that it will build new locomotives for HSBC Rail; the locomotives will be leased by CargoNet for use in Norway north of the Arctic Circle and are expected to enter service after February 2003. July 26 – The German manufacturer of rail equipment, Vossloh, announces the acquisition of the French company Cogifer. July 30 – The Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad takes over operations from the defunct I&M Rail Link in the north central United States. August events August 1 – Deutsche Bahn opens the high-speed line between Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany. September events October events October 11 – The prototype AVE Class 102 train (later used by track authority ADIF as test train Class 330) reaches speeds of during test runs. October 31 – BC Rail operates the last run of the Cariboo Prospector passenger train between Prince George and North Vancouver (city), British Columbia. November events November 22 – The Toronto Transit Commission opens the Sheppard Subway, connecting the Sheppard-Yonge and Don Mills stations. November 23 – Expansion opens at Fremont-Centerville (Amtrak station). December events December National Express hands back its M>Train, M>Tram and V/Line public transport franchises in Victoria, Australia to the Government of Victoria due to financial instability. The Tōhoku Shinkansen in Japan is extended from Morioka to Hachinohe. December 7 – First section of Porto Metro opens in Portugal. December 10 – Inauguration of Belgian High Speed Line 2 (HSL 2 – Leuven<>Ans) by Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant. December 15 – All first-class cars on the TGV become non-smoking cars. December 24 – First line of the Delhi Metro is inaugurated in India. December 27 – The first X'Trapolis train enters service with Connex Melbourne, Australia. Unknown date events Completion of 360 km of dual gauge track on Bangladesh Railway, improving connections between the previously isolated east and west networks and giving 1676 mm gauge access to Dhaka, the capital. Accidents January 18 – The Minot train derailment occurred in Minot, North Dakota on when a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train derailed, spilling hazardous materials. February 6 – Charlotte's Dale train crash: collision of a commuter and a freight train near Durban in South Africa kills 24 people. February 20 – Al Ayyat train disaster at Reqa Al-Gharbiya in Egypt: a fire on a train running from Cairo to Luxor kills at least 383 and injures over 65. February 27 – Godhra train burning: