February 2005 in rail transport

February 1 – February 5

February 6 – February 12

  • February 9 - BNSF Railway announces that it has begun planning for the construction of a new intermodal container transload facility near the port of Los Angeles, California. 1

February 13 – February 19

  • February 15
    • - Construction begins on the first light rail commuter line in Phoenix, Arizona; it is scheduled to open in December 2008. 2

    • - Juan Manuel Alvarez enters a plea of not guilty at his arraignment hearing for his involvement in the Glendale train crash. 3

    • - The city of Washington, DC, enacts legislation that bans railroads from transporting hazardous materials through the city. 4

February 20 – February 26

  • February 25 - Bombardier is awarded a contract to build 361 passenger cars for a new Chinese rail line to Lhasa, Tibet; due to the destination's altitude the cars will include special UV-filtering glass and a unique oxygen enriching system. 5

  • February 26 - Ground is broken for a new light rail commuter service in Charlotte, North Carolina. 6

February 27 – February 28

Deaths

  • February 12 - Vernon L. Smith, mechanical engineer for Lima Locomotive Works in the 1930s, superintendent of motive power for the Belt Railway of Chicago in the 1970s, and noted railroad author (b. 1912).

References