicon|Canada}} 27 August – Construction is completed on the north east extension of Calgary Alberta's light rail transit system, the C-Train. The extension has added 2 new stations in northeast Calgary at Martindale and Saddletowne, adding several kilometers of track to the system.
• {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} 31 August – Sofia Metro Line 2 begins service.

• {{flagicon|China}} 16 September – Chengdu Metro Line 2 opens.
• {{flagicon|United States}} 22 September – The 2001-opened Portland Streetcar system, in Portland, Oregon, inaugurates service on a second line, the "Central Loop" (or CL Line), serving the central east side.{{cite news|last=Redden|first=Jim|title=Track Town heads east: Streetcar's new eastside loop already spurring development|newspaper=Portland Tribune|date=20 September 2012|url=http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/115470-track-town-heads-east|accessdate=14 August 2013|archive-date=1 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801190552/https://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/115470-track-town-heads-east|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|China}} 28 September – Phase 1 of Chongqing Rail Transit's Line 6, connecting Wulidian to Kangzhuang, opens.{{cite web | url=http://english.cqnews.net/html/2012-09/28/content_20108409.htm | title=Part of Light Rail Line 6 opens | accessdate=30 September 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217082453/http://english.cqnews.net/html/2012-09/28/content_20108409.htm | archive-date=17 December 2013 | url-status=dead}}

• 1 October
• {{flagicon|China}} Tianjin Metro Line 3 opens.
• {{flagicon|Montenegro}} The Nikšić–Podgorica railway reopens to passengers after reconstruction and electrification.
• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 3 October – The UK Department for Transport announces cancellation and rerunning of the InterCity West Coast passenger service franchise bidding process after discovering significant technical flaws in its assessment, reversing an August decision to award it to FirstGroup and following challenges by incumbent operator Virgin Trains.{{cite press release|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/news/press-releases/dft-press-20121003a|title=West Coast Main Line franchise competition cancelled|date=3 October 2012|publisher=Department for Transport|accessdate=2 January 2013}}
• {{flagicon|United States}} 8 October – Seattle's Sounder commuter rail south line extension to South Tacoma and Lakewood opens.{{cite news|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019363197_sounder07m.html|title=Lakewood area celebrates arrival of Sounder service|newspaper=Seattle Times|first=Sandi|author-link=Sandi Doughton|last=Doughton|date=6 October 2012|accessdate=6 December 2012|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520121715/http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019363197_sounder07m.html|archivedate=20 May 2013}}
• {{Flagicon|South Korea}}27 October – In Seoul, Line 7 of the Seoul Metropolitan Subway is extended from Onsu to Bupyeong-gu Office ({{Convert|10.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}).{{Cite web |title=개요 및 연혁 |trans-title=Overview and History |url=http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/kr/page.do?menuIdx=512 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205120552/http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/kr/page.do?menuIdx=512 |archive-date=5 February 2024 |access-date=12 July 2024 |website=seoulmetro.co.kr |language=ko}}
• {{flagicon|Tanzania}} 29 October – Dar es Salaam commuter rail service commences.{{cite news|last=Masha|first=Marycelina|date=2012-10-29|title=Dar commuter trains easing transport nightmares|url=http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/features/popular-features/17508-dar-es-salaam-commuter-trains-easing-transport-nightmares-helping-shape-passenger-dignity|newspaper=Daily News|location=Tanzania|accessdate=2022-07-23|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204231951/http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/features/popular-features/17508-dar-es-salaam-commuter-trains-easing-transport-nightmares-helping-shape-passenger-dignity|archivedate=2013-12-04}}

• {{flagicon|China}} 24 November – Hangzhou Metro Line 3 opens.

