View source for 2012 in rail transport

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{{update|date=November 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2011}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Year in rail transport|Rail transport 2012|prev=2011|curr=2012|next=2013|decade=2010}}

== Events ==

===January===
* {{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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===February===
* {{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 – [[2012 Buenos Aires rail disaster|Buenos Aires rail disaster]]: A buffer stop collision at [[Once railway station]] kills 51.

===March===
* {{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.

===April===
* 1 April 
** {{Flagicon|Japan}} The [[Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line]] is abolished, ending 89 years of service between [[Misawa Station|Misawa]] and [[Towadashi Station|Towadashi]] Stations in [[Aomori Prefecture]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
** {{Flagicon|Japan}} The Yashiro Line on the [[Nagano Electric Railway]] is abolished in Nagano Prefecture after 89 years of operation.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{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 [[San Francisco 4th and King Street station|4th & King]] (close to [[AT&T Park]]) to Downtown [[San Francisco]]'s [[Transbay Terminal|Transbay Transit Center]] and be used by [[California High-Speed Rail]] as its terminal.<ref>{{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}}</ref> {{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 train]]s.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
** {{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, California|Santa Monica]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
** {{flagicon|China}} – [[Suzhou Metro]] opens.
* {{flagicon|United States}} 30 April – [[Oakton-Skokie (CTA station)|Oakton-Skokie]] station on the Chicago Transit Authority's Yellow Line opens.

===May===
* {{flagicon|Estonia}}{{flagicon|Russia}} 27 May – [[GoRail]] starts operating on [[Tallinn]]–[[Saint Petersburg]] line after a four-year hiatus.<ref name=gorail>{{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=[[Eesti Rahvusringhääling|ERR]]|date=27 May 2012|language=Estonian}}</ref>

===June===
* {{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 tram stop|Oldham Mumps]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|United States}} 15 June – The [[SacRT light rail]] [[Green Line (SacRT)|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name=lrta2012>{{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}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|China}} 28 June – [[Kunming Metro]] opens.

===July===
* {{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 (Miami)|Metrorail]], extending service to [[Miami International Airport]] via the [[Miami Intermodal Center]]<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===August===
* {{flagicon|Canada}} 27 August – Construction is completed on the north east extension of [[Calgary]] Alberta's [[Light rail in North America|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.

===September===
* {{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.<ref name="track town">{{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}}</ref> 
* {{flagicon|China}} 28 September – Phase 1 of [[Chongqing Rail Transit]]'s [[Line 6, Chongqing Rail Transit|Line 6]], connecting [[Wulidian Station|Wulidian]] to [[Kangzhuang Station|Kangzhuang]], opens.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

===October===
* 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]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|United States}} 8 October – Seattle's [[Sounder commuter rail]] south line extension to South Tacoma and Lakewood opens.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|South Korea}}27 October – In [[Seoul]], [[Seoul Subway Line 7|Line 7]] of the [[Seoul Metropolitan Subway]] is extended from [[Onsu station|Onsu]] to [[Bupyeong-gu Office station|Bupyeong-gu Office]] ({{Convert|10.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}).<ref name=":0222">{{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}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Tanzania}} 29 October – [[Dar es Salaam commuter rail]] service commences.<ref>{{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 (Tanzania)|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}}</ref>

===November===
* {{flagicon|China}} 24 November – [[Hangzhou Metro]] Line 3 opens.

===December===
* {{flagicon|China}} 1 December – The [[Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway]] opens for service.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} 3 December – [[Dallas Area Rapid Transit]] opens extensions on two lines: the [[Orange Line (DART)|Orange Line]] carrying passengers to Belt Line,<ref name="dallasnews.com">{{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}} </ref> and the [[Blue Line (DART)|Blue Line]] extension to the Downtown Rowlett Station.<ref name="dallasnews.com"/>
* 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, Utah|Provo]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{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 and Crompton tram stop|Shaw & Crompton]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>
* {{Flagicon|France}} 18 December – [[Paris Métro Line 12]] is extended from [[Porte de la Chapelle station|Porte de la Chapelle]] to [[Front Populaire station|Front Populaire]].
* {{flagicon|Nigeria}} 21 December – Inauguration of the reopened [[Nigerian Railway Corporation]]'s [[Lagos]]–[[Kano (city)|Kano]] railway line in [[Nigeria]], rebuilt by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and Costain West Africa.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
* {{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]].<ref name=xinxi20121121>{{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 }}</ref><ref name=scmp1226>{{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}}</ref>

== Deaths ==
* 18 March – [[Alan Pegler]], British railway preservationist, dies (b. 1920).
* 22 July – [[Ding Guangen]], [[Ministry of Railways (China)|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).

== Industry awards ==

=== Japan ===
; Awards presented by the Japan Railfan Club
* 2012 [[Blue Ribbon Award (railway)|Blue Ribbon Award]]: [[JR East]] [[E5 Series Shinkansen]] EMU
* 2012 [[Laurel Prize]]: [[JR Freight]] [[JR Freight Class HD300|Class HD300-900]] hybrid locomotive

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== See also ==
* [[List of rail accidents (2010–2019)]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:2012 in Rail Transport}}
[[Category:2012 in rail transport| ]]