I first rode the Japanese Shinkansen “Bullet Train” in 1976. I had never seen or experienced anything like it. I couldn’t help thinking, “this is the way travel by rail ought to be. Why don’t we have this in my home country of the United States?”

The answer is that it is it not easy to implement. There are many challenges to overcome, not least the large and often disruptive investments. I only learned after joining IHRA last year how hard it was even for Japan to complete the first Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka in 1964, the same year Tokyo first hosted the Olympics. But having overcome the challenges, the Shinkansen became one of the infrastructure investments that transformed the Japanese economy into what became the second-largest free market economy in the world.

Ten years ago, IHRA was founded to provide a forum where information can be shared among those who operate and those who are considering operating high-speed rail. Through formal meetings and informal networking, those who are contemplating implementing true high-speed rail can speak directly with others who have faced similar political, financial, and technical challenges. Thanks in no small part to the efforts of IHRA’s founders, members, and advisors, there are more authentic high-speed rail projects under serious study than ever before, including in my home country of the United States.

Congratulations to IHRA on its 10th anniversary. It is an honor to serve an organization that is doing so much to facilitate the delivery of fast, safe, economical and clean transportation to so many people, and to transform so many economies throughout the world.