Summit to discuss progress of high-speed rail in the USA

U.S. government officials will meet with engineering experts this week to see if the country is on course to realise its vision for high-speed rail.

The three-day High Speed Rail Summit, which will begin in Washington DC later today (February 11), will not only discuss the progress of high-speed rail projects in the U.S. but the private investment needed to make them possible.

Confirmed speakers include Ignacio Barron, from International Union of Railways (UIC), Guillaume Mehlman, president of Alstom USA, Stephen Gardner, vice president of Amtrak, Armin Kick, from Siemens, Rick Harnish, executive director of Midwest High Speed Rail Association and John Barna, from AECOM.

The panel will discuss the status of current programmes and upcoming projects, including the $151 billion upgrade to the Northeast Corridor – the country’s busiest rail line connecting DC, New York and Boston.

Another project to be debated will be the Union Station Master Plan – a $7 billion renovation of the railway station, which includes the construction of a three million sq ft mixed-use development.

Andy Kunz, USHSR president and chief executive, said: “This summit brings together an amazing line-up of top business leaders and government officials who are working to bring high speed rail to America.

“We are excited to be working with the visionaries and leaders pushing for major improvements to the nation’s transportation networks.”