• {{flagicon|China}} 1 December – The Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway opens for service.{{cite news|title=World's fastest railway in frigid regions starts operation|newspaper=English.news.cn|date=1 December 2012|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-12/01/c_132011647.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204035906/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/sci/2012-12/01/c_132011647.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 December 2012|accessdate=1 December 2012}}
• {{flagicon|USA}} 3 December – Dallas Area Rapid Transit opens extensions on two lines: the Orange Line carrying passengers to Belt Line,{{cite web| url = http://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/20121203-dart-blue-line-launches-long-awaited-rail-service-in-rowlett.ece| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130921060520/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/transportation/20121203-dart-blue-line-launches-long-awaited-rail-service-in-rowlett.ece| archive-date = 2013-09-21| title = Big day for DART as routes are extended to Rowlett, D/FW Airport {{!}} Dallasnews.com - News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News}} and the Blue Line extension to the Downtown Rowlett Station.
• 10 December
• {{flagicon|Canada}} – Opening of West Line of the Calgary C-Train, the system's first new line in 25 years.
• {{flagicon|United States}} – Utah Transit Authority's FrontRunner extends service south from Salt Lake City to Provo.{{cite news |last1=Lee Davidson |first1=Lee Davidson |title=FrontRunner debut turns a bit bumpy |url=https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=55445259&itype=CMSID |accessdate=6 October 2020 |agency=Salt Lake Tribune |date=11 December 2012}}
• {{flagicon|France}} 15 December – Automation of Paris Métro Line 1 reaches 100%. This is the second automated line after Line 14.
• {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} 16 December – The Manchester Metrolink light rail system extends its Oldham & Rochdale Line to Shaw & Crompton.{{cite news|last=Kirby |first=Dean |title=Shaw and Crompton Metrolink trams start this Sunday |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1595998_shaw-and-crompton-metrolink-trams-start-this-sunday |accessdate=2 January 2013 |newspaper=Manchester Evening News |date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215171525/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1595998_shaw-and-crompton-metrolink-trams-start-this-sunday |archivedate=15 December 2012 }}
• {{Flagicon|France}} 18 December – Paris Métro Line 12 is extended from Porte de la Chapelle to Front Populaire.
• {{flagicon|Nigeria}} 21 December – Inauguration of the reopened Nigerian Railway Corporation's Lagos–Kano railway line in Nigeria, rebuilt by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Costain West Africa.{{cite web|title=Nigeria railroad project connects 2 major cities|first=Yinka|last=Ibukun|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nigeria-railroad-project-connects-2-major-cities|work=The Big Story|publisher=Associated Press|date=22 December 2012|accessdate=16 February 2013|archive-date=29 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121229133257/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/nigeria-railroad-project-connects-2-major-cities|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Nigeria reopened railway tracks connecting Lagos to Kano|url=http://www.nileinternational.net/full_story.php?ID=70353|publisher=Nile TV International|date=23 December 2012|accessdate=16 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304151207/http://www.nileinternational.net/full_story.php?ID=70353|archive-date=4 March 2014|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|China}} 26 December – The Beijing-Zhengzhou section of the Beijing–Guangzhou–Shenzhen–Hong Kong High-Speed Railway is scheduled to open, completing the HSR connection from Beijing to Guangzhou and Shenzhen.{{cite news|url=http://news.huochepiao.com/2012-11/201211218210211.htm |title=京广高铁拟12月下旬开通届时广州直达北京最快约8小时，二等座票价估计近千元 |trans-title=Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway to be opened in late December |date=21 November 2011 |accessdate=6 December 2012 |publisher=Xinxi Shibao (信息时报) |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106151840/http://news.huochepiao.com/2012-11/201211218210211.htm |archivedate=6 January 2014 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1105721/beijing-guangzhou-high-speed-line-open-december-26 |title=Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed line to open on 26 December| first=Stephen| last=Chen|date=15 December 2012|accessdate=18 December 2012|newspaper=South China Morning Post}}

• 18 March – Alan Pegler, British railway preservationist, dies (b. 1920).
• 22 July – Ding Guangen, Minister of Railways for China 1985–1988, dies (b. 1929).
• 5 August – Benjamin W. Heineman, president of Chicago and North Western Railway 1956–1972, dies (b. 1914).
• 4 October – Bernard Holden, president of Bluebell Railway, dies (b. 1908).

; Awards presented by the Japan Railfan Club

• 2012 Blue Ribbon Award: JR East E5 Series Shinkansen EMU
• 2012 Laurel Prize: JR Freight Class HD300-900 hybrid locomotive

{{Reflist}}

• List of rail accidents (2010–2019)

{{DEFAULTSORT:2012 in Rail Transport}}