The following are events related to rail transportation in the United States that happened in 2008. Events March March 9 – Sprinter starts service between Oceanside and Escondido, California, reinstating passenger service on the Escondido branch line. April April 26 – FrontRunner, a new commuter rail service, begins running in Utah. November November – Voter approval of Measure M in Los Angeles County, California, commits additional tax dollars to transit projects. December December 27 – The first section of the new Valley Metro Rail system, part of Valley Metro in Phoenix, Arizona, opened.Associated Press (reprinted by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, February 16, 2005), Phoenix begins work on light rail . Retrieved February 16, 2005. References