conference agenda
MAY 12-14 | WASHINGTON, DC
Join the high speed rail industry’s premier event.
America’s high-speed future is here. Join us in Washington, D.C. for three days of networking, lively discussions, and social events with the trailblazers who are making it happen.
TUESDAY MAY 12
8:00 - 8:30am
Morning Refreshments and Check-In
8:30 - 9:00am
1) High Speed Rail Advancing Across America
TOPICS: Accelerating high speed rail across America; Streamlining project delivery; Unlocking more private-sector investment into high speed rail; Scaling up jobs and U.S. manufacturing; Connecting miles of affordable communities while lowering the cost of living; Stimulating Transit Oriented Development and walkable communities.
9:00 - 9:45am
2) High Speed Rail Global Update
- Andrea Giuricin, TRA Consulting, Italy Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Global update on the growth, development, and operations of the world's high speed rail network; Best practices and lessons from nations that have built new systems quickly.
9:45 - 10:15am
Morning Networking Break
10:15 - 11:00am
3) Alto High Speed Rail Project
TOPICS: An in-depth look at the new Canadian high speed rail project rapidly taking shape to connect Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.
11:00 - 11:45am
4) New American Industrial Strategy
- Ezra Silk, USHSR (Moderator) Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Vision and prospects for a broad new industrial strategy for America centered around a national high speed rail network. This includes setting up factories in America to manufacture everything needed for a new U.S. fast passenger rail system.
11:45 - 12:30pm
5) Building Public Support for High Speed Rail
- Robert Creamer, Democracy Partners Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Increasing the already growing public support for high speed rail across all demographics; Promoting early wins; Mobilizing the many constituencies that will benefit from better transportation options; Sharing stories from those regularly using trains.
12:30 - 1:30pm
Networking Lunch
- Keith Wilson, Mayor of Portland, OR Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
1:30 - 2:15pm
6) High Speed Rail Delivery Models
TOPICS: An exploration of the various mega project delivery models and the benefits and drawbacks of each; Case studies from across America and around the globe.
2:15 - 3:00pm
7) Project Delivery Reforms
TOPICS: Accelerating high speed rail development through the required project delivery reforms; Streamlining permitting, land assembly, utility relocations, design and construction processes; Lowering project costs though efficient delivery processes.
3:00 - 3:30pm
Afternoon Networking Break
3:30 - 4:15pm
8) Right-of-Way Strategies
- Speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Simplifying HSR right-of-way acquisition with a national-scale, proactive, corridor-first, comprehensive land assembly program; Designating HSR routes as federal 'corridors of national interest'; Federal and state actions to shape and acquiring HSR corridors in advance.
4:15 - 5:00pm
9) High-Speed Energy & Technology Corridors
- Speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Challenges and opportunities scaling up renewable electric generation to power new high speed rail lines; The world's first solar-powered bullet train currently taking shape in America; Commercial technology corridor development; Leveraging assets to help fund construction.
5:00 - 6:30pm
Evening Networking Reception
Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and the best HSR networking in town!
6:30 - 8:30pm
Special Member Dinner
Attend a special members-only, sit-down dinner honoring USHSR members.
wednesDAY MAY 13
8:30 - 9:00am
Morning Refreshments and Check-In
9:00 - 9:45am
10) High Speed Stations and TOD
- Juan Lema, SENER Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: Getting stations right; Location and station design to enable integration into walkable downtowns and neighborhoods; Integrating multiple layers of transport with easy transfers between them; Stations as catalyst for economic development and revitalization of entire neighborhoods; Mixed use, retail, entertainment, office, housing and other uses in and around the stations - Transit Oriented Development (TOD);
9:45 - 10:15am
11) Integrating High Speed Rail and Transit
TOPICS: Planning for system integration, coordination of schedules, sharing stations; Seamless passenger experience moving from system to system, and region to region.
10:15 - 10:45am
Morning Networking Break
10:45 - 11:45am
12) Track and Systems Construction
TOPICS: Complex high speed rail requirements for 200+ mph operational speeds; Global expertise in high speed track construction processes; Supply chain structure and materials flow to construction sites; Current U.S. projects underway.
11:45 - 12:30pm
13) High Speed Operations
- Andrea Giuricin, TRA Consulting, Italy Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: In-depth look at high speed operations with fleets of trains and multiple operators; HSR business models and case studies from multiple nations. Operations planning, fleet and track maintenance procedures, safety, staffing requirements.
12:30 - 1:30pm
Networking Lunch
- High Speed Rail Awards
- Speakers to be announced
1:30 - 2:15pm
14) Public-Private Partnerships
TOPICS: Delivering high speed rail projects as a partnership; Leveraging strengths of both the public and private sectors, new HSR lines can be developed efficiently and cost effectively.
2:15 - 3:15pm
15) California High Speed Rail
- Ian Choudri, CEO, California High Speed Rail Authority Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: California HSR is the largest infrastructure project in America - an all-electric, 220mph, state-of-the-art high speed rail system spanning 800 miles to connect Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento, and a number of smaller cities in between; Hear the latest update on the construction progress; New leadership, focus on track construction and extensions; Multiple procurements, new funding strategies, and plans to expedite the project will be discussed.
3:15 - 3:45pm
Afternoon Networking Break
3:45 - 4:30pm
16) Accelerating Utility Relocations
TOPICS: An exploration of the complex utility relocation process and its intersection with building new high speed rail lines; Streamlining the process with clarity, timelines, cooperative solutions; Lessons and solutions from other sectors, and other nations.
4:30 - 5:00pm
17) High Speed Express Freight
- Andrea Giuricin, TRA Consulting, Italy Bio
- Other speakers to be announced
TOPICS: An exploration of the second major business case for building high speed rail -
its potential as a super fast and efficient light freight shipping system; This will revolutionize America, and greatly lower the cost (and increase reliability) of shipping light freight goods throughout the country; Shipping parcels, mail, consumer goods, perishables and more by HSR would transform commerce; A global look at nations currently operating HSR express freight systems.
5:30 - 7:30pm
After Party at the Teamsters Penthouse on Capitol Hill
Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and networking overlooking the U.S. Capitol
THURSDAY MAY 14
8:30 - 10:00am
Special Lobby Day Breakfast
Enjoy a special breakfast together in preparation for the Lobby Day.
10:30 - 5:00pm
Lobby Day on Capitol Hill
Walking the halls of Congress, HSR 2026 attendees will carry our message supporting high speed rail to Congressional leaders.