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Nr 172 - 16 February 2010 High Speed Rail / Cooperation UIC/APTA (USA) UIC Chairman, speaker at the opening of the International Practicum on Implementing High-Speed Rail in the United States On 8 February, 2010, the first International Practi- cum on Implementing High-Speed Rail in the Uni- ted States, jointly hosted by UIC and APTA (American Public Transportation Association) was held in Washington, at the time when the city was hit by historic heavy snowfall. To begin the practicum, three representatives, Mr. Yoshio Ishida, UIC Chairman, Mr. William Millar, APTA President, and Ms. Karen J Rae, Deputy Ad- ministrator, FRA (Federal Railroad Administration) made opening speeches. Yoshio Ishida, UIC Chairman, holds opening speech at UIC / APTA Practicum in Washington DC. On the right, William Millar, APTA President. Mr. Ishida, UIC Chairman, first praised Amtrak’s best efforts to operate ‘Acela’, the only high-speed train service in the U.S., in the accumulated snow, and also paid respects to the efforts of urban public transportation operators such as WMATA (Wash- ington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority) to take various measures against snow damage. He then made the point that a key factor leading to high- speed railway project success was the existence of safe, clean, and reliable public transport networks and emphasized the importance of the role that public transport could play in high-speed railway projects. Furthermore, he pointed out the significant View of Washington after historic heavy snowfall. Nr 172 - 16 February 2010 (page 2) contributions the railways could make in the reduction of CO2 emissions in the transport sector and energy saving of the society as a whole. As for the expenditure of the $8 billion President Barack Obama announced at the beginning of this month, he stated that it marked a significant step from a qualitative standpoint, although the volume itself might not be sufficient, and this $8 billion would be the foundation for the development of the future railways of the United States. He expressed his strong expectation that collaboration between UIC and APTA would be developed in the various fields. From left to right: Yoshio Ishida, UIC Chairman, William Millar, Prior to Mr. Ishida’s speech, Mr. Millar, APTA Presi- APTA President, and Karen Rae, FRA Deputy Administrator dent, explained that APTA has been actively invol- ved in the U.S. high-speed projects and highly valued the possible role that UIC, as the global platform for railway technology, could play in the success of the U.S. high speed projects. He stated that high-speed railways would not become available overnight, as is also the case with highway networks and airline systems, and would re- quire several decades to be developed. Then he expressed that $8 billion is a significant down pay- ment. He expressed his appreciation toward the cooperation of UIC on the International Practicum this time, and asked for UIC’s continued support. In this context, Ms. Rae, FRA Deputy Administrator stated that the ＄8 billion was part of the Eco- nomic Recovery and Reinvestment Act and as such it was expected to enhance economic development in communities across the country and establish new industry in the U.S. by providing faster and more energy-efficient transportation. She held the collaboration between UIC and APTA in high esteem. The five modules of the International Practicum then started with a presentation by Mr. Ignacio Bar- ron de Angoiti, Director of the Passenger Department at UIC. Railway technical experts dispatched from UIC members in Japan, France, Germany, and Spain participated as speakers, and this practicum is to be held in two other cities – Chicago and Los Angeles – after being held in Washing- ton. Nr 172 - 16 February 2010 (page 3) More than 500 decision-makers attend three regional seminars on High Speed Rail organised by APTA and UIC Approximately 500 decision-makers attended the three regional seminars on high-speed rail or- ganized by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and UIC. Experts from Spain, Germany, Japan, Korea, Italy and France shared their experience and knowledge, and FRA Ad- ministrator Joseph Szabo and FRA Deputy Administrator Karen Rae were keynote speakers at the workshops. This is the first set of seminars developed under a new partnership between APTA and UIC. The two groups signed a memorandum of understanding to work together in extensive information-sha- ring covering the various technical, finance and management aspects of planning and building high-speed rail systems. “I am very happy to be alongside APTA at a time I consider historic for the development of passenger rail in North Americ a,” said UIC General Director Jean-Pierre Loubinoux. “The attendence at the three practica demonstrates that the time is right for drastic rail improvement both in the in- cremental improvements and in combination with very high-speed links. “ “The first high speed rail line was launched in Japan over 40 years ago, and there are high-speed