1883day.year
In the "day of two noons," American and Canadian railroad companies institute four standard continental time zones, ending the confusion of thousands of local times.
American and Canadian railroads adopt four standard continental time zones, ending the confusion of thousands of local times.
Nicknamed the ‘day of two noons,’ November 18, 1883, saw major North American railways implement standardized time zones. Before this action, each town kept its own solar time, causing scheduling chaos for interstate rail travel. The new system divided the continent into Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific zones. Railroads published synchronized timetables, vastly improving safety and efficiency. The concept was later formalized by governments, laying the groundwork for modern timekeeping practices.
1883
time zones
local times
1987day.year
King's Cross fire: In London, 31 people die in a fire at the city's busiest underground station, King's Cross St Pancras.
A deadly fire broke out at King's Cross St Pancras underground station in London, claiming 31 lives and spurring major safety reforms.
On November 18, 1987, a fire ignited beneath a wooden escalator at King's Cross St Pancras station during the evening rush hour. The blaze spread rapidly through a phenomenon known as the 'trench effect', overwhelming passengers and firefighters. Smoke and toxic gases filled the tunnels, hindering evacuation efforts. A total of 31 people died and many more were injured in the tragedy. The aftermath revealed critical safety failures in tunnel design and staff training. This disaster led to a comprehensive overhaul of fire safety regulations on the London Underground, including the replacement of wooden escalators and stricter emergency protocols.
1987
King's Cross fire
underground
King's Cross St Pancras
1996day.year
A fire occurs on a train traveling through the Channel Tunnel from France to England causing several injuries and damaging approximately 500 metres (1,600 ft) of tunnel.
A fire erupted on a freight train inside the Channel Tunnel, injuring several people and damaging hundreds of meters of tunnel infrastructure.
The Channel Tunnel, linking France and England, opened in 1994 and became a major transport corridor. On November 18, 1996, a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) train caught fire approximately 30 kilometers underground. Smoke and flames forced the evacuation of passengers and crew in challenging conditions. Firefighters battled the blaze through ventilation shafts and emergency cross-passages. The fire damaged about 500 meters of the tunnel’s concrete lining and rail track. Repairs and enhanced fire safety measures were implemented to prevent future incidents and ensure passenger safety.
1996
fire
Channel Tunnel