Finding the unexpected in the everyday.
More than a half-century after establishing a record for walking around the world, Dumitru Dan died in the city of Buzău in his native Romania at the age of 88. His path to international fame began in 1908 while he was a student in Paris. The Touring club de France initiated a contest for circumnavigating... Continue Reading →
A French crew of 14 sailors on board the vessel Banque Populaire V began an ambitious round-the-world voyage. The voyage was undertaken to win the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by a yacht. Starting in 1993, the Jules Verne Trophy – named for the acclaimed French writer whose works included... Continue Reading →
The Agra Lucknow Expressway made its official debut in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India less than two years after construction on this route had begun. The new highway was officially opened by Akhilesh Yadav, chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. This six-lane expressway, which connects the cities of Agra and Lucknow in Uttar... Continue Reading →
In southern India, a new express train went into service between Pune Junction railway station in the state of Maharashtra and Secunderabad Junction railway station in the state of Telangana. The train, which is operated by the South Central Railway (one of the 16 zones of Indian Railways), began its inaugural run after being flagged... Continue Reading →
The first line of Singapore’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) series of fully automated transit systems was opened in the residential town and planning area of Bukit Panjang. This initial segment, known as the Bukit Panjang LRT Line, was formally inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tony Tan Keng Yam. Tan, who has since... Continue Reading →
In southern India, a grade separator (better known in the United States as an interchange) was fully opened at a major highway junction in the city of Chennai in the state of Tamil Nadu. This cloverleaf grade separator is called Kathipara Junction, and it was formally inaugurated by Tamil Nadu’s chief minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi. Kathipara... Continue Reading →
In Siam (now known as Thailand), the Chaloem Sawan 58 Bridge made its formal debut in the capital city of Bangkok. The bridge, crossing the northern end of a manmade moat called Khlong Khu Mueang Doem in Bangkok’s present-day Phra Nakhon District, was opened by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) on the second anniversary of the... Continue Reading →
At the age of 71, Minoru Saitō set sail from his native Japan for a circumnavigation of the globe on board his 50-foot-long yacht Shuten-dohji II. While Saitō previously sailed around the world on his own a total of six times, this particular trip was notable because it would make him the oldest person to... Continue Reading →
The first line of a new subway system in the South Korean city of Incheon began operations after six years of construction. The initial section of the north-south Incheon Subway Line 1 covered approximately 12 miles between the Bakchon and Dongmak stations. Incheon Subway Line 1, which is also included as part of the Seoul... Continue Reading →
After being extensively restored, the Royapuram railway station in South India was formally reopened to the public. Rangasamy Velu, India’s union minister of state for railways, presided at this ceremony. The Royapuram railway station is located in the northern part of the city of Chennai on the Chennai Beach-Arakkonam segment of the Chennai Suburban Railway.... Continue Reading →
Transportation History 