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 United States to Host 8th World Congress on High-speed Rail

8th World Congress on High-Speed Rail, Philadelphia, July 10-13, 2012

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the International Union of Railways (UIC) announce that the United States will host the 8th World Congress on High-speed Rail in Philadelphia, PA, on July 10-13, 2012. The World Congress is the world’s eminent gathering on high-speed rail and is expected to attract more than 2,000 attendees from across the globe to exchange views on the development and achievements of high-speed rail worldwide.

  • Register for the Congress. Discounted fees are available for government sector, full time academics, and students.
  • Sponsor and have your brand in front of nearly 1,500 delegates, exhibit-goers, and the CEOs of the world’s railway companies.
  • Exhibit to introduce your product or service to the broadest market possible.  Over half the floor has already been sold.

Technical Sessions

Technical sessions will embrace all speeds, and deal with both technical and economical issues as well as transport policy visions and the latest research findings.  Geographic sessions provide a benchmark of systems implemented worldwide. And three sessions will deliver information about emerging corridors in the Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Russia, Poland and Scandinavia, the United States and Canada.

  • Social environment, economy, finances
  • Commercial
  • Infrastructure
  • Rolling stock
  • Operations, safety, security
  • Engineering and project management
  • Corridors

Technical Tours

  • Amtrak CNOC Control Center, Wilmington
  • Amtrak HSR Maintenance Facility, Sunnyside Yard, NY
  • SEPTA Operations Control Center, Philadelphia
  • Rotem Assembly of SEPTA’s Silverliner Cars

Student Competition

From a pool of 45 students who progressed to the international competition for nine seats, two will be representing the United States at the 2012 World Congress.  Congratulations to Zhenhua Chen, a graduate student of public policy at George Mason University and Joel Carlson, who is pursuing a masters of science in transportation at MIT.

More Information about the World Congress

 New Television Report Makes the Case for Investing in American Passenger Rail

Watch the full episode. See more Need To Know.

 In the Spotlight

Chris Matthews, host of “MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews,” calls for high-speed rail manufacturing as a key to restoring the economy, much as industrial production during World War II helped to end the Great Depression.

 Funding Announced for New High-speed Rail Corridors

Obama speaks from a podium.

President Obama Announces Historic $8 Billion in Recovery Act Grants to Develop America’s First Nationwide Program of High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Service

 
President Barak Obama, introducing his vision for high-speed rail on April 16, 2009

“Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination…

It is happening right now; it’s been happening for decades. The problem is, it’s been happening elsewhere, not here.”

- President Barack Obama,
April 2009

   

 In The News

Authority approves California high-speed rail plan
The Sacramento Bee
Federal Railroad Administrator Szabo Joins Portland Officials at Union Station to Review Portland-Seattle Train Project; Meets with Workers
Federal Railroad Administration
LaHood: It's Time To Meet 21st Century Realities
U.S. Department of Transportation
U.S. Transportation Secretary LaHood and Illinois Officials Break Ground on Chicago High-Speed Rail Project
Federal Railroad Administration
High-speed rail a big opportunity for business
The Fresno Bee
Transportation Secretary LaHood Announces $34 Million to Alleviate Congestion at One of the Largest Rail Bottlenecks in America
Federal Railroad Administration
Secretary LaHood Announces $179 Million to California for Continued Development of Integrated, Statewide Passenger Rail Network
Federal Railroad Administration
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood Awards $336.2 Million For Next Generation Trains In California And Midwest
Federal Railroad Administration

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