1981 in rail transport

Events

February

• February 21 – MBTA discontinues passenger train service to Rhode Island.
• February 26 – A TGV Sud-Est breaks the world record for rail speed at 380 km/h between Courcelles-Frémois and Dyé, France.

  April

• April 3 – The inaugural runs of the first 2600-series cars are made. The 2600-series, built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, had increased interior floor space and seats that fold up for wheelchairs. After completing the order, Budd retired from railcar manufacturing.
• April 26 – Amtrak and Via Rail introduce the Maple Leaf passenger train between New York City and Toronto.

  May

• May – General Motors Electro-Motive Division introduces the EMD SD50.
• May 29 – Karasuma Line open, for first time of Kyoto Municipal Subway, Kyoto, Japan.

  June

• June 6 – In the Bihar train disaster, a passenger train carrying 800 or more passengers between Mansi and Saharsa, India, derailed and plunged into the Bagmati river while it was crossing a bridge. Estimates of the death toll range from 500 to 800.

  July

• July 9 - A mudslide destroyed the Liziyida bridge near Ganluo County, Sichuan, China and moments later a train crashed into river, killing more than 200.
• July 17 – The Manchester–Sheffield–Wath Woodhead Line, carrying electric-hauled freight traffic through the Pennines in England, is closed and all British Rail Class 76 locomotives used on it are stored at Guide Bridge and Reddish before being scrapped.
• July 26
• * San Diego Trolley opens, the first "second generation" light rail system in the United States.
• * Fukuoka Airport Line opens, the first section of Fukuoka City Subway, Kyushu, Japan.

  September

• September 1 – Illinois Terminal Railroad is purchased by Norfolk and Western Railroad.
• September 15 – The John Bull becomes the oldest operable steam locomotive in the world when it is run under its own power by the Smithsonian Institution.
• September 27 – Passenger service begins on the very first TGV line, the LGV Sud-Est.

  October

• October 25 – Amtrak introduces an unnamed overnight passenger train between Los Angeles and Sacramento, California. This train is named the Spirit of California in December.

  November

• November 15 – Via Rail discontinues the Super Continental and Atlantic passenger trains.

  December

• December 11 – The Seer Green rail crash occurred near Seer Green, Buckinghamshire, England, killing a driver and three passengers.

  Unknown date

• Maine Central Railroad Company is purchased by Guilford Transportation Industries.
• Burlington Northern Railroad corporate headquarters are moved from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Seattle, Washington.
• Union Pacific 3985 is restored to operating condition, making it the largest operable steam locomotive in the world.
• William W. Stinson succeeds Fred Burbidge as president of Canadian Pacific Railway.
• The New York City Subway discontinues use of its R8A revenue car.
• The Northeast Rail Service Act of 1981 was signed into law.
• Conrail discontinues its electric operations.

  Accidents

Births

Deaths

May deaths

• May 11 - Rogers E. M. Whitaker, writer on rail travel.