rail systems in operation in 12 countries today, ” said APTA President William Millar. “The experience of UIC and the international high-speed rail experts is invaluable to the United State s as we implement and adapt high-speed rail to our operating environment. We look forward to a pro- ductive and continuing working relationship with our friends at UIC as we turn President Obama’s high- speed rail vision into reality.” Emphasizing the importance of having intermodal connections to high-speed rail, Loubinoux said, “Experience in the world has taught us the benefit of complementary intermodal connections. The point of having stations in major airports and developing a complementary rather than competi- tive approach with other modes of transport could form new partnerships between airlines and rail operators in the future, as seen in Europe and Asia.” “In addition to giving Americans more travel options, high-speed rail is a new industry that will create tens of thousands of good, ‘green’ American jobs,” said Millar. “High-speed rail also helps our country meet our national goals of carbon emission reduction and energy independence.” “High-speed rail is good for mobility, sustainability, the environment and for the people as it creates employment and business through infrastructure and new services,” concluded Loubinoux. “UIC is proud to bring all its experience to help the American transportation leaders make the right choices as soon as possible, so that America can join the international high-speed rail community“. Nr 172 - 16 February 2010 (page 4) APTA and UIC developed three regional seminars to provide U.S. decision makers with the information necessary to implement high-speed rail. The seminars, titled “International Practicum on Implementing High-Speed Rail in the United States,” were held on February 8-9 in Washington, DC; February 9-11 in Chicago, IL; and February 11-13 in Los Angeles, CA. The programs feature practitioners from high-speed rail systems around the world and will focus on best practices and lessons learned from European and Asian systems. APTA is the leading voice for bus and rail transportation in North America. It is also legacy orga- nization of the former High Speed Ground Transportation Association, which, in 2007 integrated its members and assets into the APTA structure and now functions through the constituent high- speed and intercity rail committee. UIC meets U.S Minister UIC Chairman and Director General visit Ray LaHood, U.S Secretary of Transportation On February 9, 2010, as the representatives of UIC, the international railway association with a voluntary membership of approximately 200 railways world- wide, UIC Chairman Yoshio Ishida and UIC Director General Jean-Pierre Loubinoux made an official visit to Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Department of Transportation. This visit was the first in UIC history and was related to the International Practicum on Implementing High-Speed Rail being held in the United States, jointly hosted by UIC and APTA. In the U.S., in addition to President Obama’s an- nouncement at the beginning of this month of 8 bil- From left to right: Yoshio Ishida, UIC Chairman, Ray LaHood, lion dollar expenditure for high-speed rail projects in Secretary of Transportation at the US Government, Jean-Pierre 13 corridors, another 2.5 billion dollar expenditure Loubinoux, UIC Director General in the FY 2010 budget has already been decided, and a 1 billion dollar expenditure is expected in the proposed FY 2011 budget. These all show the continuing increase in the expectations toward railways as the environmentally friendly mode of transportation. Nr 172 - 16 February 2010 (page 5) At the meeting, Chairman Ishida first asked the Se- cretary LaHood for DoT’s understanding and cooperation, by saying that this International Practicum marks an important building step for the future and that Chairman Ishida would like to further enhance the collaboration between UIC and APTA. Chairman Ishida also strongly asked for DoT’s active partici- pation in UIC activities, especially in the UIC Gene- ral Assembly to be held in Tokyo this June, because DoT has been an associate member of UIC since 1973. In this regard, while pointing out the importance of From left to right: Interpreter, Yoshio Ishida, UIC Chairman, Ray continuous investment for the railway improvement LaHood, US Secretary of Transportation, Karen Rae, FRA De- and development, Director General Jean-Pierre puty Administrator, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, UIC Director General Loubinoux stated that UIC, as the global platform for railway technology, is determined to support various measures to be taken by DoT, so that major expen- ditures for railways in the U.S. will continue in 2011 and beyond. Secretary LaHood expressed his thanks to UIC for its deep involvement in the holding of the In- ternational Practicum on Implementing High-Speed Rail in the United States, and stated that DoT also greatly esteems the technological expertise of UIC.

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