August 2006 in rail transport

2005, 2006, 2007

This article lists events related to rail transport that occurred in August 2006.

[edit] Events

- Daqin Railway's IPO, the second largest IPO on Chinese domestic markets, closes with share prices ending the day at RMB5.52, just over 11½% above the initial price. Daqin Railway operates China's largest coal hauling line.^[1]

- The power car of the first RUS 250/330 high speed trainset built by Siemens AG is delivered in a ceremony at Saint Petersburg, Russia. A total of six 10-car trains are being built by Siemens for use between Saint Petersburg and Moscow; in service, the trains are expected to reach speeds up to 250 km/h (155 mph) and are designed for speeds as fast as 300 km/h (186 mph). Although current trackage between the two cities could not currently support such speeds, a Russian Siemens official stated that construction is underway to upgrade existing track and build new track.^[2]

- A westbound freight train on the Trans-Siberian Railway derails at 2:50 AM local time near Dalnerechensk, damaging 32 empty tank cars, about 50 m (164 ft) of track, and an electrical power line. No injuries are reported in the accident and repair crews are able to reopen the line for traffic by August 7.^[3]^[4]

- Officials in China announce plans to extend the Qingzang railway beyond Lhasa to Tibet's second-largest city, Xigaze, which would add another 170 miles (270 km) of track to the already controversial line. Chinese officials anticipate the extension to be completed in 2009.^[5]

- The Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant completes construction of the first Class 2ES4K electric locomotive. The locomotive is the first DC electric freight locomotive produced in Russia and is expected to be used by JSC Russian Railways.^[6]

- As part of the the bicentennial anniversary celebrations commemorating Isambard Kingdom Brunel's birth (which occurred on April 9, 1806), GWR 6024 King Edward I leads a special passenger train from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads railway station. The special train was commissioned by the Institution of Civil Engineers using former Great Western Railway; the locomotive wore a special nameplate on the front of its smokebox bearing the name Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the trip.^[7]

- A passenger train from Mansoura runs past a signal and crashes into a stopped passenger train in Qalyoub, Egypt, killing 57 and injuring 128 more. Four passenger cars derailed in the accident which closed the line in the country's Nile Delta region. The train was estimated as travelling at more than 50 mph (80 km/h) at the time of the collision.^[8] In the wake of the accident, Egyptian Railways director Hanafi Abdel Qawi is dismissed.^[9]

- Amtrak announces the selection of Alexander Kummant to become president and CEO of the company effective September 12 to succeed David L. Gunn. David Hughes, who had stepped in as interim president, will step down from that position but will remain with the company. Before Amtrak, Kummant had served as a vice president for Komatsu America Corporation and as a Regional Vice President for Union Pacific Railroad.^[10]^[11]