November 2008 in rail transport

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

Events

November 3

• – Logistec announces that it has purchased the Sydney Coal Railway (SCR) to haul coal from the pier in Sydney Harbor to the Lingan Generating Station of Nova Scotia Power. The purchase was made for $11 million in cash plus an additional payment to be determined once the 2008 financial statements are submitted in Spring 2009. Logistec purchased SCR from Quebec Railway Corporation, a company in which Logistec owns a 16% share.^[1][2]
• – Canadian National Railway (CN) announces the purchase of New Brunswick East Coast Railway (NBEC) and its sister companies Chemin de fer de la Matapédia et du Golfe (CFMG), Compagnie de gestion de Matane (COGEMA), and the Ottawa Central Railway (OCRR) for $49.8 million from the Quebec Railway Corporation. The CN announcement indicates that the reacquired rail lines will be integrated back into the CN network with no significant changes, other than introducing CN locomotives and rolling stock to train operations. CN also mentioned investing significant capital upgrades in the rail network for outstanding maintenance.^[3][4]

November 4

• – The Ministry of Transportation of Nigeria notifies China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation, that it must stop all construction work on a new double track line in Nigeria, claiming that the line is now under the ownership of the Ministry. The 1,315-kilometre (817 mi) line would connect Lagos and Kano, allowing train speeds up to 150 km/h (93 mph).^[5][6]

November 8

• – Construction work of the Jinqin Passenger Railway begins in China. The 261 km (162 mi) long railway will connect Tianjin and Qinhuangdao, with a design speed of 350 km/h (220 mph), and is expected to be completed in 4 years. This railway is estimated to cost 33.8 billion yuan, and 67.6% of rail tracks along the line will be laid on bridges or in tunnels.^[7]

November 9

• – Construction work of the Nanguang Railway begins in China. The 577 km (359 mi) long railway will connect Nanning and Guangzhou, with a design speed of above 200 km/h (120 mph), and is expected to be completed in 4½ years. 23 stations will be constructed along the line, and 54.2% of rail tracks along the line will be laid on bridges or in tunnels.^[8]
• – Louis Theophiel Duerinck, Senior Vice President of Law and Real Estate for Chicago and North Western Railway who led a 10-year litigation against Burlington Northern Railroad for trackage rights into Wyoming's Powder River Basin, dies. (born 1929)^[9]

November 10

• – A new stop named "Kitseküla" is opened on the Elektriraudtee's eastern route in Tallinn midtown.^[10]

November 14

• – Amtrak president and CEO Alexander Kummant submits his resignation after just two years in the position. Some inside sources indicate that Kummant did not in fact resign voluntarily, but was made to quit because of a dispute with the board of directors about debt restructuring. Amtrak COO, William Crosbie will assume the role of interim CEO.^[11][12][13]

November 25

• – Amtrak's Board of Directors names Joseph H. Boardman, the current United States Federal Railroad Administrator as the replacement for outgoing Amtrak president Alexander Kummant. Boardman will serve a one-year term at Amtrak while the railroad continues a more thorough search for a permanent replacement. In accepting the appointment, Boardman stated "Over the past decade, in one capacity or another, I have been an active participant in the affairs of Amtrak. I have come to know the company, the culture, a number of employees, and I am keenly aware of the challenges facing us right now."^[14][15]

November 26

• – In the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Islamic terrorist gunmen target Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, India, killing 58 people.

November 28

• – Rail service across the border between North and South Korea is halted due to deteriorating relations between the two nations a year after it was restarted. The latest closure was initiated by the North Korean government. Although the service was often operated nearly empty based on a lack of demand for freight service, the connection was seen as a symbol of ongoing reunification efforts by both nations.^[16][17]
• – Guy Houston, Chief Financial Officer for Transport Scotland, resigns from his position following an audit report that was critical of the company's operations from an independent agency. The report suggested a conflict of interest because he held stock in FirstGroup, Transport Scotland's parent company, and had sat in on meetings where extension of ScotRail was discussed. Although Transport Scotland's chief executive considered the stock ownership and attendance at the meetings acceptable, labour representatives and union spokespeople were not sympathetic.^[18]

References